Waterproofing The Boat Hull With Cotton - Episode 263 - Acorn to Arabella: Journey of a Wooden Boat

You've been waiting, and now it's here. Caulking the hull of this wooden boat. It's not mysterious, but it does take practice, and Arabella's dynamic oak planking edge-set on its inboard edge makes it so we have to be very careful with the amount.

Overcaulked, a wooden boat can break frames or pop planks. It's an extreme result, and not likely to happen, but we're proceeding with caution and good advice from Larry Pardey and Bud McIntosh, as usual. "Details of Boat Construction" and "How to Build a Wooden Boat" came off the book shelf frequently at the start of this build, and still come out from time to time.

After caulking, seams are painted with regular topside paint above the waterline in order to protect the cotton, and also to hold it in place. It's driven in there pretty well, but the paint really does help to hold it in place for all our other steps.

Thanks to all the volunteers who made bungs and came to bung the boat over a few days. A few thousand went in, and it was quick and efficient. Thanks!

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Acorn to Arabella is a wooden boat building project taking place in Granby, Massachusetts. Steve started as an amateur wooden boat builder building a 38' wooden sailboat in his backyard: designer William Atkin's Ingrid with a Stormy Petrel's gaff rig. These videos follow the journey from tree felling, to lumber milling, to lofting, to the lead keel pour and beyond—sharing details of the woodworking, carpentry, metal smithing, tool building, and tool maintenance that classic wooden boats command. This ultimate DIY boatbuilding project will continue well past launch, when he and the crew will travel and learn to cruise aboard the handmade wooden boat that they've built. Just kidding about all that, this channel is about a Siberian Laika named Akiva.

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[mathijs]

As much as I like the video's where a lot is going on and all the work done by everyone is shown, it is a real luxury to sit back and watch Steve explain for almost half an hour his process and decisions, and showing the careful and methodical way he does things. Ben's music is the icing on the cake (or should I say cotton in the seam?).

[eggfooyung]

Steve is so modest in explaining everything. Even though he clearly knows a LOT about the process he is humble and promotes other expert sources as well. A sign of a true expert 👍🏻

[matthewrowton]

The amount of research, and home work you have done to gain the knowledge this far is...., just incredible to me you sir are an inspiration.

[robertshelton]

Other thing is, I'm sure the endless comparisons with Tally Ho are exhausting. As an arm chair enthusiast, I like following both projects and the differences in your approaches. I know you work with Bob and other experienced shipwrights and that while this may be your first boat, you're drawing on the experience of a number of experts. Great work Steve

[RedHillian]

Love the throwback feeling of this, to just Steve working on his boat and patiently explaining to us how & why he's doing it like this. While seeing the project grow to having such an amazing team of boatwrights, other staff, and volunteers in the yard has been glorious - seeing a day of "one man and his boat" is really lovely.

[philparmenter]

Happy A2A day everybody from Plymouth U.K.

[maoribaca]

I admit, I... foolishly, for a second, questioned whether or not Steve knew what he was doing with the whole caulking situation. lest I be reminded once again of the truly outstanding level of research and thought he dedicates to this life work of his. i am once again humbled and thank you dearly for it, Steve. I will take this as a lesson to always, always, do your homework.

[mceajc]

I can't get over how beautiful it already looks. Those lines - mesmerising.

It's mind-altering to imagine that this is the process that practically ALL floating vessels went through for hundreds of years. It is humbling the effort our ancestors went through, the knowledge they accumulated and passed on.

[NZobservatory]

You have to respect and admire the boatbuilders of yesteryear who did everything without the aid of powertools.

[GG-tymi]

What a relaxing video! Steve taking time to provide the basics of caulking, then demonstrating how he goes about the chore. Ben's music... Enthralling. Maybe Ben should put out a CD.

[nightkilr]

The first episode i saw was when you poured the keel. Back then i thought you guys were crazy. Still not sure if you arent, but this has been a multiyear project of determination and love. I cant wait to see Arabella hit the water and her sails full of wind.

[avoirdupois]

It is so impressive to me to see the huge amount of curvature near the stern, it really hit home once the hull was faired. I love those sweeping views of the hull, it really highlights this.

[rogerbayzand]

Steve it's nice to hear your research and sound reasoning for your processes. As a young boatbuilder I was gifted a set of caulking irons by a retired shipwright but no mallet, I used a carpenter's mallet throughout my career and none of the vessels I caulked sunk! I am now long retired and have passed on those irons to a new apprentice at our local boatyard and hope they continue to be used for generations to come.

[charlesmyhill]

Episodes come booming in every Friday on time and are always informative and authoritative. That's called professionaliam and reflects every aspect of what goes on in the shed. Well done.

[StumpCreekSentinel]

Steve, I appreciate your full detailed explanation of how you have approached the procedure in packing the cotton with respect to the gap of each individual joint.

[jeromewalton]

I share the sentiments of a quick scan of the comments here. Love listening to someone who learns something and then puts it in to practice and then makes adjustments based on personal preference while following the guidance of many who have come before.

I own a remodeling business and my son has worked for us for 4 years. It’s so cool to watch someone take knowledge in and then put into practice on their own and see how what you taught them comes out through their eyes and hands.

[jcarleezy]

This A2A project is a national treasure. Seriously.

[TheArtofBoatBuilding]

Excellent episode! I can hardly watch to the end being excited to go to my boat shop and work. Very inspiring!

[mikef.]

Great explanation of the caulking Steve, and of the balance between timber expansion and all the other considerations. I learned a lot listening to you explain things there!

[paulheitkemper]

"seams about right" love it.

Very chill vibe on this video. Well done Steve and Ben.