posted 11-21-2004 05:05 PM               

I started my molds for "Merry Jo" in Jan 03, turned her in Aug 04 and am now working on the decks/bulkeads. With luck she may see the lake in summer 05. The work has been time consuming since this is the first boat I've ever done but the "How to..." book, this website and Wooden Boat references have been invaluable.
I've been fortunate to have a portable saw mill and suitable standing dead timber (Adirondack white cedar and W. Pa white oak)to save on all but the mahogany supply cost.
I'm about to bite the bullet for the bronze, sails and trailer if I can get the OK from my wife Mary Jo!
I will forward a few pictures soon.
Thank you all again for the assistance!

John also submitted photos:

More photos at:
http://www.testrong.com/havmem/hutchison1.html

posted 11-23-2004 08:44 AM               

For more new photos from Steve:
http://www.testrong.com/havmem/winslow7.html

posted 11-29-2004 09:31 AM               

1). Finished molds.
2). Built Transom.
3). Built Stem.
4). Built Tiller.
5). Built Stern Knee.
6). Built Center Board Trunk.

I’m now starting the setup and have finished the platform and reference board. I built a 3,4,5 triangle and straight edge for aligning the stations and have started mounting the stations. I don’t expect to have all of the stations up by end of December but I hope to have half of them up.

Hope ’05 is as prosperous.

Bill.

(More of Will's new photos at: http://www.testrong.com/havmem/fisher/wf4.htm

posted 11-29-2004 10:32 AM               

I then built a long bench for working on the planks: This was one of the smarter things I did! It was at the right height for comfort and provided a flat horizontal surface for cutting, backing out and scarfing; and a vertical surface, with vises for planing the planks. Also, I could set up my jig at one end for scarfing when needed; and my planer was set up at the other (garage door) end of the bench.
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Spiling, making and hanging planks were all new experiences for me. I took care to read all I could about the process, and then took great care to get it right. I made several spiling battens as I went along and fit each plank as carefully as I could. Like everything else, it got easier as I got more practiced.
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Making the sheerstrakes was a challenge for me. First I scarfed the mahogany to get the necessary length. I had NO confidence that I could shape it properly. But by using the table saw method in the "How To..." book, and an assortment of sanding/shaping tools, I finally got them to the proper shape. I then found it necessary to steam the first four feet to accomodate the bend to the stem.
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I'm working quickly to get the caulking done before it gets too cold to continue working in the garage. Then its to the basemant to continue working on the spars, deadwood, and other small parts & pieces.

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I wondered how I'd keep myself busy during my retirement. NOW I KNOW!

posted 12-06-2004 11:04 AM               

I realize that considerable time has passed since I've updated my story but progress has been made, however slowly. I was encouraged to move a bit faster by a visit, in September, by Bill Fisher and his wife who were returning to their home in Connecticut after visiting several boat builders in Maine. Bill has been working on a plan for us builders to get together sometime, just to swap stories, I hope that works out. This past summer's Wooden Boat Show in Newport was disappointing to me for several reasons, and I guess to other Haven builders as well. I walked around for two days wearing a label that said "www.havenbuilderscom" but only one person asked me about it.

My contribution this time is the steam bending of my keel.

The rest of the photos are at:

http://www.testrong.com/havmem/parm2.html

First I have to say that this was, as the book says, and "easy bend", although I was dreading it and probably delayed the project longer than I should have. I bought a green piece of white oak 17' long, 10" wide and 1 7/8" thick . . . just to be sure. Boulter plywood, in Somerville, MA, ordered it for me . . . I got it about three weeks after it had been cut, and bent it within three months of that date, so it really was bent green. A local lumbar yard planed it to the required 1 3/8". I plotted the shape, leaving two large ovals at each end so I could get a good purchase for bending, then cut the shape and the centerboard slot with a circular saw. (1 Cutout Keel). (The obstructions on the camera lens in Photo 1 are sawdust).

The centerboard slot was trimmed up with a chisel (2 Closeup of centerboard slot).until it would fit properly over the projecting ends of the centerboard end pieces (3 Keel positioned for bending) and clamped tightly to the bedlogs (4 Keel clamped to bedlogs). Here are two more shots of each end of the keel before bending began: (5 Fore keel before bending) and (6 Aft keel before bending). Careful observers of the last three photos will recognize that a few of the floor timbers are not cut properly but I will attend to that at a later date . . . even if it means replacing some of them.

My keel steaming rig was just a minor variation on my crab pot frame steaming rig. Since the boat shed it made of wood I wanted to keep the propane heater in the garage, which is made of cinder block. I rigged a truck radiator hose running from the crab pot, wrapped it with standard single-sided wall insulation, and suspended it as needed to make the run (7 Heater in garage). The end of the hose was duct taped to the keel just forward of where the keel would contact frame #2 (8 Fore keel steaming) and the whole juncture wrapped with 6 mil plastic sheeting . . . just as it says in the text.

I had intended to force the bend by prying the end of the keel against a ceiling rafter, as suggested in the text, but my brother (the photographer) suggested that I just put diving weights into a bucket and let that weight pull the keel down as it softened . . . and that is what we did. Worked like a charm. You have to take out mold #1 (and mold #21 at the aft end). (Note: mold 22 had already been eliminated, as per earlier comments on the Forum).

The following day I steamed the aft keel. Space considerations meant I had to put the propane burner in the boat shop after all, but I stayed nearby throughout the entire process and there were no safety problems. Steam poured merrily from the end of the plastic sheeting . . . I made no attempt to tape it closed (9 Aft keel streaming). In both cases, the wood softened enough in about an hour to be able to bend easily. The successful fore and aft keel bends are shown in the next two photos (10 Fore keel after bending) (11 Aft keel after bending). Two days later, the bent fore keel is shown next to the stem (12 Fore keel bent next to stem) but still held in position by a ceiling brace. Since I kept the plastic wrapping in place while the wood slowly cooled I neglected to clamp the keel and the stem together when the wood was hot. However, I have since cut the keel to the right length and it looks like they are going to match up quite well.

I am presently drilling for the keel bolts by making initial holes at 1/4" and making sure they match will with the floor frames. When all is nicely aligned I'll go back and put in the 5/16" and 7/16" bronze carriage bolts (which I get from Jamestown Distributors, in Bristol, RI).

Please pass on my greetings to all the other builders, and accept my many thanks for maintaining this website. I consult it frequently, and tell others who ask about my project to go look at it up on the web!

Best,

Jim Parmentier

posted 12-06-2004 09:51 PM               

"Some pictures showing year end progress. I'am about ready to turn her over, should be fun. artie b

More photos at:
http://www.testrong.com/havmem/bauman2.html

posted 12-07-2004 05:44 PM               

Hi Tom-

Here are the end of the photos at this time. I will send photo’s in the spring when I can get the boat outside, showing finished interior, and some on the lake.

Tom I have enclosed a description on the lead keel, If you feel it is inappropriate for the web site please omit it. I think you do a great job on the website.

A donation is in the Mail

Happy Holidays

Steve

More photos at: http://www.testrong.com/havmem/winslow8.html

posted 12-27-2004 10:59 AM               

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More photos at: http://www.testrong.com/havmem/seppo2.html
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This is my year-end report
Penni has 3 seasons behind and a lot of sailing and trailing.
- no problems with strip planking experiment or glass/epoxy coatings

We participated The Raid Finland 3th time, see http://www.kolumbus.fi/raidfinland/

,and The Viaporin Tuoppi, more than 200 wooden boats competing every year in Helsinki
The weather was challenging for some smaller and older boats, so submarine class had
some attendees this year. Penni was one of seven boats in the smallest class, only two
Havens of them finished. We had in Penni 4 men crew and reefs, the other Haven, Carpe Diem had two and no reefs. This way Penni was clearly faster on head-wind legs,
and not slower downwind - the boats reached the hull speed all the time. All the time Penni was in balance keeping the speed and rudder in contact to water - just a lot of water rolled in over the foredeck slowering the speed.


Some innovations has been adapted in 2004
- 470 class jib and spinnaker added
- the centerboard can be taken out from inside
- both of the gaff halyard rope ends come down, the other end has 1:8 winch to adjust the gaff when sailing, the other for hoisting

Enhancements waiting:
- the boom with loose footed main is too weak
- a proper sleeping/boom tent could be done
- el-motor will replace the heavy, stinking 2 hp Honda

[This message has been edited by Admin5 (edited 12-03-2006).]

[This message has been edited by Admin5 (edited 12-03-2006).]

posted 12-31-2004 07:46 AM               

Today I've finished the mold for the keel. I'll use the help of a professional foundry for pouring the lead in:

I really hope to bring her into water next spring!

Happy New Year to everyone!!

Rolf