Four Months Left, But Who's Counting? - Episode 254 - Acorn to Arabella: Journey of a Wooden Boat

Boat navigation equipment normally lives both inside a boat and in the cockpit. One place, the navigation table, allows one to make a plan comfortably out of the weather. The cockpit equipment, obviously, is easeful to see and use from there. For example, the man overboard button, right in front of a skipper, is where it ought to be. It's not just about convenience.

Steve mocks up and then builds a box for in-cockpit navigation essentials,

Also in this installment: more portlight work with Aaron and Adin, some talk about Dorade boxes and how they work, satisfying carpentry and joinery, and a few days ripped off the countdown calendar.

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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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Really appreciate the shots of the crew using a Yankee Screw Driver. Brings back memories for me of watching my dad use one as his go - to tool when installing door hardware during the 1970s.

[stacyhills]

Ben, that last tune is proper. Well done.

[claudehopper]

The shot of Steve at the band saw with the silhouette of the trees thru the boathouse was epic, and Steve building the enclosures with Bens musical score made my day . Great video

[gritnix]

The front cover for the instrument box....if you wouldn't mind it sticking out toward you, it could drop on hinges like a secretary style desk. It then wouldn't get moved and misplaced and wouldn't need a place to be off to the side while it wasn't installed. It could then be used as a writing surface or a place to put things while viewing the instruments.

[ToddSonneborn]

Love the etched glass in that round porthole!

[tvanddy]

One of the joys of watching this is discovering new tools and gadgets. I need one of those paint pouring lids!

[brianbender]

Good choice taking on Adin! He is competent and has a good relaxed vibe. Also great soundtrack during Steve's box joint session. And I really loved the llamas. A nice contrast to the industrious humans.

[perssonwals]

Came for the wood, stayed for the bronze😊The portlights are beautiful.

[stevencarpenter]

As always an interesting and informative video. Well filmed, edited and scored. Really sorry KP is still out and pray she recovers soon. I came on board late but watched every video and now I am going through withdrawal having to wait an entire week! Praying for Steve's Mom and for KP healing. I'll be following Steve and Arabella for years to come! God bless Arabella and her crew!

[JacqueHarper]

Steve's title: Chainsaw and Sharp Chisel.
Love the staring contest with the llamas at the end.

[scamoatz]

Steve title: "Steely Eyed Boatman". I've been onboard since the start. You built a boat, I built a house. Quite the journey. God Speed Arabella!

[MordecaiV]

The knife is fun, but that sandwich is the real work of art.

[caseylevy]

Steve the "Box Maker"... great storytelling Ben!!

[todddunn]

Just a comment based on 40+ years of sailboat ownership. A Day/night solar vent set to exhaust on top of the house would be a much better and more effective way to ventilate the head and keep the entire boat smelling fresh. That portlight into the main cabin will work both ways.

[donwilliams]

I'm glad you are getting lots of help. You seem to be right on the course you've charted.

Blessings, Don

[rjshearon]

While watching your work for cockpit equipment, I thought of the expression, "Building A Swiss watch". Furniture grade work. Very impressive.

[Tomhohenadel]

Another Friday morning with A2A and a good cup of coffee to boot.

[doughudgens]

Steve’s title: Master Internet Instructor. His ability to simply explain things for a wide audience spectrum is hard to find!

[Sailor_Greg]

0:30 Give the sandpaper a quick scrub with a hard bristle brush every minute or so and it will stop the little hard nodules of epoxy from forming on the sandpaper - it will improve your sanding efficiency and reduce the chance of pigtails. Great video as always!

[jameshelton]

00:56 woah, need one of those. great progress, thank you for sharing