Mayflower #2 - page5

July 24, 2014....I decided to build the Mayflower on a 30% larger than the original one.  

There are two reasons for this decision....
Reason #1 - I found that I had made a lot of errors in the first one, simply due to the two year layoff.
Reason #2 - I knew that I could get much better details by going to the larger scale.

So, I will now refer to the two projects as MF#1 and MF#2.

Again, no log photo's of the mundane cutting out and assembling the frames and bulkhead parts.

Progress photos begin at this point after about four weeks of working on it off and on while continuing to work on the smaller version.

Her first layer of planking went fairly quickly.
Not too concerned about perfection of these planks as they merely serve as a surface to glue the outer layer of finished planks to.

Note that the keel has not been added at this point.

The decks have been planked and the bulkheads are completed.

I used basswood for the deck planks.

A two coats of wipe on poly has been applied with no stain.

I have only tree nailed the plank joints at this point using tooth pics.  I will come back later and add many more tree nails.

Bow deck and bulkhead completed.

Fore castle deck completed.

I tried a new method for the deck plank 
caulking.

Seen here, I edge glued a thin strip of vinyl, taken from the cover of a cheap three ring binder, to one edge of each plank and trimmed flush. 

The stern is planked and windows installed.

Note....I found some serious mistakes in this area and will need to come back and completely re-do the entire stern / transom.

In fact, I have decided I am not that crazy about the walnut hull planking.

So, since I know I have to re-work the stern, I began thinking about using another lighter shade of wood for her hull.

Found the perfect solution while shopping at Walmart....

 This is a cutting board I came across at Walmart.  I was struck by the amazing beauty of the grain.  Looking at it more closely, I found the wood to be laminated BAMBOO 
strips.

What the heck....can't hurt to play around with it and see how it does.
Nothing to loose.....right?

Used my table saw to rip the planks seen here from the front and back surfaces of the cutting board.

And here is the results.


Corrected all the mistakes I had made and used the bamboo planks.

Very pleased with the results.

Back to Walmart to buy another bamboo cutting board to make sure I have enough to do the entire hull.

Alarmed, at first, when I discovered they were sold out of the cutting board.

But then I saw this large serving tray in the same area.....same bamboo.....and it is twice the size of the cutting board.

Counting the rails, it has a surface area of 
20" x 20".
Since I am ripping both front and back surfaces, I think there will be more than enough for this project.

Here is how the bamboo planks look on the hull.
A single coat of Golden Oak stain has been applied.

Will tree nail and then use several coats of wipe-on poly finish.




I opted to plank the bulwarks.
Used walnut to match up with all the bulkheads.

She is ready for tree nailing before I resume planking below the whale.

Planking continued.





















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