My work at the Northwest School of Wooden Boat

A Decade of Boat Building.
My work at the Northwest School of Wooden Boat Building.
Timothy R. Lee
In 2000 I built my first new boat, a 14’ Monk Flattie pictured in the top left pictures, since
that time I have led the construction of well over a dozen of this type of boat. The 12’ Monk flattie,
above in the foreground is a standard curriculum element at the Northwest School of Wooden Boat
Building (NWSWB). At the conclusion of the introductory basic skills course each instructor leads
his group of eight to twelve students through the construction of this simple boat. A student rows a
Monk Flattie we built in 2009, bottom left. I supervise students caulking bottom planks of another
bottom right. In the background above and in the center below is the Prothero One Day skiff which
I have built in three day introductory seminars.
Pictured to the left is my first lapstrake
or clinker boat, a 13’ Sid Skiff. The Sid Skiff
is the signature boat of Master skiff builder
Ray Speck. I was fortunate to build my first
Sid Skiff alongside of Ray as he built another.
Ray learned clinker boat building in Whidbey
England and employees the English system of
construction which is typified by thin planks
and many small steam bent frames.
I have built three Sid skiffs, two 13’ boats
and one 16’ boat. The 16’ boat is featured in the
remaining photographs.
In my commercial work I had made only
one lapstrake plank. Teaching at the NWSWB I
have mastered this technique and estimate that
half of my boats have been lapstrake.
Nordic Lapstrake varies from the English style of
building I learned from Ray Speck. Typically this style of
clinker boat building is not lofted and the builder proceeds
by eye. The picture left show the building set up. The Nordic
style will employees thicker planking with heavier sawn
frames spaced well apart. The frames floors and oarlocks
utilize grown crooks from tree roots and branches. The
frames have an integral thwart riser upon which the thwarts
are set but not fastened, shown in the middle photo below.
Trunnels or treenails are used to fasten the frames together
and to fasten the planks to the frames. While I was familiar
with this technique it was the first time I had employed it.
In 2003 I was fortunate to be able to learn this style of
boat building from Jay Smith who has studied traditional
Nordic boat building in Norway, Denmark, the Faroe Islands
and the Shetland Islands. Jay taught these techniques at
the NWSWB in one week summer workshops. The boats
produced in these workshop were not always completed and I was
able to finish one of them under Jay’s direction, pictured above.
Pictured above is the Lawton Tender, a classic small boat from
the east coast of the United States. Built in the English style of Clinker
boat building with many small frames and thin planking it is a light and
elegant pulling boat. The plans are included in John Gardener’s book
Classic Small Craft. I led the construction of this one pictured above and
right, in 2004.
Pictured at bottom left is a Clinker built Partalow Whitehall I
built as a display at the Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival.
Oar making is a related specialized area of knowledge I have
acquired through my work. Each pulling boat is accompanied by a pair
of oars, often two pairs. We build a variety of styles and lengths of oars
This 20’ Pelagic Sealing skiff built in 2002 was my
rst large boat. A variation of the whale boat, these skiffs were
used in the North Paci c and Bering Sea in the pelagic hunt of
the Northern fur seal.
The plans were scant on detail and it was necessary for
me to design the sprit rig, pictured bottom right. For the rig I
designed and fabricated the custom stem iron and shackle for
the jib tack and down haul, above middle, and the mast gate
top right.
In 2004 I began the construction Carl
Nordstom’s 18’ Knockabout Sloop, my rst large
ballasted vessel. I was able to study the plans with
Naval Architect Phil Spauling, pictured below,
who worked on the design as a draftsmen in the
Nordstom of ce in 1933.
Three features that were new to my building
experience were building a mold for casting the
500 pound lead ballast, working out the details and
constructing the gaff rig, and engineering the rudder
post and tube, below. All of my previous boats had
out board hung rudders.
The Grandy Boat Company was located
in Seattle Washington from 1922 - 1967. They
specialized in custom cruisers but also produced
hundreds of pulling boats and tenders which
can still be found through out the region.
In 2001 I developed a set of plans
from the measurements I had taken off of an
original Grandy Skiff built for the Seattle Parks
Department.
Some of the Grandy Skiff ’s distinguishing
features are a sculpted stem head with
the inwhales terminating at the stem. The
breasthook is set inside of the inwhales. They
have a single thwart knee and small frames
3/8” x 3/4” on 4” centers with the planks clench
nailed every 2”. Most indicative is the smooth
lapping of the planks on the full round transom.
In 2004 I built the first of the Grandy
skiffs which would become a signature boat for
the NWSWB. To date I have built six of them.
Pictured above and below is the Mukilteo
Skiff, a replica of a boat built in 1917, The
original was restored for display in a local
museum, above right. The replica was built for
the family who had owned the boat.
Pictured at right is my Small Craft shop in
2004 with the Mukilteo skiff being planked,
the first Grandy skiff and a Partalow Whitehall
being finished and the original Mukilteo skiff
undergoing restoration.
In 2001 we had also
recorded the lines of an 8’
version of the Grandy tender but
had not developed the line and
construction drawings.
In 2007 the NWSWB was
commissioned to build an 8’
sailing yacht tender. At this time
I finalized the lines of the skiff,
and designed a rudder, dagger
board and standing lug rig for
the boat, above and left.
Picture below is an
example of an original 8’ Grandy
tender.
In 1927 Seattle designer Leigh Coolidge drew this 16’ gaff rig sloop for Flacon Joslin Jr. I found
the plans at the Museum of History and Industry in Seattle Washington. Above left the boat is
being framed. The remaining series of photos illustrates the construction of the canvas deck; the
completed deck frame, the tongue and grove cedar decking being installed and after fairing. The
remaining two photos show the canvas being stretched and the deck ready for paint.
The Headstock of the center board supports
the coaming and the knee acts as a pinrail for
the belay pins. Bronze pins minimize the size
of the holes in the knee.
Shop made fair
lead for the jib
sheet.
I designed and machined the
pivoting handle to raise and
lower the centerboard and the
locking pin.
In his sail and construction plan Coolidge leaves many
details for the builder to work out. Above left are the jaws, throat
halyard tongue and tumbler for the gaff spar. Above right
shows the shop
engineered mast
tangs, Liverpool
spliced shrouds
and rope stropped
blocks.
The finished
Falcon Joslin Sloop
with sails and
running rigging is
shown to the left.
The Davis boat originated in Southeast Alaska and appears to derive from the Pelagic Sealing Skiff.
Above left students measure an original 14’ Davis boat. Above center the replica 14’ Davis boat
backbone and molds are set up. At right the boat is being plank with the garboard plank clamped
in place awaiting fastening.
The replica Davis boat sits along side of the original 14’ Davis boat, above right. After the 14’ Davis
boat was taken off the molds I stretched the boat to 16’ feet. The Lofting was cut in half along the
and the midsection was re-lofted. Both Davis boats are pictured above. In building the second boat
we were able to refine our building techniques which resulted in a finer entry.
The 18’ gaff rig sloop,
designed by Paul Gartside
has more volume than
the Coolidge sloop. It is a
centerboard sloop with a
200lbs lead ballast.
The high peaked
gaff rig required careful
attention to the design of
the gaff so that the throat
tongue does not hit the
mast.
Below a mast tang
made from 1/8”
bronze plate and
1/4” bronze rod.
The Yankee One Design Gemini
Gemini is my largest and most complex vessel. Commissioned by Sarah Howell to replace her
Yankee One Design (YOD) Venture which was beyond restoration. We would build Gemini on
Ventures ballast and salvage much of her hardware. The building of Gemini occupied me for two
years and as Sarah allowed me free reign in the styling of the boat, is the best and most complete
example of my learning.
I work out a detail on the loft floor with
students David Howe and Maude Richards.
Student David Edges posses with
the purple heart rudder post and
keel fairing.
Student Lee Thompson routes
the rabbet groove where the
Comparing the stem,
The specific gravity,
forefoot and keel timber
rot resistance and
against the lofting. The
stability of Silver Bali
made it a appropriate
station 1 mold is in its
position and a midships mold substitute for Honduras
Mahogany.
is under construction.
Rogier Severins uses a power
plane to shape a keel timber.
Cutting out the Apitong keel
which will be bent onto the
keel timber.
Raising the backbone and ballast of
the Yankee onto the building stocks.
Student Chris Stohlmen
bolts the clamp and
The extremely curved transom was cold
molded of four layers of Western Red Cedar
with two outer layers of Honduras Mahogany.
The backbone is set up on the building
stocks, with the molds and beam shelf
in place.
The mitered transom would occupy student
Ben Duffin for two months. The planks will be
fastened to cheeks fit on the inboard face of the
transom, above right.
The frames are bent over temporary ribbands and
bolted to the clamp. In the YOD the frame heels bolt to
the floor timbers each of which must be lofted.
In the above photographs I demonstrate planking for my class. In the picture on the left I spile
for the plank which determines the shape and bevels of the plank. Next the plank is backed out, a
process which shapes the inboard face of the plank to fit against the frames. At right the students
assist me in hanging the plank.
With the planking nearing completion, students
work on the deck frame. You can see the old ballast
(with blue paint) and the purple heart rudder post
Yankee One Designs are notorious for
breaking frames, four longitudinal bilge
stringers were added to support the frames,
The mast partners and lodging
knees support the main mast
and prevent the deck from
racking.
Sheer line blocking
stiffens the deck beams
and supports the deck
edge and covering board.
Deck beams are bolted to the
beam shelf and the rim log,
which is a specialized deck
beam, is fastened to the transom.
When planking is completed the hull is faired. Just
as the inboard face of the plank was shaped to fit the
frames he outboard face is planed off to a smooth surface.
The hull is caulked and then re-faired and sanded to a
paintable surface. The the waterline is cut into the hull,
this separates the topside paint from the anti-fouling paint
below the water.
Gemini’s deck was built of two layers of 6
millimeter Joubert marine grade plywood and
six ounce fiberglass cloth set in epoxy.
Once the deck was faired and primed the cabin
side were cut to shape, and though bolted to the
deck frame. Each bolt was custom made from
1/4” bronze rod.
When the cabin sides were bolted
the were bedded in 5200 a marine
polyurethane adhesive. Above,
shoring holds the cabin ends in
place until the adhesive cures.
The cockpit coaming was
doubled to reinforce it and
make it more comfortable to
sit on. So that there would be
no fastening the inner and
outer layers were laminated.
With the cabin front installed
the cabin beams are let into
the beam ledge and the
companionway is framed.
To give the cabin interior a traditional look a painted layer of 3/8” red cedar ship lap was installed
and faired. This was followed by one layer of 6 millimeter Joubert marine plywood and 6 ounce
fiberglass set in epoxy.
I modeled Gemini’s cockpit on the Venture’s cockpit which digressed from the standard YOD
design. It was constructed in the summer Yacht Interiors quarter by student Jake Larsen and me.
Jake consternated on assembling the Silver Bali cockpit sole while I built the cockpit frame. The
water ways were epoxied and painted white. The following year student Marcus Rannala built the
teak cockpit seats.
The interior was also modeled on Ventures interior and started during the summer quarter.
Student Matthew Smith constructed the cabinet with the sliding top while I laid the cockpit sole.
The following year several student participated in he construction of the settes and remaining
interior.
DETAILS
Companionway hatch.
Rabbeted cabin side
trim.
The mast partners are inset with
hardwood to protect the plywood deck
Gemini’s styling is intended to reflect the Art Deco
movement that was popular in the 1930’s when the
Yankee One Design class was created.
SPARS
The intention had been to use Venture’s rig for the new boat but concluded that a new rig would
better serve the boat. Top left and middle are the solid blocking at the spreaders. The unusual
shape prevents a hard spot and spreads the loads evenly. Top right shows the mast being glued up.
We were able to
salvage much of the
mast hardware from
Venture’s mast but
several pieces were
condemned by the
rigger and needed
to be fabricated.
Among them the
masthead crane,
above and the
Jumper stay strut.
Above, stepping the mast.
Once the wood work
was completed we
constructed a cradel to
moved the boat outside
for painting and to make
room so that we could set
up the next boat.
Gemini ready for delivery to the boat yard.
Launch day and sea trials.
As construction was nearing completion on the YOD lofting and construction my next project
had begun. Designed by H. C. Hanson in 1957 for the U.S. Forrest Service this 26 foot motor vessel
would present me with new challenges such as wheel house construction and motor installation.
Hanson was a premier designer of work boats in the Pacific Northwest and the little Hanson design
shows her heritage; a nearly plumb stem, full flaring bow, and firm bilges she looks much like a
PNW salmon troller. From left to right, students prepare to paint while others fasten the guards.
View of the working deck and wheel house bulkhead, and a student works on the wheelhouse.
The plywood mock up of View of the engine compartment. The
the custom fuel tank sits
engine will bolt to the engine beds,
on the tank cribbing.
running for and aft. The tanks fit
under the deck next to the engine.
The custom tanks were
fabricated in the NWSWB
welding shop.
At left I mill the end of a 1” steel rod to make a boring bar. The remaining photos above show
the set up and boring of the shaft log which houses the propeller shaft. It must be in line with the
engine shaft. The pictures below show the construction of the helm and the steering gear.