Lofting Workshop

We hope our students enjoyed last weekend's Lofting Workshop as much as we did!
Lofting a boat ( even a fairly simple one) is quite intense - and as well as that we had some animated discussions about all aspects of boatbuilding and maritime interests. A most interesting way to spend three wild days in West Cork!
We had several enquiries from people who couldn't make it this time - so we are planning to run another Lofting Workshop 17-19 November. The follow-on workshop will be on pattern and mould-making as well as backbone construction. This will take place on 19 - 22 January 2012.
Please visit http://boatbuildingskills.blogspot.com for upcoming schedules.

Progress on "Happy Return"

Once again we have had the opportunity to spend some time on our Stella One Design. With the great help and pleasant company of Barry Rogerson, all broken ribs were replaced, stringers repaired, loose fastenings retightened. The hull is now nearly completely sound.

A New Bow-Sprit for "Jane Paul"

Notice the beautiful copperwork to accomodate the sheave. The bowsprit itself is laminated out of two pieces using resorcinol glue. It was intended as a mast for one of the Castletownshend Ettes, but proved to be too heavy for that. It seems to work very well on the "Jane Paul".

Old Long Island Boat

At the moment we're repairing an old fishing boat used locally around Rossbrin and Long Island. She is one of the old Long Island boats which were rowed and sailed using the awkward dipping lugsail. Cormac Levis writes about the history of these boats in his book: "Towelsail Yawls". She was originally built by a boatbuilder called Keohane near Ballylickey, Bantry.

Click here to see details of
 repairwork on this boat

Photos of castletownshend Ettes we have built and restored

To see the pictures enlarged click: areckardtferreira's photostream on Flickr.

Half Models of Castletownshend Ette

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Ever since we heard about half models at IBTC during our boatbuilding training, we've been talking about making some of our favourite boats. It's a really interesting process that definitely shows up flaws in the lines plan. For instance, we always found problems around station 4 during planking the real sized ettes. We were able to correct our lines plan from the finished half models.

This particular model will be a perpetual trophy for the overall winner of the Ette class at the Baltimore Wooden Boat festival.
See Sailing The Ettes on facebook for more info on events .

Visit to Norwegian Boatbuilding Museum

In October 2010, Anke worked at the Hardanger Fartoyvernsenter, a living boatbuilding museum in Norway, for two weeks. It was a Leonardo mobility work placement organised by the Crafts Council of Ireland. During her visit, she had the opportunity to work with ropemakers, shipbuilders, boatbuilders and youth workers.  She will be giving a slideshow and talk about this amazing experience at Meitheal Mara at 12:30pm on February 24th.

"Pirouette"

Pirouette is ready to sail ! With her newly polished hull and repaired keel she will be a pleasure to sail.
Notice the beautiful new rudder we built for her in the foreground.

Hopefully we'll see her at the Baltimore Wooden Boat Festival ( 27th - 29th of May). There will be at least five "ettes " participating in this event. For more news and updates on events in the sailing season see "Sailing The Ettes" on facebook.

How we build a Castletownshend Ette