Shipyard Memories #12: The Catboats: Framed Plywood Construction, Finished Photos and Sailing.

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This is part 12 in a 22 part series: Shipyard Memories



Well, the construction part of this blog is over such as it was, so it's time for a few shots of the finished boats. Again the differences will be evident between the economical build and the "luxury suite".

This is the only interior shot I have of Catspaw after all the time I owned her. She's every bit as comfortable and useful as Sylvester, but nowhere near as pretty. The interior layout of these boats is almost exactly the same as Friendship, the exception being that although two feet shorter, the catboats are much bigger inside.
 

These are some interior photos of Sylvester. Notable details are the mahogany and yellow cedar louvered doors, book shelves, wood burning stove and heavy bronze portlights. The Brynzeel plywood cabin sides were more than eight feet long so they too had to be scarfed. You can just see the scarf behind the port above the seat in the last photo. These had to be done on the table saw with a rather large jig to make a stepped scarf that would show as little as possible and as a thin line both inside and out. The scarf was of course arranged to land on the porthole area.
 

 

 

 

This is an old black and white of Catspaw when she was sailing in Hardy Bay, Port Hardy B.C. With her very shallow draft forward you could actually pull her up on the beach and step off on dry land. The ship's dog is my best friend of the day "Freda".
 

Sailing shots of Sylvester, Catspaw and the somewhat rare photo these days of two catboats sailing together.
 

 

 

And last but not least the boat builder's favorite photo of a custom build: From the stern leaving the yard to start her new life.
 

That's it for this one folks. If you're still interested I could do a couple of cold molded "Cape Scott 36's" That I built in the 80's and I still have one secret group of boats to post one day…. Several of you have probably actually been on a boat that I built.

Just a tease, I'll get around to them.

Comments, questions critiques are always welcome.

Bye for now

Paul

The early bird gets the worm but its the second mouse that gets the cheese.

cool stuff paul.

working with my hands is a joy,it gives me a sense of fulfillment,somthing so many seek and so few find.-SAM MALOOF.

Thanks for sharing the Builds Paul. Beautiful Crafts.

Main Street to the Mountains