The Twin Schooner Project

Plugging away

2012-01-24T12:47:00.000-08:00

Meanwhile, more video of Billy Campbell fastening the last plank in his twin schooner, the future Martha Seabury, last Saturday is now available online at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUT5-DcUCbo&feature=share Watch his technique with the rum!

Video of the Shutter Plank cerermony

2012-01-23T11:45:00.000-08:00

Check out some video of the Shutter Plank ceremony, shot by Robert Hirtle of Lighthouse Publishing Ltd. http://southshorenow.ca/newsnowclips/play.php?vid=1647#.Tx2lAIuV6E8.facebook

These schooners be planked

2012-01-23T07:19:00.000-08:00

A terrific crowd gathered at The Dory Shop Boatyard Saturday afternoon to help us put the last plank in our twin schooners.

As per usual, our boatyard celebration was accompanied by sub-zero temperatures but no matter! The crews of the Barque Picton Castle and the Tiare Taporo (also a project of Dawson Moreland & Associates) assisted in the preparation of several large pots of cider to keep our guests hands and insides warm. The gang also spread a carpet of wood shavings over the ground, providing the best no-skid you'd ever want to use and it looked pretty good too.

At the appointed hour, Dawson Moreland general manager Susan Corkum-Greek welcomed those in attendance to a brief formal ceremony that included remarks from Lunenburg Mayor Laurence Mawhinney and Dawson Moreland president, Captain Daniel Moreland, as well as the listing of all the craftsmen who have worked on the twin schooners.

"I greatly admire and respect the skills and talents of the people who put this together," said Mayor Mawhinney. "They are showing us the wisdom of what you can do with wood in a town that cherishes the wooden buildings, the homes, the churches, the offices, the stores....This is part of our history and heritage, but I think for most of us also it's a very vibrant part of our future."

It was actor Billy Campbell, owner of one of the twin schooners, who did the honours, both fastening the final plank and dousing it with rum (see below).

Currently starring in the hit AMC series The Killing, which films in Vancouver, Billy said he is always grateful for an excuse to be in Lunenburg. He also announced that he is naming his schooner,to be launched later this spring, the Martha Seabury, after his late grandmother.

"I loved her very much," he told onlookers. "I wish she could see this."
So now the deed is officially done, the cider (and rum) are gone and Dave and his gang can proceed with finishing the hull. They're all hard at it down there this morning - well, all except for Dave who is apparently deep in the woods looking for spars.

Riveting work

2012-01-17T11:09:00.000-08:00

As a child, did you ever make one of those intercoms with two cans and a piece of string? Neither did Bub. Or at least that's not what he's up to in this picture.
He was listening though, for Gabe, who was inside one of the twin schooners as the two of them worked to fasten the hull planking to the frames.
As you'll see below, the planking is fastened in two ways: in the case of the double-sawn Osage Orange frames, it is done with large silicon bronze screws. In the case of the steam-bent frames, made of White Oak, they are fastened with copper rivets.

Shutter Plank celebration - join us!

2012-01-12T12:16:00.000-08:00

We've finally set the date for the long-awaited Shutter Plank celebration for our twin schooners, and all things considered we think it's going to be a great way to brighten up the otherwise dull, grey post-holiday month of January.

So please join us here at The Dory Shop at 175 Bluenose Drive, Lunenburg on Saturday, January 21 at 2 p.m. as we mark this construction milestone and enjoy a bit of true Maritime fun.

As an added bonus, there should be a half-built Banks dory, made by participants in the Nova Scotia Boatbuilders Association's Employment Preparation Program, on display in Plant 1 (half built as they will be mid-way through a two-week course with Jay).

Hope to see you on the 21st!

Happy New Year!

2012-01-03T11:46:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year from everyone here at Lunenburg Schooners!

We've all had a great holiday, even had a bit of snow on Christmas Eve that lasted (rather perfectly) though Christmas and Boxing Day, then melted away so as not to cause us any inconvenience. The full gang is not yet back, but will be soon, at which point we have a little shuttle plank business to attend to.

Meanwhile, we must share the following link. It's to a blog that's kept by Tony's wife, the talented milliner (that's hat maker to yous!) Anna Shoub. Seems Tony made their son a very special Christmas gift this year. Have a look and we're sure you'll agree this is one lucky boy to have two parents so talented and thoughtful. http://www.hatjunkie.blogspot.com/2011/12/castle-for-prince.html

Holiday wishes from Lunenburg Schooners

2011-12-23T18:30:00.001-08:00

The boatyard is still today and covered in white after our first big snowfall, the gang all gone home to celebrate Christmas with their families and friends. As the big wet flakes fell, muffling all noise save the call of the fog horn and the softest lap of waves upon the piles, there seemed complete peace in our corner of the world.
As we pause to mark the holidays, we hope all those who are our friends, clients and followers may also enjoy a quiet moment, as well as great joy and hope for the year ahead.
Sincerely,
The Boatbuilders and staff of Dawson Moreland & Associates and The Dory Shop
Lunenburg, Nova Scotia

Hoho trumps shutter planks

2011-12-14T12:04:00.000-08:00

So our plans for a pre-Christmas shutter plank ceremony got derailed. We couldn't meet our initial plan of doing it last weekend and now we've got some of our gang heading off to be with their families for the holidays.

As much as we want to share this milestone event with the public, it is at its heart a builders' celebration and so we'll postpone 'til early in the New Year when the gang is all back, bloated with turkey and cookies and such, and then we'll add those last planks, one for each of our twin schooners. Unless Santa's elves get other ideas...they wouldn't!

More media spotlight!

2011-12-07T10:03:00.001-08:00

Over the past week, Dawson Moreland's Twin Schooner Project here at The Dory Shop in Lunenburg has been blessed with a great deal of media coverage.

First, there was an interview with Phlis McGregor of CBC Radio's Information Morning last Friday. Then there was the premiere of the documentary Nova Scotia Schooners on CBC Television's Land & Sea on Sunday. And finally, having done radio and tv, that left only print and voila! there we are in the December issue of Canadian Geographic as part of an article on a resurgence in traditional trades.

All this coverage has been great! Tho' it's getting to the point where dear ol' Dave Westergard is going to need to get himself a manager! (I can assure you, having suggested this, that he is NOT interested).

We're particularly delighted with all of the messages from folks who have either been following the project or are just now learning about it. Many thanks to all! (And remember, you can click on the images below to get a better view of the article).

We're getting there!

2011-12-06T07:06:00.000-08:00

If you missed Sunday's premiere of the documentary Nova Scotia Schooners on CBC-Television's Land & Sea, you can now watch it online at http://www.cbc.ca/landandsea/2011/12/schooners.html

Meanwhile we've been falling behind on posting pictures from The Dory Shop boatyard where the hulls of our twin schooners will very soon be completely planked up. See how small that remaining gap is? Why it's less than the size of Bub's head!

But quality work cannot be rushed and so the date of our shutter plank celebration still eludes us. Stay tuned ~ when we know, you will!

Get a load of the width of this boat lumber!

View from the interior

Schooner documentary airs tomorrow

2011-12-03T11:29:00.001-08:00

One last reminder about the premiere of the new documentary Nova Scotia Schooners on CBC-TV's Land and Sea tomorrow at noon (check local listings). There's an interview with Capt. Tom in today's Chronicle Herald in which he talks about the show. It also features a great photo shot out in The Dory Shop boatyard. Check it out at http://thechronicleherald.ca/artslife/38959-director’s-cut-schooners

Iconic schooners the subject of article and documentary

2011-11-22T12:33:00.001-08:00

An article in the latest issue of Classic Boat, titled 10 Iconic American Boats, includes the 'working schooner' and Banks dory.

Of schooners, the UK-based authors write: "We are all familiar with the schooner America and how she trounced the English yachting scene in 1851. America's history created fast cargo, fishing and military ships and that heritage is seen in the consistent use, build and restoration of large schooner like The Pride of Baltimore II, Shenandoah and, of course, Dennis Conner's replica of America."

Of course we here in Lunenburg have had a long, and still passionate, affair with schooners. Indeed that's the subject of a new documentary airing Sunday, December 4 at 12 p.m. on CBC Television's Land and Sea (check local listings).

Brought to you by two bonafide schooner lovers - writer-director Capt. Tom Gallant, of the schooner Avenger, and producer Ed Peill, skipper of the Dorothy Louise - Nova Scotia Schooners takes an in-depth look at these traditional vessels and explores what’s involved with owning and maintaining a piece of living history.

The documentary was filmed this past summer and includes scenes from the Lunenburg Wooden Boat Reunion, the Nova Scotia Schooner Association's annual race week, the reconstruction of Bluenose II and Dawson Moreland's own Twin Schooner Project here at The Dory Shop.

“This documentary demonstrates what happens when people come together around something they find both important and beautiful” says Capt'n Tom. “It highlights one of our most significant Canadian cultural icons and underscores why these traditional skills need to be passed onto future generations.

"The beauty and grace of these schooners is captivating and I'll wager that anyone with even a drop of salt water in their veins will love this film."
So mark the 4th at noon on your calendars. And just in case you miss it, know that once the show has aired, it can be watched on the CBC TV website at www.cbc.ca/landandsea.

Closing the gap

2011-11-17T09:41:00.000-08:00

"The gap's getting smaller!," Bub said, biting into the slice of pizza that was his lunch today (sorry Bub, no secrets in the blogosphere!). And he's right. The gap is steadily closing and before you know it, it will be time for that very momentous occasion - the shutter plank ceremony. A la deux in the case of our twin schooners. Stay tuned!

Meanwhile, post-lunch, Bub was fairing the rabbet or groove where the next plank will fit.

Tops and bottoms

2011-11-08T10:18:00.000-08:00

While Tony takes advantage of this outstanding Nova Scotia autumn to work on this suntan - i.e. complete the cabin tops aboard our twin schooners - Dave and the rest of the gang are down in the shadows hanging garboard planks.
They're making great progress and it won't be too long 'til we are ready for the shuttle strake (last strake of planking on the hull). Traditionally that's an occasion for celebration and you can bet Capt. Moreland will want to mark the event in style. Stand by for details!
Meanwhile, many thanks to shipwright Jamie Rogers who hung off the roof of The Dory Shop's plant 2 (a la Spiderman!) to get this aerial view for us. It's a shot poor Dory Plug could not ever hope to take!

2011-10-24T08:24:00.001-07:00

There's something to be said for good ol' black and white photography when it comes to highlighting the lines or design of an object.

Angelique for the garboards

2011-10-14T06:29:00.000-07:00

As Danie and Bub continue hanging the Alaskan Yellow Cedar hull planks on our twin schooners, Dave is working on patterns for the garboards, to be made of more of that sawblade-killing, but super durable Angelique. You may recall the sheer planks for these new Lunenburg Schooners (www.lunenburgschooners.com) were also made of this wood. See the gang unloading some of these incredibly dense (dense=heavy as hell!) planks below.

Hanging plank all day long

2011-10-13T07:45:00.001-07:00

Canadian musican David Wilcox sang about "laying pipe all night long," but for the twin schooner gang it's hanging plank all day long. And wow, are they making progress! Check out these latest shots from down in the Dory Shop Boatyard and remember you can click on the photo for an enlarged view.

Video from the boatyard

2011-10-06T06:56:00.000-07:00

Check out this short video of the ongoing planking of these twin 48-foot wooden schooners here in the Dory Shop Boatyard. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBn-Woqxm7U

Schooner owner checks in between takes

2011-10-05T07:46:00.000-07:00

Billy Campbell, actor, sailor, adventurer and owner of one of our twin schooners, has been hanging out in Lunenburg these last few weeks filming a new movie.

The Disappeared, written and directed by Canadian-born Shandi Mitchell, is a psychological drama about six fishermen fighting to survive after their swordfishing boat goes down during the night in the North Atlantic.

The entire film takes place in the two small dories from which the men abandon their sinking ship. It’s being shot just off the coast here in Lunenburg Bay with cast and crew working long, often wet and tiring days on the ocean. But that’s just fine by Billy, who considers himself lucky to be able to work here.

“What’s not to like about this town?” says the actor, currently appearing in the hit AMC drama The Killing. “I go to work off the railway wharf, right between The Dory Shop [where he can see Dave and the gang working on his schooner] and the Barque Picton Castle,” on which he has made two world voyages – one of the few people beyond the Captain and the ship's cat to do so!

Billy’s also a great fit for the film, in which he plays Mannie, the vessel’s second mate. After two world circumnavigations, he’s certainly an experienced seafarer who’s also up to the physical task of rowing the nearly 20-foot, 500-pound Trawl dories in which the tale is set, not to mention working on the exhausting platform of a rolling ocean for hours at a time.

Filming has taken place in all manner of weather, including heavy wind and rain overnight last night. It wraps up this week and before you know it Billy will be headed to Vancouver to shoot season 2 of The Killing.

The Disappeared hits the big screen next year.

Some planking pics

2011-09-30T11:13:00.000-07:00

Just a couple of pictures of the ongoing planking of our beautiful twin schooners on this sunny day at The Dory Shop in Lunenburg!

Planking 'em up

2011-09-23T11:51:00.000-07:00

It seems like forever since we have posted anything to this Twin Schooner blog. And in fact it has been a month and a half.

While Bub worked all summer (poor guy!) and Dave dropped by from time to time, it all tended to be rather small, if important work and didn't make for especially captivating photographs.

That changes now that Dave is back at work (and so happy to have a camera in his face as you can see at below) and planking can begin in earnest.

Already Dave and Bub have a couple of planks hung and starting Monday we have two additional hands joining us (well four hands, two people), which will make things move along a lot more quickly.

Over the summer, Bub did a superb job finishing the decks, by the way. We also had a couple of hatches made by Kevin at Lahave Marine Woodworking. Constructed of Wana with Purpleheart runners, they're really gorgeous and work like a charm.

This weekend, we welcome the Nova Scotia Schooner Association to The Dory Shop for their annual September Classic. Dave's Sea Change is just one of the many handsome schooners in town for tomorrow's race, after which everyone comes over to The Dory Shop for awards and festivities. The big tent is already up in the boatyard and everyone is psyched for the event!

Excuse me, I have a cabin top to deliver...

2011-07-29T06:42:00.000-07:00

The second cabin top was walked down the street from Tony's workshop earlier today. This time our route managed to take us right through a film set for the television series Haven, which films in Lunenburg from time to time. That was pretty funny actually. Then it was down Montague Street to Bluenose Drive, into the Dory Shop Boatyard, around Billy's schooner (another obstacle we didn't have last time!) and then up on deck and into place. Whew! Many thanks to the extra hands from the Picton Castle crew (you can see the masts and yards of their ship in the background of the last picture) and congrats to Tony for another beautiful piece of work!

A Bluenose visit

2011-07-11T11:16:00.000-07:00

An email over the weekend asked what was up with the lack of new photographs here on the Twin Schooners construction blog. "Is it vacation time?," it asked.

Well, yes and no. Yes, Dave has taken a few weeks off to mind the farm in Tusket and sail his schooner Sea Change. He still checks in from time to time to provide instruction and generally harass Bub (little joke there Dave!), who continues to work on the decks. Meanwhile, Tony is completing the cabin top for the second schooner. So work continues, to be sure, but nothing too dramatic in terms of photographs for the moment.

That said, it was kind of funny to walk down to the boatyard this morning and see Capt. Dan walking about with one of our most stalwart supporters, the skipper of Nova Scotia's sailing ambassador, the schooner Bluenose II, Capt. Phil Watson. Capt. Watson helped lay the twin keels you'll remember and has shown keen interest in the project at every phase.

So the two men were having a good close look at the deck and cabin houses of Billy Campbell's schooner when they decided to 'go below' and sat among the frames to continue their conversation. That, we thought, made for a pretty interesting picture.

Enjoy!

A deck house parade

2011-06-17T12:29:00.000-07:00

Folks travelling along Lunenburg's Montague Street just after lunch today smiled, and in some cases scratched their heads, to see five men walking a deck house down the road.

Their destination? The Dory Shop Boatyard where the house was carefully lifted and placed aboard the westernmost of our twin schooners - the one being built for actor Billy Campbell.

You see, Billy (currently starring in the AMC hit, The Killing) and Captain Dan are sailing into Lunenburg tomorrow aboard the Barque Picton Castle as the ship returns from a triumphant 30,000-mile voyage around the world. Both are anxious to see what progress has been made on the vessels, and in Billy's case, he won't have much time before he must jet off to work in Hollywood, so Dave wanted a chance for him to see the deck house and also ensure the cabin will accommodate his 6' 4" height.And so for the last number of weeks, one of our schooner crew, Tony Chaplik, has been working blessedly out of the rain in a shop just up the road from The Dory Shop.

Tony's the perfect guy to be building these pieces. With nearly 40 years experience as a cabinet maker, builder of fine furniture and boatbuilder, he's inspired by the challenge of the project.

"Making a part and then putting the parts together, whether a chair or a boat or a house, it's very satisfying," says Tony, who started his career in a cabinet shop in Maine. He then worked at the Paul E. Luke Boatyard in Boothbay before spending two years at the prestigious North Bennet Street School in Boston.

The oldest craft and trade school in America, that was "a real hot spot to be," says Tony. "We did a lot of hand work. It was definitely not your average trade school."

Tony went on to operate his own shop, Marblehead Cabinetmakers, which produced fine furniture, cabinetry, exquisite circular staircases and always, always there was boat work.
While operating a sawmill business, he was introduced to master boatbuilder Harold Burnham. He cut practically all the wood for the schooner Thomas E. Lannon and joined Harold as a full-time carpenter on the Pinky Schooner Fame. He also worked at the New York mill shop Big Tree, doing commission pieces, including very fine furniture, doors, windows and trim work for upscale apartments in the city.

Asked what it is that motivates him, Tony shrugs. "I just like buildings things..particularly things that are difficult and demand that they're done right."

Now doesn't that sound like just the right guy for our schooners?

Look ma, no plans!

2011-06-06T12:50:00.000-07:00

We're very proud to tell people that these twin schooners, being built at The Dory Shop by Dawson Moreland and Associates, are being constructed in a very traditional manner including double-sawn frames, wooden trunnels and the like. Our selection of materials is non-traditional in that rather than using locally sourced lumber, as would have been used in the fishing schooners of years ago, we're being very selective and only employing materials that are very durable and rot resistant, ones that can produce a boat capable of sailing in tropical climates as well as the North Atlantic.

One of the most traditional aspects of the build is the fact that we are building from a wooden half hull designed by Dave Westergard and without benefit of any paper plans. Those plans will come later, once these two schooners are completed, with an eye to the day when someone comes along (can't wait!) wanting to own schooner number 3, 4 or 5 in the class.

Now we've always considered the half hull a thing of great beauty, showing, as it did, the lines from which the schooners are being built. But with the hull coming together, Dave thought it was time to take this little lady to the ship modeller's salon for a little make over. Check out the results below.

Crossing the bar

2011-06-03T05:34:00.001-07:00

It is with genuine sadness that we write of the passing of Capt. Matthew Mitchell, 93, of Lunenburg.

Capt. Mitch started his long career fishing in dories at the age of 14, he worked his way up the deck to become a highliner skipper out of Lunenburg, 'retired' to spend another 30 years sharing his experiences with visitors at the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic and was always just the most lovely, kind, generous and encouraging man one could hope to meet.

In December 2009, Capt. Mitch joined Capt. Phil Watson of the Schooner Bluenose II in driving the ceremonial spikes at the keel laying for these twin schooners. He also visited the boatyard on many occasions to check in on our progress.

Our condolences to his family. He will be missed!

Fair weather work

2011-05-31T09:55:00.000-07:00

The sun has finally come out and Bub is taking advantage of it to sand the decks of these twin schooners (and also work on his tan!). Meanwhile, Bob got a coat of primer on the rails.

Hanging plank

2011-05-17T07:38:00.000-07:00

Continued wet weather has slowed production on our twin schooners in recent weeks but the guys do what they can, when they can. That includes hanging the first Alaskan Yellow Cedar hull planks and drilling the hole for the rudder shaft on Billy Campbell's schooner (Billy wants a tiller on his boat). So don't let the blue sky in this next picture fool you; it showed up for Bub's birthday (which says something about him, I think), but lasted less than two hours and was gone again.

Introducing the new Lunenburg Schooners website

2011-05-13T10:34:00.000-07:00

It's been more than a year and a half since we launched this blog to chronicle the building of two classic wooden schooners here at The Dory Shop Boatyard in historic Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Canada. We really enjoy all of the interest and encouragement we've received concerning the Twin Schooner Project and will continue to provide these glimpses of the work taking place in our yard.
But the Twin Schooners are just the first chapter in what we hope will be a whole new era of traditional wooden boat building here in Lunenburg. It's such an important part of this community's history, such a part of our identity; we want to make it a part of our future as well.
And so to tell you more about our plans and vision, our expertise and capabilities, and of course these two lovely vessels currently underway, we have just launched the new Lunenburg Schooners website at www.lunenburgschooners.com
We hope you enjoy it and encourage you to pass it along to friends and fellow sailors.

Working away in the grey

2011-05-04T09:22:00.000-07:00

There's no such thing as spring in Nova Scotia. I'm not saying that to complain. It's just a simple fact. Spring here is a fiction, something Canadian Tire talks about in its commercials so you go out and buy a new lawn mower (and true enough, the grass is growing). But in terms of those bright, sunny, get outdoors and soak up some warmth sort of days - sorry, they don't happen or if they do, they are these cruel one-offs that leave you hungry for more when more isn't available.

And so the gang continues to work under grey skies, often dripping some form of precipitation down upon them. When it's fit (and realize that description is subject to individual interpretation) the gang continues to work on caulking the decks. Tony's also been building the moulded sills for the cargo hatches/skylights.

One exciting development this week was the arrival of a package from Med Chandler, the ironsmith/proprietor of Ship's Coy. Forge in Lisbon, New Hampshire. We met Med at the WoodenBoat Show at Mystic, CT last year. A former crew member of the replica HMS Bounty who undertook his blacksmith training at Boothbay Harbor Shipyard, Med has a keen interest in traditional tools.

"In this day and age there are not many sources for the high quality tools that were used 100 years ago," says Med. "The originals are getting harder and harder to find in a fair price and quality. So I am now focusing on supplying builders and sailors with the tools and hardware that was once available so we can do the same work as they did.

Check out his website at http://www.shipscoyforge.com

A new batten for Dave

2011-05-03T07:42:00.000-07:00

Dave was pretty pleased to tell me that to work with these beautiful long lengths of Alaskan Yellow Cedar, he had to make himself a new batten. The old one (which you can see lying atop the future plank) was too short!

Caulking the decks

2011-04-15T06:24:00.000-07:00

Another sunny spring day and the gang is taking full advantage of it as they continue caulking the decks of these twin schooners. Next door there's much hubbub as film crews begin shooting the second season of the television series Haven, but our gang are pretty oblivious to all that 'Hollywood' stuff. Let's just hope they don't come over asking us not to make noise.

Plank stock arrives!

2011-04-12T09:32:00.000-07:00

The gang was all keyed up about the delivery of our plank stock today. Having travelled across Canada by train from Surrey, BC to Saint John, NB, the container arrived here at 8 a.m. sharp on a truck from Black's Transport. Then followed four hours of heavy lifting as the planks, most over 30-ft in length, were carried out of the truck, one at a time, then re-stacked and stickered.

But wow, what beautiful stuff it is - "as nice as I remembered it, possibly better," said Dave as he surveyed this beautiful clear wood. At one point, seeing a single small knot he called out, "wait, this one's going back!," then turned back to the pile with a smile. It's going to make for two beautifully-planked hulls on these schooners!

Returning from the trip out West during which he hand-picked the logs that were sawn into this plank stock, Dave put together a few thoughts for the Nova Scotia Schooner Association newsletter. Here are his words:

"Some small coastal village was what I envisioned when first starting a search for quality long length clear planking stock for these twin schooners. I didn't expect to be in downtown Surrey next door to a Tim's when I would find logs of old growth Alaska Yellow cypress. Nor did I expect that the person who had selected the logs from a brow on Haida Guai and now owned them would be a Dutchman. But there they were, being bullied about by a small jet powered push boat in the murky waters of the Fraser River. The boat was shoving logs up onto an oversized conveyor chain, which lifted them out of the water about 30 feet up to the de-barker, which in turn rolled and washed away the bark and sent them down again to ground level.

On the ground you had an immediate appreciation for the size of these forest giants, and their now evident flaws and indicators which might reveal what quality of wood was inside. At least this was what I was learning from John. John the Dutchman is a fellow who specializes in buying and milling timber, mostly for yacht construction, reconstruction and musical instruments. He knows his business and spent the whole of that day carefully examining each log and planning how to approach the cut which was scheduled for the following day. There were six cypress logs selected (by John) a month earlier with the schooner planking in mind. Our deal was that each numbered log had a price attached and I had to either agree to buy the log or not buy it once it had been split in two on the mill.

Looking at the now clean sawed butt ends I could see stained and rotten areas going, who knows how far up into the tree, and a similar stain at the top end. These were old mature trees whose time was up. I could also almost see the growth rings; so tight together were they in the largest log, I could conservatively estimate somewhere around 40/inch.

Now I've been in a few mills over the years, but this place was fascinating, not only could it manipulate logs of 40+' length and 5' diameter, but the operator could roll, tilt and adjust the log to achieve just the cut required. The two sided band saw blade, about 8" wide, cut with the carriage going both ways guided by laser. It took but minutes to render these big suckers down to 1 3/4 inch plank. So accurate was the sawing that I hardly think the planks will need to be dressed before hanging them on the boats.

The end result was a large pile of the highest quality Yellow Cypress long and clear, bundled, stickered and covered, waiting for a train."

Brightening a dreary day

2011-04-11T10:45:00.000-07:00

After a glorious weekend of sunshine and warm temperatures, the gang returned to work today in a cold, windy drizzle that eventually turned to out and out rain. Not a great start to the week you'd think but then the nicest thing happened. Having read about a kindly gentleman who's been sending Tim Horton's finest to the gang rebuilding the schooner Bluenose II - something we all thought was pretty cool - Dory Plug rather brazenly posted on Facebook that since we are building two schooners, as well as a sailing dory for the Tim Horton's Children's Camp, we should at least get a few timbits. Well, it turns out this man is a Facebook friend of The Dory Shop and before lunch today a taxi arrives with hot coffee and donuts for our damp and grateful gang. Thank you David Carnes for your kindness. It made for a bright spot in an otherwise dreary day!

Shutter plank

2011-04-06T10:34:00.000-07:00

It's been fascinating to watch construction of the spring fitted decks of these twin schooners, and never moreso than when those last pieces, the shutter planks, go in. This series of photos shows the process out in the Dory Shop Boatyard this morning. Enjoy!

Beautiful!

Second deck nearly planked

2011-04-04T11:41:00.000-07:00

The gang's been taking advantage of some decent weather (interspersed with crazy little storms) and has made great progress on the deck of the westernmost schooner. In fact, Dave thinks they may be ready for the shutter plank tomorrow afternoon. Stay tuned.

One deck down

2011-03-24T07:55:00.000-07:00

It's a funny little quirk of building two schooners at once like this, and both of them unnamed at this point, that I'm never quite sure how to reference one to distinguish her from the other. If you call one vessel Schooner 1, are you not assigning some significance to that hull over the other? And doesn't it sound just a little like Doctor Suess? (Thing One and Thing Two). When talking about them here, we'll often refer to the schooner closest to either Plant 1 or Plant 2 (the grandoise names of the two buildings here at The Dory Shop Boatyard). But I think maybe the safest thing is to distinguish them based on location.

Having explained all of this, you can now look at the pictures and see that the gang has finished laying the deck of the eastermost schooner (!!) and are now working on the westernmost vessel. Meanwhile Jay has nearly finished those hatches he's been working on.

All hands on deck

2011-03-10T08:49:00.000-08:00

Decent weather and a couple of new hands has created a lot of very visible progress on deck this week. Check out these new photographs (and remember, you can get a closer look if you double click on the pictures).

Deck planks

2011-03-04T11:09:00.000-08:00

We've fallen down a bit on posts to this blog lately. Seemed to happen right after Captain Dan left us (maybe we all needed a holiday?). Actually a lot of it has to do with the weather and the fact that while our schooner builders are hardcore, enduring all manner of snow, rain and blood-chilling cold, our photographer is kind of wimpy and likes her nice warm office.

This last week has been particularly tough for the building gang. Monday afternoon brought a quick and dirty snowstorm, followed by desperate deep cold. "The worst week yet," says Dave. Not that he's complaining; he never does. You just see him rub his hands together a bit more often.

But today it's Friday, sunny and finally above freezing, and most of the gang is outside working on the deck planking; the exception being Jay who is building hatches inside The Dory Shop. The wood being used for the decks of these twin schooners is Determa, a very stable and durable South American wood.

A visit from the captain

2011-02-12T12:53:00.001-08:00

Capt. Dan flew home from Cape Town, where the Barque Picton Castle is currently docked, to Lunenburg this week to check in on the Twin Schooners and other Dawson Moreland & Associates projects. As you can see, his meetings with Dave went really well.

Actually, things did go very well and though it was 'a flying trip' (the captain flew back to Cape Town after just four days to complete the last leg of Picton Castle's 30,000 mile voyage around the world), the pair were able to sort many details regarding these beautiful schooners being built here at The Dory Shop. Capt. Dan and Picton Castle will sail back into Lunenburg in June.

Winter wonderland workspace

2011-02-04T12:11:00.000-08:00

Okay, so it doesn't always feel like a wonderland, especially when you suddenly have a couple of feet of snow in your workspace. But our gang liked the fact that when the snow came down, the temperature went up.

As you can see, Dave and Bub have been fitting and installing all manner of knees - hanging knees to support the ends of the deck beams from below; lodging knees, which fasten the forward side of a ship's beam to the schooner's side and bosom knees, which fasten the afterside of the beam to the vessel's side.

Don't let the sunshine fool you!

2011-02-01T08:52:00.000-08:00

As any mariner will tell you, you can't fight the weather. All you can do is watch the forecast, plan as best you can around it, prepare and deal. And that's basically what the schooner gang has been doing lately as we alternate between sun-filled but deeply cold days and a few snowstorms, the biggest of which is forecast for tomorrow.

Needless to say, work continues but a lot of it is taking place indoors.

That's why the boatyard is empty, despite the deceptive looking sun, in this photograph taken from the loft of plant one here at The Dory Shop. Later, we caught a glimpse of Bub out tracing the exact angle of a knee on a piece of cardboard before heading back inside to shape the final product.

The forecast for the next 36 hours is calling for 20-25 cm of snow, so we'll see what mayhem that causes.

Baby it's cold inside

2011-01-24T10:00:00.000-08:00

It's -32 Celcius with the wind chill today (I think that's like -25 Fahrenhuit for our American friends) so there's no work taking place outside. In fact, even sitting alongside the stove inside 'Plant 2' as we call it here at The Dory Shop, you could see Bub's breathe as he worked. Now that's dedication (and a pretty neat photo!).

Feeding chickens

2011-01-13T08:13:00.000-08:00

First off, note to self: never remark on how mild the weather has been lest you cause it to change.

So we got our first major storm of the season here yesterday. I know those of you who rely on newspapers and television to report the weather have been hearing about fierce storms here in Nova Scotia for a few weeks now. But we have really lucked out here in Lunenburg. Even yesterday's storm dumped a lot less snow here than at Halifax or even a few minutes inland.

Still the schooner gang had some snow and ice removal to do this morning before getting down to the real work of the day: paths to shovel, scaffolds and even vessels to salt (pre-salted schooners?). Throwing handful after handful from his salt bucket, Gerald said it was a lot like feeding chickens.

Meanwhile inside The Dory Shop's plant 2, the floors, hanging and lodging knees are being fashioned.

Bunch 'o pics

2011-01-07T07:31:00.001-08:00

Here are some additional pictures from The Dory Shop Boatyard and our twin schooner build. You can see mast partners in place in two of the photos, and also, the mock-up of the aft cabin below. The weather in Lunenburg has been pretty fine lately. Here's hoping it doesn't change much.
By the way, you can click on any of these photos to get a more close-up view.

Deck discussions

2011-01-06T12:03:00.000-08:00

There's been much discussion, and indeed global correspondence, about the deck arrangements for these twin schooners. You see, Capt. Moreland is currently on the other side of the world aboard the Picton Castle (ship and crew have just arrived at Reunion following a four-week crossing of the Indian Ocean). But as Dawson Moreland's president, this venture's head proponent and an ardent schooner lover, the captain has some rather passionate opinions on these matters. So does Dave, of course. And it's not like these opinions were so terribly divergent either. But these are important decisions that will determine the look and functionality of these vessels.

So a third hand was brought to the table. Or more accurately, he and his table were brought into the discussions.

Capt. Tom Gallant, skipper of the David Stevens' built Avenger, also harbours some pretty strong feelings for schooners. And it was at his table, in the kitchen of his snug little Stonehurst home, having filled their bellies with a smoked ham dinner (smoked ham is very good for creativity I am told!), that Tom and Dave sat down with the half model and a few blocks of wood and worked out the deck plan. This in turn was described and drawn out for the captain.

"Salty, sensible, strong and beautiful," wrote Capt. Tom. No dumb looking boxes and plenty of headroom for big 'uns like actor/adventurer Billy Campbell (future owner of one of these beauties) and Tom himself.

With minimal tweaking, these plans were approved by all. Then yesterday, Dave went to work with planks and C-clamps and made a bit of a visual mock-up of the aft cabin. "That's too high," he muttered at one point, before readjusting. But when he was done, all on hand (including Bluenose II Captain Phil Watson, who was passing by) agreed it looked exactly right.

Dave even pencilled some port holes down the starboard side. Kyle added some additional artwork later (see below).

Bob Cratchitt hard at work

2010-12-30T08:05:00.000-08:00

I've been teasing poor Bub Dares, who's been in religiously this holiday season, comparing him to Ebenezer Scrooge's clerk from A Christmas Carol. Nearly every day over the holidays, Bub has come in to our rather chilly shops, stoked up the fires (at least, unlike Scrooge, we're generous with the fuel!), then sanded and varnished the dozens of hackmatack deck beams that are due to be placed in the twin schooners next week. No, Bub does not have a handicapped boy at home (only his dog Smoke) and Dave hasn't had visions of funky ghosts in the night (has he?).

The view from Montague

2010-12-15T08:29:00.001-08:00

Here's a picture of the view from the backyards along Lunenburg's Montague Street these days as the gang continues fitting the deck beams on our twin schooners.

Like father, like son

2010-12-09T10:21:00.000-08:00

It's a family affair at the Dory Shop Boatyard these days as master builder Dave Westergard's son, Kyle, lends a hand with the deck beams for these twin schooners. Not exactly a mirror image, but there's an intensity of purpose that nonetheless says 'outta my way.'

Back at 'er

2010-12-01T12:35:00.000-08:00

There's consensus on the Lunenburg waterfront these days, a sure sign of the Apocalypse I fear, but nonetheless everyone agrees it sure is great to see our gang back hard at work on these twin schooners.

In point of fact, the guys have been back at it for more than two weeks now; as Dave might say, "it's only the photographer who's been a slacker."

There's also been lots of discussion about things like deck layout as the gang work on sheer and bilge clamps and prepare to start making the deck beams.

Meanwhile, lobster fishing season has started too with catches being landed at the wharf alongside the boatyard and many more fishermen trucking their harvest to neighbouring Lunenburg Fish Company.

Sunshine, schooners and lobster too? Life is good in Lunenburg.

Perfect plank, beaming boatbuilder

2010-10-22T10:11:00.000-07:00

Dave's back from a very successful trip to the West Coast where he finalized the purchase of our planking for these twin schooners.

We're going to be using Alaskan yellow cedar, a member of the Cypress family, known for excellent durability and workability.

Dave was really impressed with the Surrey, British Columbia mill where these giant logs were sawn.

"It was a really professional place, very efficient," he said. But most importantly, he is soooo pleased with the wood.

"It's beautiful stuff, clear...perfect really. As a builder, I'm really, really, pleased. (Editor's note: this by Dave standards is practically gushing!)

The plank, which needs about three months to dry, will be shipped East later this fall.

Work on the vessels, which were framed up last spring and have sat seasoning under cover these last few months, will resume shortly with construction of the deck beams.

Can't wait to see wood chips again!

Pretty boats to inspire you

2010-10-15T11:17:00.001-07:00

It's been a pretty long time since we've posted anything to the Twin Schooner Project blog. As explained in a post late last spring, after hanging the sheer planks, we engaged in an extended and fully planned summer break during which time the frames could season (ie, dry out nicely under fitted covers) and so Dave could enjoy some summer sailing on his schooner, Sea Change.
But summer's well over now and it's soon time to start making wood chips again! Dave's been busy for a few weeks already, sourcing plank stock and making plans. In fact, he's flying off this weekend to the West Coast to oversee sawing of some excellent timbers. More on that soon!
In the meantime, to whet your keen appetites for beautiful schooners, here are some pictures from the Nova Scotia Schooner Association's Fall Classic held September 18. Thanks to Maggie Ostler, sailing aboard the Westergard-built Kitty Cochran, for the following report and pictures:

Rocket schooner launched

2010-10-13T12:40:00.000-07:00

It's always great fun to attend a boat launch. And we were particularly pleased to be on hand a few weeks ago for the launch of a vessel that's been described variously as a 'fusion schooner,' the 'next generation of the schooner,' and, our favourite, the 'rocket schooner' Farfarer.

Built for Capt. Frank Blair by Covey Island Boatworks, Farfarer is a 58-ft cousin to the Maggie B., Blair's earlier Nigel Irons designed and Covey-built schooner with which he circumnavigated the globe. Sadly, the Maggie B was destroyed in the same fire that razed Covey Island's former plant at Petite Riviere. Throughout construction, Blair has stressed that he was not looking to recreate the Maggie B. but instead build something new and exciting in its own right.

That he's accomplished with this unique schooner.

During the launch, Capt. Tom Gallant, skipper of the schooner Avenger, thanked Blair for "finding virtue in the schooner rig," while Sandy McMillan of Lunenburg-based North Sails Atlantic, the company that built Farfarer's sails, called her "the next evolution of the schooner rig."

Blair plans to take Farfarer on a voyage inspired by the classic tale The Aeneid.

Visit us at the WoodenBoat Show!

2010-06-18T12:08:00.000-07:00

We're very excited to have The Dory Shop and the New Lunenburg Schooners exhibiting at the WoodenBoat Show, taking place at Mystic Seaport, Mystic, CT June 25-27.

Please stop by to see Susan at booth #316-317 in the land exhibits area C. We'll have two beautiful dories on display and our new Twin Schooners postcards to hand out.

2010-06-03T13:01:00.000-07:00

So one of the pieces (a short one!) shot by the video crew who visited the Dory Shop Boatyard May 21 is up on the Internet. It's actually a promo for the new site, shot with the host alongside one of the framed up schooners (before she impaled her hand on a big angelique splinter). Check it out at http://seaandbescene.com

Film crew visits

2010-05-25T07:02:00.000-07:00

The Dory Shop Boatyard, where we are building these two fine wooden schooners, has always prided itself on being an open access kind of place.
There's always an eclectic collection of boats pulled up on the shore here (including an impressive select of fine dories!) to lure the passerby and locals and visitors alike are always welcome to peak inside the sheds to see what wonderful small boat Jay is building.
The presence of two impressive, fully framed out schooners has done nothing to dissuade the public's interest. In fact, we're now more than ever a must-see on the Lunenburg waterfront and we're happy to show folks around.
Last Friday we welcomed a small film crew who were shooting a video for a new website promoting Atlantic Canadian tourism. Filmed in that impromptu style so popular in morning television, it basically saw the on-camera person flitting about the boatyard talking to members of the spring dory building course (who were outside painting their newly-completed Handline dory shown at http://www.doryshop.com/underway.php) and examining the framed up schooners.
Unfortunately, while mimicking that classic game show maneuver where the gorgeous hostess runs her hands over the hood of the brand-new car (in this case substituting the sheer plank), the female host managed to get herself one heck of a big splinter. She proved a good sport about it, feigning a Scarlett O'Hara faint, then declaring it an authentic Lunenburg Schooners souvenir.
We'll be sure to post the link once the video is available online.

Bon voyage Picton Castle!

2010-05-14T05:41:00.000-07:00

After a two-day delay due to weather, and a 'false start' May 10, so to speak, the Barque Picton Castle departed Lunenburg May 11 on an incredible 5th voyage around the world. Aboard as master, as he has been through all but one short period since the ship's conversion to a square rigger in the mid-1990s, is Capt. Dan Moreland, the visionary behind this twin schooner project.

Capt. Dan and the ship will be gone close to 14-months, but you can bet he'll be fully informed about our progress and checking in with Dave on a regular basis to discuss the build.

By the time the Picton Castle returns, the twin schooners will be nearly ready for launch. We wish the captain and crew the very best on this amazing voyage and encourage you to follow their travels on the Picton Castle website at http://picton-castle.com

2010-05-03T13:07:00.000-07:00

We've been falling down on the job a bit lately -- not the boatbuilders but the photo/videographers. You see, the Barque Picton Castle (http://picton-castle.com) is preparing to depart on her fifth voyage around the world on Saturday, May 8. So Captain Moreland (project principal and a keen chronicler of this build) has been busy on many fronts, as has our support staff. Meanwhile, Dave and the gang soldier on at the Dory Shop Boatyard, making those sheer strakes.

Sheer strakes

2010-04-26T12:25:00.000-07:00

Now that the schooners are all framed up, it's time to add the sheer strakes. These planks define the upper edge of the deck and, in many ways, the schooners' shape. Dave and the gang are making them from Angelique, a rot-proof tropical hardwood that's awfully hard on tools. Seriously, sparks fly when you cut it!

Steamy schooner videos!

2010-04-21T12:40:00.000-07:00

Okay, so now that I have your attention...here are a couple of links to new videos of Dave and James installing steam-bent oak frames on the schooners. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldFk76caLaw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElKhEgRvtNs

2010-04-20T13:06:00.000-07:00

The twin schooners are almost completely in frame.
Between each of the double-sawn Osage Orange frames are two of steam-bent White Oak and Dave is looking to soon put on the sheer strakes. This auspicious event may well call for a celebration, so stay tuned!
The old timers who drop by the boatyard on a regular basis tell us they approve of the construction to date, and that they’ll be “some strong boats.”
Once framing is completed, the schooners will be left to set up and season for the summer and early fall. This was the preferred practice in places like Holland and Germany where the frames of old pilot schooners were let to set for a year before planking to ensure the greatest longevity. This plan will also allow Dave to enjoy some summer sailing in his own fine schooner!

Construction will resume in late fall and continue through the winter and spring, with plans for a twin schooner launch in summer 2011.

The wonders of hot (wet) air!

2010-04-16T07:47:00.000-07:00

Captain Dan and Dave survey the new steam box that's being used to prepare our steam-bent white oak frames.

Dave down under

2010-04-12T12:25:00.000-07:00

Welcome neighbours!

2010-04-09T10:39:00.000-07:00

It has been one of the many delights of this project to have so many folks dropping by to express their interest and enthusiasm in these new schooners being built on the Lunenburg waterfront and to generally 'check things out.' However it's an accepted quirk of Lunenburgers (and it's a Lunenburger writing this) that they genuinely hate the thought of bothering anyone and so for every person who's dropped by during work hours, there's been maybe five who only take a peak while they're out walking their dog of an evening or who drive down on a Sunday afternoon, banking on the fact that no one will be around. Being familiar with this, we've made it a point to provide events at which locals can comfortably, and safely, have a look around and learn about what's taking place here. One such event was held last evening when we welcomed members of the Lunenburg Board of Trade for an open house, known as a Business After Five. We were delighted to have such a strong turnout on what turned out to be a beautiful evening. As you can see, our visitors included both the young and young at heart.

A view of the boatyard

2010-04-06T12:22:00.000-07:00

Here's a short - and we mean micro - video to give you an idea of the scene in the boatyard these days. Unfortunately, it was taken while most of the boys were off picking up a load of boat lumber but Dave's there in the background, fussing with one of the transoms. We'll try to do this from time to time, hopefully showing a little more action.

Captain Mitch drops by

2010-04-05T08:52:00.001-07:00

What a pleasure to have one of Lunenburg's most respected old salts drop by the boatyard this morning.

Captain Matthew Mitchell, best known as Cap'n Mitch, is a veteran of dozens of Grand Banks schooners, some of Lunenburg's earliest draggers, and all of this followed by decades

as one of Lunenburg's most devoted tourism ambassadors in his work at the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic.

In December, Cap'n Mitch honoured us by agreeing to join Bluenose II skipper, Capt. Phil Watson, in pounding the ceremonial spikes at our twin schooner keel laying. See http://www.doryshop.com/underway.php?topid=81

Today's visit (not his first since the keel laying) was a chance to check in on the vessels' progress. He had a walk around with his daughter Joan, surveying the scene with a knowing eye and gave us his stamp of approval and a promise to be back soon.

Peek a Bub!

2010-04-05T07:28:00.000-07:00

Gary "Bub" Dares at work on the twin schooners in the Dory Shop boatyard.

Final check

2010-04-01T10:26:00.000-07:00

Master craftsman, designer, builder...Dave Westergard is a lot of things to this project. However one thing he has no desire to be is our poster boy. So if we manage to get a photo of Dave (he doesn't tend to stick around for the sake of composition if there's something he means to be doing), he's sure to be doing his thing, completely ignoring the camera and ultimately that can create the best images. Like this one taken as he surveys the newly installed transom with Lunenburg's Bluenose Drive in the background.

Installing the transoms

2010-03-31T13:00:00.000-07:00

The transoms for these twin schooners arrived earlier this week and boy are they nice. Made by a craftsman friend of Dave's in the States, they are fashioned from laminated Spanish cedar - beautiful!

Plus, the installation of the transom in one of the schooners (schooner 1?) today provides another exciting landmark for this landmark project.

Photo fun

2010-03-26T11:40:00.000-07:00

So I just love this house located directly up the hill from the Dory Shop Boatyard. It houses two different families and, as you can see, has different cladding and paint colours on each side.

Indoor work

2010-03-24T06:10:00.000-07:00

Two weeks of sunshine have come to an abrupt end, so the gang's been doing a bit of indoor work inside Plant 2 at the Dory Shop.

A little cross fertilization...

2010-03-22T10:17:00.001-07:00

In this blog, we strive to keep you informed about the historic twin schooner build taking place in the boatyard outside the Lunenburg Dory Shop. However, this time around we want to let you know about something taking place inside the shop this spring.

Starting May 10, the Dory Shop will be hosting a 10-day boat building course. This is your chance to build a Banks dory with our master dory builder Jay Langford.

Just six people will be accepted; a number selected to provide unparalleled instruction time and as much hands-on building as possible. At the end of the second week, we'll hold a fun launch ceremony. The dory will then be available for sale.

Given the ongoing schooner build outside, this is a rare opportunity to see and learn about large vessel construction at the same time as you build the dory. We also make field trips to visit other marine artisans including a local sail loft.

The dory course is designed for people with some woodworking skills. You needn't be a cabinet maker but should be familiar with basic hand tools. The course is open to men and women ages 19 and up.

Course tuition includes break-time refreshments, hearty daily lunches at a historic inn just two minutes' walk from the waterfront and a fun launch and send-off ceremony.

The Dory Shop is one of the oldest continuous production wooden boat shops in North America. It has been building traditional Banks dories and other fine wooden craft for fishermen and recreational boaters non-stop since 1917.

Spring fever

2010-03-18T08:01:00.000-07:00

The great weather continues here. We've now had sun a record 12 days in a row and yesterday's temperature hit 12 degrees Celsius or roughly 54 Fahrenheit. Depending where you live that may not seem like much but for Nova Scotia in March, it's a little taste of heaven.
Of course, the day does not dawn quite that warm and given The Dory Shop's location, it takes a few hours for the sun to work it's way over the hill on which Old Town Lunenburg was built and warm our location at the harbour's edge. The situation caused Dave to observe that he and his gang of schooner builders work the opposite of boatbuilders in the West Indies.
"There you'd be working to get over in the shade as much as possible but here, we're always trying to get out working in the sun," he said.
A passersby told us to enjoy it while it lasts. He said the Farmer's Almanac calls for a big snowstorm before the end of the month!

View from the Government Wharf

2010-03-12T11:49:00.000-08:00

Here's the very exciting view from Lunenburg's Government Wharf these days, looking back between the two Dory Shop sheds.

Sunshine and schooner frames

2010-03-09T12:33:00.000-08:00

A person would have to be a fool to think that spring is really sprung and that Nova Scotia's wintry weather is done for another year.

Still, a week's worth of sunshine does the heart good after months of grey and wet, and it sure makes it more pleasant to be working outside in The Dory Shop Boatyard.

Boat lumber delivery

2010-03-03T12:20:00.000-08:00

Dave was glad to have a shipment of excellent new boat lumber arrive today.

It's primarily Osage Orange, an extremely durable southern hardwood that creates such crazy, almost neon sawdust. You can see that the pieces are curved, a characteristic that makes them especially useful, even labour-saving, for frame construction.

There were also a few pieces of Black Walnut and Oak.

2010-03-02T12:18:00.000-08:00

You know all that hooey about double-sawn frames two posts again? Well, the reality is if you can find timber to fit the curve then you darn well use it, as shown in this shot of a forward frame made from solid pieces of Osage Orange.

Presenting the half model

2010-02-26T11:17:00.000-08:00

Here is the half-hull model for our twin schooners, masterfully designed and carved by Dave Westergard.

From the outset we decided to design and model these vessels the traditional way by using a half-hull instead of blue prints. In this way you can really see the shape of things to come.

In this model we were seeking several particular features. As these schooners are intended to be capable of deep-sea ocean voyaging, as well as summer time coastal cruising and racing, we are demanding seaworthiness and speed, stiffness so she sails more standing up than on her ear, pretty sheer, bow and stern, and a goodly amount of room below.

In many respects this a classic Tancook Schooner but with additional beam and other nuances incorporated. We think the model is gorgeous. And of course we are building them to be very strong.

Double-sawn

2010-02-24T11:13:00.000-08:00

The frames of these twin schooners are being built the traditional, time-tested way and so are double sawn and made of hackmatack (you may know it as larch).

A double-sawn frame is made from several pieces of wood, known as futtocks or foot hooks, that are placed end to end to create the curve of the hull running from the keel to the sheer. A second frame that is identically shaped but has joints in difference places, is fastened to the first, forming a frame that is nearly as strong as one cut from a solid piece of wood.

And the reality is you can't get wood thick enough to provide the full curve of the frame for vessels of this size. Using several futtocks, cut from live edge hackmatack like the pieces you see below, makes it possible to build the curve of a frame one section at a time.

Frame by frame

2010-02-23T07:20:00.000-08:00

We promised these schooners would be twins, built up together, frame by frame, plank by plank, creating a new class of vessels that can genuinely compete. And so the logical next step after installing the first frames on one schooner was to install the same on schooner two, as shown below.

First frames!

2010-02-22T12:00:00.001-08:00

A truly significant and happy milestone for this project. But let's let the pictures do the talking this time.

2010-02-17T09:23:00.000-08:00

What a difference a day makes!

Yesterday the gang was outside pounding trunnels in their shirt sleeves and talking about starting framing today. The ground was bare, the temperature was comfortably above freezing. Then pow! overnight we got 25 centimetres of snow (that's 10 inches!) and the landscape is completely different. Not that it will stop Dave and co!

The craftsman's eye

2010-02-15T11:59:00.000-08:00

It's a familiar gesture among artisans of countless disciplines

...that one-eyed examination of an angle or plane, double checked with the brush of a hand that, though calloused, is as sensitive as the most high tech of instrumentation. It can, and often does, lead to an adjustment of some sort, a refining and ultimately, the approval required to move on to the next task.

Or, if the gimlet eye is turned on you, it may mean it's time to stop taking pictures and let a fella get on with his work.

Our girls are growing

2010-02-04T11:11:00.001-08:00

Until Dave and the gang start framing them up, it takes a little imagination to see the two sweet schooners these keels will become. Still, when you place a few photos together, as below, it's not hard to see the progress they've been making.

In this first shot you see in the foreground one of the keels lying upside down while the ballast keel is attached, while just behind it sits the second keel, upside right with her stern post attached, all of the deadwood fitted in around the ballast keel and the beginnings of the stem.

This next shot, below, shows Dave alongside the finished stem with the still inverted keel of the other schooner just visible in the background. It's still upside down, but if you look closely you can see the deadwood is being added.

Finally, this shot gives another perspective of the stem; one from which you can start to infer the future schooners' lines. Made of super strong and durable Osage Orange, which when planed and shaped produces those sunny yellow wood chips, the stems feature a traditional Lunenburg knuckle in the bow.

Of course what these photos don't show is the temperatures in which our gang has been working. While the sun is shining, it's been hovering around minus 10 degrees Celsius all week (that's around 14 degrees Fahrenheit). Not that they ever complain.

Sunny deadwood

2010-01-26T11:21:00.000-08:00

Until working around Dave and Dan, I thought Deadwood was a television western. Well that's true but apparently it's also the name of wood that serves primarily as filler between other aspects of a boat's structure. And that's what the guys are working on in the pictures here.

The funny thing is that this deadwood, particularly the piece being worked on at right, has such a vibrant colour. It really sticks out on a day like this when the temperature is back above freezing but everything is that dull gray that tends to characterize Nova Scotia from December until April. Doesn't look dead at all, does it?

Ballast keels arrive

2010-01-22T10:41:00.000-08:00

The sun is back out today but it's been a challenging week for getting work done outside. There were snowstorms Monday and again on Wednesday. It drove even our most hardcore guy (i.e. Dave) to work inside by the stove.

Still we managed to get the two ballast keels on site. You can see one of the 11,000 lb. mommas in the photos here. Bear in mind that the keel as shown at right has been flipped upside down. You can certainly get a good sense of how things will fit together.

Squaring off the lower stem

2010-01-08T10:29:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

2010-01-04T11:41:00.000-08:00

We enjoyed a bit of time off over the holidays. Not too much though. Dave wanted to take advantage of a few mild days, and some not-so-mild ones, between Christmas and New Year's, the latter arriving with a big snowstorm here.

When not able to work outdoors, Dave and his gang were busy lofting frames and making patterns.

There's something very special about the moulding loft. Just a few months ago this was nothing more than a large empty room on the third floor of our waterfront warehouse. Now it's like Mission Control but without all the technology required by NASA. It's here that Dave has laid down the lines from the half-model on which these two schooners will be built. The lines are drawn full size so that patterns can be made for the fabrication of frames.

At times, the loft has an almost church-like reverence. I think you can see it in the photo above. And of course, if things go off course, the language may well include a few terms that a minister might use!

Sternposts

2009-12-17T05:57:00.001-08:00

Given all the excitement of the weekend, we told the building gang they were welcome to take Monday off. However, a return to mild weather and their own general enthusiasm for the project, had them at the boatyard at the regular time.

Paul started off in Plant 2, carving the rabbet in one of the sternposts. The rabbet is the groove or recess into which the planks will fit. Later he and Ollie were out in the yard - in shirt sleeves no less! - checking the fit of the sternpost into the keel.

More photos from the keel laying

2009-12-15T07:23:00.000-08:00

From the top:

Capt. Dan Moreland addresses the crowd gathered at The Dory Shop for the December 12th keel laying ceremonies.

Capt. Phil Watson, skipper of the Schooner Bluenose II, drives one of the ceremonial spikes.

Designer/builder David Westergaard tries to hide in the crowd.

One of the mallets and spikes beforehand.

When celebrations continued into the night, one little reveller curled up in our smallest dory for a sleep.

Drive 'em home boys!

2009-12-14T07:13:00.000-08:00

We asked for sunshine but I guess we should have specified temperature when we put in our weather order for Saturday’s keel laying ceremonies. Still despite biting nor’ westerly winds that whipped down Lunenburg’s Bluenose Drive, more than 200 brave and festive souls joined us for celebrations as we laid the keels on our twin 48’ schooners.

Dawson Moreland & Associates general manager Susan Corkum-Greek welcomed everyone, promising the formalities would be brief and the cider hot when things wrapped up.

“Today we’re laying the keels on something much bigger than the two beautiful 48’ schooners that David Westergaard and his gang are going to build,” she said, referencing the project’s importance to ongoing efforts to revitalize the Lunenburg waterfront.

It was a sentiment echoed in comments by Lunenburg Mayor Laurence Mawhinney.

“Many years past, this waterfront was the beam upon which Lunenburg was built. So these two beams being laid today are significant of the revival of the watefront that we know and love and want to see rise again,” said the mayor.

Capt. Dan Moreland acknowledged the talents of designer and builder David Westergaard and the process that went into the vessels’ design.

“I said to Dave let’s design schooners that are so pretty, they’re make you cry; so comfortable they’ll make you never want to go home; so fast, they’ll make you win every race you’re in,” he told the assembled crowd.

“Hopefully this is the beginning of many more to come.”

Two highly respected mariners did the honours, driving the ceremonial spikes into the twin lengths of Mountain Gommier. They were Capt. Phil Watson, skipper of Nova Scotia’s sailing ambassador, the Schooner Bluenose II, and Capt. Matthew Mitchell, a 91-year-old seafarer who started his seagoing career as flunky on a fishing schooner, then rose through the ranks to captain. Capt. Mitch went on to skipper some of Lunenburg’s first fish draggers, including the side trawler Cape North, and was also crew aboard the original Schooner Bluenose for a time.

Both men made a good show of it, bringing their mallets down hard atop the ceremonial spikes. Then it was time for merriment in the relative warmth of our two shops where the fires were stoked, the cider warm and the spigots ready on the rum casks. Celebrations continued into the night.

To view video from the event, shot by Robert Hirtle of Lighthouse Publishing Ltd., click here

Watch our keel wood adventure

2009-12-09T11:02:00.000-08:00

If you enjoyed the story about how we came to obtain the wood for our twin schooner keels, you'll love this video of the Grenada Schooner Caper, as captured by Picton Castle crew members who participated in this adventure and put together by trainee sailor Job van der Heijden http://vimeo.com/5481133

The Grenada Schooner Caper

2009-12-08T06:38:00.000-08:00

Excitement is building for the keel laying ceremony, set for this Saturday, December 12th at 2 p.m. We've had lots of people dropping us a line to say they're planning to come and we encourage every one of them - and you! - to tell your friends!

There's actually quite a story behind the massive timbers from which these keels were cut and hewn. It starts at the Caribbean island of Grenada where Capt. Moreland has an old friend and shipwright named Mr. Wesley Pilgrim, best known as Bones. You see, back in the day when an adz trumped a power plane and you could shape a 23' deck beam with a well-sharpened rip saw, its teeth set wide, Capt. Moreland worked for Bones. In fact, he credits Bones and his gang for teaching him much of his wooden ship repair skills and more so, his work ethic.

So a year ago last February, Capt. Moreland was aboard the sail training ship, Barque Picton Castle, on the last leg of its 12-month voyage around the Atlantic Ocean. They were at St. George's, Grenada and the captain was talking with Bones about his plans to build two 48-foot schooners back home in Lunenburg when Bones suggested he take advantage of the shipping opportunity aboard Picton Castle and get some incredibly durable, never-to-rot tropical island hardwood for the keels and stems. Always eager to find new experiences for his crew, the captain offered the opportunity to be part of a boat lumber expedition, led by Bones, into the jungles of Grenada. They would be accompanied by officials of the Grenadian Forestry Service and crew were warned upfront it would be very hard work, quite different from anything they had done before.

The gang on the Picton Castle are an adventurous lot and a team was readily assembled. It was led by Second Mate Paul Bracken and ship's carpenter Matt McGraw, who accompanied Bones to the Forestry Service office that first day, then piled into the back of a pickup truck and headed up into the hills of Grenada.

Matt recalls, "We spent that morning hiking and driving different trails through the dense forest trying to find the perfect tree. Lunch came and went. Every tree we found was too small, too far, too old or too crooked. We were beginning to lose hope when we found what we needed - a 100-foot tall century-old Mountain Gommier tree. Mr. Bones said it would do nicely and said it would outlast six schooners."

Matt remembers he and Paul spent that evening discussing whether it was realistic to fell the tree, mill it with a chainsaw (there being no mills big enough in Grenada), drag it out one mile across a valley, two creeks and up a long hill all covered with thick, mosquito-infested jungle to the nearest road for transport to the ferry and ultimately the ship, now at Carriacou. "After a few rums, Paul assured the captain on his cell phone that it was realistic and practical," says Matt.

The next day, the two young men again met with Bones at the Forestry office where they settled on a price for the tree, collected a forestry crew and headed into the jungle. It took an hour and a half to arrive at the tree. Staring upwards, "we had second and third thoughts about what we were attempting," says Matt. Those thoughts were interrupted as "a spliff-smoking Rasta Man fired up his chain saw and starting cutting.

"We looked at each other and then shouted, 'Stop!' We needed to talk about this. But he just kept cutting and five minutes later a beautiful Gum tree of one hundred years crashed to the jungle floor, crushing everything in its path and echoing across the valley floor and beyond. I looked over at Paul and said, 'Well, now we're committed.'"

The rest of that day was spent milling the tree into rough dimensional lumber. In the end, there were two great lengths of tropical hardwood measuring 30 feet in length, two-feet wide and 10-inches thick and weighing an estimated 2500 lbs. each!

When re-enforcements from the ship missed the ferry the next morning, Paul and Matt decided they would head into the forest regardless. They had with them nearly 30 men, a dog leash, a thin piece of hand-burning synthetic rope and an automotive engine chain hoist.

"In the forest no one was really in charge, just 30 ways or opinions or shouting arguments on the best way to move the timber at every corner," says Matt. As the day went on, the group started to work together more and made a bit of progress using skids and round logs as rollers and pulling on the dog leash and hand-burning rope. But by mid-afternoon the first timber was less than half-way out to the road and their calloused sailor hands were raw with blisters.

Then at about 4 p.m., a cawing sound broke the silence of the forest. Paul returned the call and suddenly their shipmates were running down the trail to meet them. Together, they managed to get the second timber as far along as the first, then across the first creek before calling it a day. "Exhausted but satisfied, we went back to our hotel and collapsed," says Matt.

On Friday the crew returned with the "heavy equipment":two large tackles from the ship, machetes and a thick piece of natural-fibre manila rope to replace the leash and synthetic line.
"I taped up my blisters and we started working smart, rigging blocks and tag lines, sometimes two tackles together giving us a 16 to one advantage," says Matt. By end of day, the first log was out and the second had reached the top of the last hill.

That night, in discussions with Capt. Moreland, it was agreed the Picton Castle would return to Grenada to pick up the lumber. So on Friday morning, after feasting on a big breakfast, the crew charged back into the jungle only to find that several of the island men, having been paid the night before, had declined to return. "Too much rum or the fact that it was just back-breaking work," offers Matt. "Never the less, we were almost finished so we rigged our blocks to get their greatest advantage and started hauling." By 2 p.m., they were roadside to meet the waiting truck.

Trucked in to St. George's that afternoon, the giant timbers were floated out to the ship waiting at anchor, then hoisted aboard using two heavy tackles and a huge rope run up the main mast and down the capstan. Remember, these weighed a total of 5000 lbs! The timbers were stowed on deck, providing what one crew member called the "most available seating of the voyage." Some crew also returned to the jungle to clean up the site and salvage a few more pieces of useful timber.

The timbers then sailed 2000 miles northwards where they were unloaded in the same labour-intensive way and floated to The Dory Shop. Imagine, all that work even before our shipwrights got to them! Makes Saturday's ceremonies all the more exciting.

Here we go!

2009-12-04T11:17:00.000-08:00

Invitations have now gone out and it finally seems official – we’re building schooners on the Lunenburg waterfront!

Of course there was a day when that would not have seemed a particularly big deal. In the early 20th century, Lunenburg was home to Canada’s largest offshore fishing fleet – dozens of black-hulled schooners filled the harbour, creating what was often referred to as a ‘forest of spars.’ Meanwhile at the water’s edge, shipyards rang with the sounds of caulking irons.

But that was then.

Eventually steam trawlers replaced the sailing vessels and before long, these were made of steel, not wood. The fishery changed rapidly ‘til the cod were nearly wiped out. We still process fish here but a lot of it is bought in huge frozen blocks from Russia or China.

The shipwright's skills lived on in projects like the replicas of the famed Schooner Bluenose, the HMS Bounty and Rose, though all of these ships were launched by 1970. After that there were some private yachts and refit projects. Local shipwrights even rebuilt the fire-ravaged St. John’s Church. But aside from the small boats produced at places like the wonderful Lunenburg Dory Shop, there’s been no significant wooden vessel building on this harbour for a long, long time.

Until now.

Anyone keeping a watchful eye knows there’s been more than dory-building going on at The Dory Shop these last several weeks as Master Builder Dave Westergaard, assisted by some keen young ship’s carpenters, prepared the boatyard for construction and began cutting the massive timbers that will form the keels of these new vessels.

And yes, I did say two. We will be building not one but twin 48’ wooden schooners in the best of Maritime traditions. They will be simple and elegant, fast and able and their building will help to bring this waterfront alive.