The Bow and Stern

Ok, we're in Amherst, and now it's time to get down to buisness again. This baby needs to get done. The bow and stern pieces are supposed to be removable (read as break-off able). That way if you slam into something too hard, they pop off with not greater damage to the boat. The plans call for solid mahogany pieces, so we're going to join two thick boards together and then shape them.

The first step is to make two boards perfectly smooth so we can join them together. I did this using epoxy and some heavy duty clamps.

Not a bad new work place, no? Don't look at the tractor, look at the wood!

With the boards glued up I was able to use the wood shop in the new Studio Arts Building at UMass thanks to Dan Wessman. Using a ban saw I cut the "V" shape into the boards. I was too scared to cut the curve into them, and decided to do this by hand. I decided to go for a Resolute looking bow and stern. There is very little rocker to this boat, so Dave Snowdown (a real boat builder at Van Dusen) said that a plumb bow would be ok. And it really looks cool like that.

The stern was shaped much the same way. It was a lot of fun to use chisels to sculpt wood. Maybe I should rethink this grad school thing.

Then came the fun job of attaching them. **Note** Make sure the end ribs are square and plumb to the boat, you will save yourself HOURS of frustration. I didn't. That's because I'm not a master builder, and I don't know these things. But mostly, I was in a rush to get things done. when I attached the bow and stern pieces, it looked like a excellent rudder. So, it took some finesing.

Using a belt sander I fit the pieces, and Michelle held them still while I bolted them on.