as a student at mitec, the marine technology center of pembrokeshire college, i was able to take part in the build of a replica of a tenby lugger. the boat is part of a project called rising tide which aims to promote maritime identity, history and opportunity across and between Wales and Ireland.
she will be larch on oak.
the keel is solid oak from the forest of dean on the welsh-english border. as the rough sawn log was to big to be handled in the machine shop of mitec we had to cut it by hand. good chance to try out a two man saw mitec tutor and head shipwright for the rising tide project colin evans had lying around in his workshop. although the teeth of the saw were set for crosscutting progress was made reasonably quick. and on a nice sunny day with enough men and women to take their turn it was fun. note the wedges stooping the saw blade from jamming in the cut.
the solid oak keel in front of the temporary building shed called ‘the lughole’.
my scottish friend alistair who lives back up north in Fochabers, Scotland and builds boats, snowboards, fine furniture and everything else you can make out of wood in the old workshop of ian ougthred! keep an eye out for “spey built”
boat builder/ teacher richard davies-scourfield enjoys using old tools…:
the final stroke:
and done.
