Building the TotalBoat Sport Dory: Episode 29 - Installing the Seat Risers

We're moving right along on our TotalBoat Sport Dory build. This week we're going to install our seat risers. This was a tough decision about how to exactly install our risers so that we would have the most amount of flexibility in regards to moving our seats forward or aft.

In the end we decided to make the risers out of one long piece of lumber so that we can move the seats position at any time. We also cut a 15 degree bevel into the seat risers on one side so we wouldn't have to steam bend or twist the pieces into position.

Once we have one side of the seat risers done we can simply lift the position of the starboard side from the sheer and then transfer that to the port side and fasten the second seat riser into position.

The final step is to prepare our breast hook for a final fitting. We've made this out of some great wood and the inwhales will actually run into the stem and transom and cover the stem and the smaller screws as well.

Don't forget! Next week is our question and answer episode, please send in any unusual or unique questions and we'll try to get them answered. Thanks for everything, talk to you soon!

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[moriseskinazi]

and i can listen to this guy forever, even if it is not a boat issue... he is so sincere and lovingly doing it...

[DWillerup]

I appreciate how most all of your craft is working with the wood instead of trying to force boards to do what you want. You read each tree, each board, to determine its most natural use, give the wood room to relive internal stresses when cut, and finesse each piece to best fit its intended function.

[tomjohnson]

Lou you are a genius boat builder and teacher. Great videos always and nice to see you passing your knowledge on to young apprentices.. I only wish you would spend 10 minutes making a better push stick for your table saw so I can relax watching you use it.





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[markkdw]

Great series and loving the new look you Lou, hair and beard cut 👌

[mickcoomer]

I like the use of the cup and tin. I use the cats dinner plate. ( after she’s finished of course).

[jeff-lindawells]

Great video Lou watching you cut the bevel on the blocks gave me flash back to when I sawed my thumb, not off. My experience saved me I had the blade barely higher than the block I was cutting. I was in a big rush, always bad with spinning carbide and steel. Thanks for being real.

[raytheron]

There is no way I will EVER get enough of watching you in action, Lou! it's such a deep, satisfying thing to watch a master at work.

[christianrogers]

Q&A Topic: Can you discuss the function of the frames in a boat like this? As an Architect, I tend to think of frames as something stiff to which finish materials are attached. In this boat, it appears the frames are relatively flexible and function more to hold the planks adjacent to one another than to define the shape of the boat.

[terrulian]

A pleasure to see you figure stuff out and muse over it instead of working to a plan or pretending it was all written in stone somewhere. I think this is how most people like to build things--they just don't do it as well as you. But you rarely see it in other videos and it is just great that you let us see how you reason things out.

[tedbownas]

Coffee mugs and paint cans are time-honored layout and drafting tools. Looking good! 😄

[ronjohnson]

Fan from Alabama: I’ve really enjoyed watching your videos. I used to subscribe to Wooden Boat magazine and I built a McKenzie drift boat and nine foot oars. I look forward to seeing your future videos..!

[randall]

Been watching this season from the first episode -- boy oh boy the boat is looking awesome! can't wait to see her in the water and Lou rowing! Great! Great series! Thanks

[jerikuntz]

Hey, Lou. Love watching your progress on this new boat, just a joy to watch you work.

Question for your Q&A:
Has boatbuilding given you an interest in other related (or not) crafts? For example woodworking or blacksmithing, history or collecting (Tools, or any other antique or item?)
You opened this season with some great shots of you riding your motorcycle, would you tell us a little more about your bike or history with motorcycles?

[arkansas]

Great idea to cut/use the 15 degree angle. You continue to come up with ideas to overcome boat building issues, nice results. ....13

[andrewsmith]

I look at the little boat Ive been making, on and off over about 5 years, and as much as I love it, I wish I had have seen your videos earlier.
Great skills, knowledge, and you seem like a top bloke too.
Andrew from Australia.

[martynlegg]

Such a lovely project Lou, you're a gifted teacher!

[tomtruesdale]

Another great video from the boat shop. I see that I am not the only one who uses cans, cups or whatever as design aids. Lou PLEASE be careful with that table saw, no need to leave fingers on it. Feather boards can be your friend.

[benedictrehiesi]

Amazing to see those skills on a video, something you don't usually get nowadays.

[riaanvanniekerk]

For the Q&A, would you ever consider building a wooden hull beach cat? Maybe with a donor rig so one has free reign with the hulls? Diggin' the videos, part of my week.

[Hindukushsailing]

Really enjoy the vast knowledge you possess about your craft. You pass along this info in an interesting way. Keep up the good work.