Ahoy Mateys, Raise the Main Mast!

It seems to have been relatively slow going recently as we are finishing the main structural items and are moving to the outside or decorative items. It seems like most of what we do is discuss the best way to do this or that. I guess you will have that when there are no plans besides the ones that are in your head! It also seems that the other thing I have been doing is going to Home Depot or surfing Amazon for more supplies. Those pre-fab playhouses that are set up at Lowes and Home Depot seem less and less expensive now!

Over the past week, however, we did accomplish a major task - we got the crow's nest and Jolly Roger flag installed and the main mast permanently attached to the ship. The crow's nest is half of an old Jack Daniel's whiskey barrel. It is just the perfect size and scale for the Becky's Revenge. However, the addition of the crow's nest on the top of the mast immensely increased the weight. I had to wait a couple of days for my brother to come up and help me raise it so I didn't fall and break my neck while trying to hoist a 16' long 4x6 with ~100 lbs of added weight added on the end of it!

We are currently working on the final framing of the front of the hull, the access steps and the decking! Only 3 weeks left until the christening of The Becky's Revenge and there is still a lot left to do!

Profile view of the ship prior to adding the crow's nest.

Little Dude trying to help measure the hull framing

The awesome drill bit I found to drill all the holes for the carriage bolts (Home Depot is a dangerous place!)

Inside of the crow's nest prior to reinforcement.

The main mast is ready to hoist!

This is as far as I got before I decided it would be prudent to have an extra set of hands to finish lifting it.

Mast hoisted and attached!

Stay tuned!


TWB

All Framed Up

Another weekend, another milestone on The Becky's Revenge! We were able to get the entire floor framed up by finishing the bow of the ship. After a slow start while fighting with multiple angles at the front of the ship, we got the rest of the outer joists attached as well as the inner joists at the front. We were also able to get the lower deck line attached to the back of the ship. We even had enough time to dry-fit the bowsprit (I am becoming an expertly shipbuilding terms) and the main mast! While standing on the upper deck, we realized that we can see 2-3 yards over. This is quite the project! I am currently working on setting the railings all the way around the ship and we will be working on the ramp up to the ship next!

  

View from the upper deck

 

I have my concentration face on!

 Trying to decide on the angle of the bowsprit

Chad doing his best Titanic reenactment. No icebergs in sight!

 Front view of the ship

 

Testing the height of the mast

 Stay tuned,

TWB

Going overboard

Over the past couple of weeks I have been able to make significant progress on The Becky's Revenge. I have been getting about 45 minutes of work done each night after Little Dude goes to bed and before it gets dark.

Mid-last week, bow of the ship is rough set!

 

Little Dude checking out all the angles at the front of the ship

My wife was nice enough to take time out of her homework schedule last Sunday to watch Little Dude so I could have an entire day of work. As I continue to build the ship out, it has become apparent to me that I may have gone a *tad* overboard in the size of the ship. My wife tried to warn me, but true to form I over-designed and now Little Dude is going to basically have a Spanish Galleon in the backyard once all is said and done! Luckily we have a pretty decent size yard, so it doesn't dominate the entire landscape.

 

~75% of the hull ribbing is set after a full day of work on Sunday

 Looking head-on at the ship

Close-up shot of the hull ribbing near the front corner

Almost all of the hull ribbing is complete and about 30% of the post railings have been set. After I finish the basic railing frame around the ship, we will be starting the "boarding ramp" up to the ship and working on the mast. I am really proud of how everything is coming together and barring any major setbacks, we should be on track to christen The Becky's Revenge by late June for Little Dude's buccaneer birthday bash!

That's all for now,

TWB