Don Barker – Page 7 – Small Boat Shed Volunteers

Jan 14, 2025 | 1925 Smith Island Skiff: Taking off the lines

We used the shipyard forklift to raise the boat and position its keel above the edge of our plywood floor. The edge served as centerline for our half-breadth measurements.

We used a plumb line and framing square to transfer the centerline to the plywood lofting floor below the boat. Then we transferred keel, chine, and sheer half-breadth measurements from the centerline at 8 stations, plus stem and rudder post, to the lofting floor. We measured the height of each of these points above the plywood baseline. We transcribed these measurements to a table of offsets.

Dec 11, 2024 | 1925 Smith Island skiff: Painted bottom and rudder

Tom and Don put new paint on the skiff bottom and rudder.

Dec 3, 2024 | 1920 Smith Island skiff: Replacing frames

Last week we pulled rotten frames out of the 1920 Smith Island skiff. Here Tom removes iron nails that secured the frames and drills open the nail holes and bung them.

Greg joined our volunteer crew last week. Greg and Tom prepared the 1925 skiff bottom for new paint.

Dec 3, 2024 | 1925 Smith Island skiff: Bottom prep and painting

Nov 26, 2024 | Topsides primer – 1925 skiff

Nov 19, 2024 | Bottom paint for the 1925 skiff

The shipyard crew showed up to help us flip the skiff. Tom and Gordon sanded the bottom. Sam showed us how to tape a waterline. Tom stayed late to do the first coat of bottom paint.

Gordon and Don finished sanding the sides of the 1920 skiff.

Nov 12, 2024 | How to sharpen scrapers and remove rotten frames

We walked over to the boat shop, and Sam showed us how to sharpen standard scraper blades with the low-speed grinder and HSS blades with the grinder and honing on a diamond stone.

We spent the first half of our work day scraping and painting the two Smith Island skiffs. And the second half assisting Sam to remove two rotted frames from the 1920 skiff. Pull saw and chisel to remove the frames. Then nippers and punch to remove nails and screws. Remaining nails will be drilled out. The bottom planks will be primed before we replace the frames.

Nov 12, 2024 | Scraping and painting two Smith Island skiffs

Strong winds from the NW blew up whitecaps on the Miles River. We were protected in the lee of the small boat shed and warm in the morning sunshine on the porch.

A small cruise ship was at the CBMM quayside. A few travelers stopped by to ask about our work.

We finished scraping and sanding the deck and washboards of the 1920 Smith Island Skiff. Today we got started on the sides. Encountered wood rot at the bottom plank fastenings along the chine. This is due to “iron sickness” from interaction between the nails and the wood.

And we learned to use the heat gun with more care to avoid igniting the very dry and soft wood.

Tom and Jenn put final another coat of paint on the deck, coaming, and stern-interior of the 1925 Skiff.

Nov 5, 2024 | More sanding. And a job box.

More scraping and sanding today for the 1920 Smith Island Skiff.

Improving the efficiency of our work area out on the east porch of the small boat shed.

Oct 29, 2024 | Interior paint for the 1925 Smith Island skiff

It was near freezing at dawn on the Eastern Shore. But things warmed up nicely by noon.

School kids visiting the Small Boat Shed watched Jim mixing paint. Jen is ready to dive under the fore deck to prep and paint. Tom wipes down the stern section. Then we applied the first coat of interior paint.