Acorn To Arabellavideo

Acorn to Arabella - Journey of a Wooden Boat - Episode 113: Deadeyes and Hanging Planks

29 May 2020 · 23 min · 156K views

What this video covers

The restoration of the wooden boat Arabella continues with the fabrication and installation of oak hull planks and the preparation of live oak deadeyes. To create the deadeyes, the crew planes live oak stock to a three-and-a-half-inch diameter, applying linseed oil to the timber before final shaping on a lathe.4:14 For the hull, the team uses an Alaskan Mill to rip oak slabs, though the process requires frequent sharpening of the saw chain to maintain efficiency.5:52 When fitting planks, the crew uses a bevel gauge to transfer angles from existing cedar patterns to the new oak, carving notches into the plank edge to guide hand-planing.11:19 To manage the installation of long planks, the team now fastens the midship section first, leaving the ends loose to allow for easier alignment and final adjustment before steaming.20:52 Knot repairs are performed on sections that do not require steaming, while edge knots are left until after the plank is installed to avoid compromising glue joints during the heating process.14:32

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