Last Week of the Winter Trimester

The Sassafras 16 is glassed inside and out.  Next, we will install the inner gunwale rail and start closing in the bow and stern with decks and trim.

The stem and gunwales and breast-hooks on these boat get locked together with a little thickened epoxy. Then we shape the end and round it over to accommodate the bronze stem band.

A couple of the guys have begun cutting out and shaping their thwarts.

And some are still finishing the lashing of the ribs.  All the steaming-bending is done, though!

First canoe off the forms.

With all but one rib in place, it was high time to take this boat off of the forms. This makes it a bit easier to get in and lash, but mostly it is fun to really appreciate how light this boat will be.

Sassafras 16 with gunwales in place.

I like to say this is when we put ALL of our clamps on display.

With the gunwales in place, we will be ready to turn this over an really go to work on the hull - filling the lap-stitch joint, cleaning up the ends and sanding everything, in preparation for the glassing of the hull.