Sunday 20 May 2018

Peterborough Minetta solo progress


Rails are on under old rails, bringing boat depth back to where it should be. Another benefit is all the rib tips are solid and sanded down to new wood. Boat needs no new ribs, and a minimum of planking. Set for solo work with 2 thwarts and two carry thwarts, a solo seat will be built for using a double blade paddle. If the owner decides they want to use a single blade, a traditional caned seat can be hung from the rails at any time.

 Stem joint
 Rather than cut it the rail tips and redo the notch on the top of the stem as is more traditional, we opted for another style where the gunwale tips are joined and fastened down into the stem top.

Wide cant ribs to be fastened
 Nice old stock Cherry, decks and thwarts from the same board
 Cutting deck sides using a bevel gauge to transfer the corresponding gunwale angle.
 Chestnut heart lobes, typically Chestnut but also common to many earlier Peterboroughs


 Decks left proud of rail top to allow for crown


 Nice fit

 Grey , weathered wood
 Weathered wood gone, revealing very nice Cherry colour

 Nice big pile of Cherry chips


 Lined up to ensure stems line up and boat stays true
 Thwart layout


 Carving crown in deck
 Crowned deck installed

 Similar seat to whats up next, to be made of white oak and cherry slats
 Epifanes version of turquoise

 New layout of 15'er



 Small amount of planking to be repaired
 Solo seat location will be best just aft of centre








 Decks installed
 Next is interior strip
 Next is build the seat, repair plaking and strip the interior, varnish and canvas


 Dressed up with a rug and an all wood paddle, will look classic as well as be more stable, safer and have room in front of the paddler for the occasional grand child