Spring is Really in the Air To-day

For the first time this morning I felt Spring was in the air.. Our fourth visit to the boat I can't believe it how time is going so fast. With all the election brain washing it was great to go down to the boats and have some time out. Every time I visit I'm really amazed at the progress that is being made with the boat and I feel it's like seeing a baby every week and it's growing. The lads had begun riveting the planks. They used copper rivets and nails.

This is an awkward part to rivet as the plank can split 

Rivet cap being placed on top of the nail

Rivet being hammered on

Excess from nail clipped off

Making a smooth finish on the rivet

Copper rivet

Tools required for riveting

We all had a go at the riveting and we took to it like ducks to water! we had a great teacher. I thought it was something that you could really absorb yourself into doing. Maybe I only think that because I done a few and possibly after a few hundred I would be sick of it. As the boat narrows in, this is more tricky because you don't want to split the plank. So the expert did that for us novices. But I think we are learning fast. I think it's funny I never thought in my wildest dreams I would ever see a boat being made. It's strange how your life can take so many twists and turns. 

Whilst we were having a lesson in riveting the other lads were working hard on putting more planks on. The large larch planks have to be cut and planed and clamped on and measured. So a number of things were happening on the boat at the same time. We had a few little chats about getting out of the house and how important that is. While being at home can be nice every so often on a long term bases it can become very boring and uninspiring to say the least.

New plank being measured for cutting

 I marvel at the fact every time we are there how many people call in to see what's happening and how the boat is coming on. It seems that everybody in the community knows this is happening and call when they 

like. The older men have great stories to tell us too when we are there and these stories I find interesting I like history a lot.

So another interesting day out in the community, can't wait for next week already.....with all the college work to keep up to date with the week comes round pretty quickly. The lads are very helpful in answering all our questions it must be weird for them in a sense because we are taking photographs of every move like photography maniacs. But I think it is history in the making building this boat and the life it will have on the sea.