Scenes from a Boat-Building, 01/04/12
Scenes from a boat building, January 4, 2012
I had previously described building this boat as having two distinct steps; the second being the assembly of its parts, and the first being the fabrication of the parts. (Or as Dave put it to his son, “You know how you like to build with Legos? Daddy likes to build with Legos too, but he has to build his Legos first.”)
But however it’s described, this week we have moved into the second step by beginning to assemble the backbones of each hull. It’s pretty exciting, at least to us it is!
Building Mon Tiki: Making Two Backbones
By the end of the week I think we’ll have both backbones standing (inverted) with bulkheads mounted and squared.
I never thought I would enjoy reading about a boat being built. Thanks, David.Report
May I just say that this is awe-inspiring? Have you sent it to BoingBoing?Report
It’s pretty exciting for me too- I just wish I lived closer than 11 hours from Montauk so I could hang out and watch.Report
I won’t speak for Mr. Ryan, but most of the carpenters I know don’t really like to have people hanging around and watching. I do have myself immortalized by having five seconds in a tourism commercial pretending to play a trumpet and was stunned by the number of watchers so Mr. Ryan may be used to them. What amazes me is having to make cuts within a millimeter with materials that expand and contract. A millimeter is less the a fine pencil line. Whether it is playing a guitar, writing a sentence or cutting a straight line, I do appreciate skill.Report
@Jonathan
In documentary filmmaking, there is a certain species of high regard that is held for filmmakers that can make fascinating movies about seemingly archane and/or mundane subject matter. Fast, Cheap and Out of Control is an example of just such a film/filmmaker.
Of course I never had that sort of filmmaking elan, and had to stick to intrinsically interesting subject-matter: sex, death, love, and God.
@Jason
We have not begun our promotional campaign in ernest. The current MonTikiMontauk.com site is a simple WordPress blog I put together to start organizing material. Once my designer wife reorganized/re-skins, we’ll begin our push. I hope everyone here at the league will pitch in to help us get the word out!
@Rufus
My investment in the $300 proportional epoxy pump means there are no spectators. Come on down and we’ll put you to work!
@dexter
In fact, the saw in that shot was a blade the width of a pencil line, and it’s not that big a struggle to cut to that level of accuracy. Like anything else, practice, and knowing that it’s even possible goes a long way. And anyway, epoxy is what’s known as a “gap-filling” glue. With the right additives, it can easily make up for 1/8th of an inch, more than enough for even the most ham-fisted wood-butcher!
Thanks all for your kind words. The biggest part of the job is staying psyched. Thanks for keeping me psyched!Report