Hi Bas!
I certainly am. These days it's rare to see so large a project being brought to fruition, and even more rare to see it done well. The sheer volume of work, the level of detail, and the overall logistics are stunning (twenty-three years ago I built a 17' (5.2m) strip-built sea kayak to a Nick Schade design, and it was all I could do to finish the job!). The collaborative nature of the enterprise is also inspiring.
His purchasing the old yacht for $1 USD reminds me of the old saying, "Nothing's more expensive than a free kitten." And the amount of work done in the reconstruction and fitting brings to mind a line I once read in WoodenBoat magazine: "The problem with boats is that they're boat-shaped."
I certainly am. These days it's rare to see so large a project being brought to fruition, and even more rare to see it done well. The sheer volume of work, the level of detail, and the overall logistics are stunning (twenty-three years ago I built a 17' (5.2m) strip-built sea kayak to a Nick Schade design, and it was all I could do to finish the job!). The collaborative nature of the enterprise is also inspiring.
His purchasing the old yacht for $1 USD reminds me of the old saying, "Nothing's more expensive than a free kitten." And the amount of work done in the reconstruction and fitting brings to mind a line I once read in WoodenBoat magazine: "The problem with boats is that they're boat-shaped."
I have plans for Ian Oughtred’s Wee Seal, which requires 600 lb (272 kg) of lead for the keel. Just thinking about melting all of that gives me the heebie-jeebies. Aside from lead’s status as a toxic heavy metal, there are some serious things to consider when melting metal in that sort of quantity (e.g., keeping the moulds and pouring areas completely dry).
I don’t recall the exact amount but I suspect Tally Ho’s keel was at least an order of magnitude larger. They’re lucky nobody was hurt during the first pour, which could’ve easily ended in disaster.
I don’t recall the exact amount but I suspect Tally Ho’s keel was at least an order of magnitude larger. They’re lucky nobody was hurt during the first pour, which could’ve easily ended in disaster.
That's going to take a lot of nights of stealing lead from church roofs.
I only found out that melting lead produces toxic fumes when I was well into my 50's. I've made quite a number of fishing sinkers and lures over my life, but all together they would only weigh about 2kg. Casting 272kg is a bit more of a hazard!
I only found out that melting lead produces toxic fumes when I was well into my 50's. I've made quite a number of fishing sinkers and lures over my life, but all together they would only weigh about 2kg. Casting 272kg is a bit more of a hazard!
My old job was like 400T per pan and there's 8 of them and about 10x 200T pans also and various kettles up to 300T.
It was the most awesome place to be during summer, 40°C outside was like 75°C+ in there doing 12hr shifts 😵
It was the most awesome place to be during summer, 40°C outside was like 75°C+ in there doing 12hr shifts 😵
Jeepers H. Creepers! I’ve melted quite a bit myself, but I’ve always done so using a small camp stove - and always took care to stay upwind. Most of the time I was melting down tire weights to make muffin-sized ingots. Four hundred tonnes is another matter entirely.