The day the hull comes off of the strongback is one of mixed emotions. It is exhilarating to see the hull right side up for the first time. All the months of work are now realized. I agree with some that regard a guideboat as a work of art. This day, to me, is also a sad day. All the work of many months is nearly over. What will I do to fill the void, the challenge of building such a beautiful object? Build another guideboat? At age 87 do I have what it takes? I will ponder that question and hope to come up with the right answer.
There is still work to be done. First, the stub ends of the ribs must be cut off. I use a Japanese “pull” saw to do that.
Here is Stew cutting off the stubs.
Here I am taking bows.
Gordon taking bows.
Here is the hull looking lengthwise.
After careful inspection things look good. The excess bedding compound must be removed and any tacks that weren’t clinched taken care of.
Next, the rows of tacks along the inner hull lap are put in. After a plot hole is drilled the tacks are “stuck” in the holes and then clinched. The old timers employed their wives or their kids to stick tacks. The kids were paid five cents a round for their labor. Since there are eight rounds of planking they made the whopping sum of forty cents.
Next, I decide the fate of this “work of art”.