On Sunday 11/23 we were on a roll and installed 5 new oak frames. Considering our prior maximum was two in one day thing's are looking up. We're starting to establish rhythms and cut the fat from what's not working. Thanks to a friend with a big double burner camp stove we were able to switch to boiling the oak stock in the stainless steel basin pictured below. The steambox has been working but now that we have enough heat boiling is a faster and more thorough alternative. I've worked with a shipwright in the past where we boiled 2x2" oak frames in used automotive coolant. We're just sticking with water on this project, and we'll keep more owners in the neighborhood happier this way. The oak still stays in the boiling water bath for at least two hours and gets pretty noodly. Our goal is to use solid stock for the frames as much as possible without having to cut a kerf. We've still installed a few kerfed frames near the stern where the turn of the bilge is quite sharp. Refer to the image below for a very thorough illustration of kerfed frames....
It's hard to see below, but there's a double propane burner under the 6+ foot long tank.
It's hard to see below, but there's a double propane burner under the 6+ foot long tank.
Derrick verifying that there is indeed a giant hole in the side of the boat. Likely he's considering what preparatory work needs finished before we pull the boiled frame out of the tank.
The photos below are from a few weeks back but illustrate well how a frame can break. If this frame had been more thoroughly steamed (or boiled) it likely would not haven broken. The close-up of the break illustrates how we don't have perfectly straight grain in the stock, but rather it is angled slightly to the 'sides' and creates the opportunity for the grain to start lifting at the corners. There's still good wood in there so all is not lost.
