Testing Med's metal

It was more than a year ago that the team at Dawson Moreland & Associates, builders of these new Lunenburg Schooners, were contacted by New Hampshire-based blacksmith Med Chandler with an intriguing offer.

Med, whom we'd met at the WoodenBoat Show at Mystic in 2010, wanted to give us a full set of his hand-forged caulking irons to 'road test' on our twin schooners.

A former tall ship sailor who started blacksmithing at The Fort At No. 4 living history museum at Charlestown, NH in 2003 and honed his craft while working on traditional vessels like the replicas Discovery and HMS Bounty at the Booth Bay Shipyard, Med recently established his own forge.

He specializes in maritime work including traditional tools and hardware, but also makes handsome fixtures for land-based lives as well. Check out Ship's Coy Forge at www.shipscoyforge.com

Med and his wife Mo took some rare time off last summer to visit the twin schooners and The Dory Shop while attending the Lunenburg Wooden Boat Reunion. At that point, we'd used some of his irons to caulk the decks of the schooners. But the real test of his metal (see, I didn't mean mettle after all!) is taking place right now!

Making the most of mild weather

The twin schooner gang has been taking full advantage of the relatively mild weather since Shutter Plank weekend to fair the hulls, install the cap and rub rails and start caulking these lovely ladies. Dave's also hung one of the rudders.

Although we never know when the weather may turn, we do know that the local groundhog, Shubenacadie Sam, did not see his shadow yesterday and that's supposed to mean that we'll have an early spring. Just what "early spring" means in Nova Scotia is, of course, anyone's guess.

Plugging away

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

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

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

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!

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!