Building a Galleon

[minuteman62-64]

Well, helping to build one anyways. Past two years a buddy and me have been volunteering on the San Diego Maritime Museum's project to replicate (full scale) the Spanish Galleon San Salvadore (see: San Salvador San Diego Build-site - Maritime Museum of San Diego).

Interesting project combining the old (like using pegs for fastenings) with the new (using epoxy to insure compliance with USCG regs.). Lots of massive wooden boat building tools on site. Lots of smart, experienced people on site so every visit is a learning experience.

Here I am today learning a new skill - spinning oakum. Should come in handy working on my "tinney." Also a shot of the stern as of this a.m.

Any of you guys in the SD area looking for some interesting volunteer work, see the web site for info.

 

[spdracr39]

Re: Building a Galleon

Very Interesting !

 

[ziggy]

Re: Building a Galleon

way to go man. gotta be good to keep the old skills viable.

Any of you guys in the SD area

hope that stands for san diego and not south dakota. if it's in south dakota i'm might volunteer..... not quite sure where your gonna float it there though....

 

[minuteman62-64]

Re: Building a Galleon

way to go man. gotta be good to keep the old skills viable.

hope that stands for san diego and not south dakota. if it's in south dakota i'm might volunteer..... not quite sure where your gonna float it there though....

Didn't Juan Cabrillo sail up the Missouri and make land in Pierre?

 

[minuteman62-64]

Re: Building a Galleon

Construction is moving along, towards a September/Octoberish 2014 launch date (w/very minor contributions from me). Hull planking is now over half complete. Originally planned for live oak for the hull planking, steaming it where necessary to make the compound curves, particularly in the bow and stern areas. Tests showed it took something on the order of 15 gallons of diesel fuel to steam one plank (in the big on-site steam box). So, switched planking to a more bendable sapele. Planks being fastened with trunels.

First photo shows approximately 3'x40' slab of sapele. A pattern is made for each plank, traced on a slab of sapele and rough cut with a 10" hand held circular saw. Then the plank is taken to the shop to be planed/milled to proper thickness (about 2").

Second photo shows planking in progress.

Third photo shows my modest little project for today - rigging a tarp over the on-site blacksmith shop.

 

[minuteman62-64]

Re: Building a Galleon

Shaping the masts/booms/spars. See attached. Close to 18" diameter at base and about 60' long. Mounted on rollers for easy access while the shaping/squaring/mortising is done at base. I haven't quite figured out what the guys are doing here, but obviously has something to do with mounting the masts in the bowels of the hull. Not that I'll ever be mounting anything like this on my little 16' tinny, but, pick up a lot of useful info in the few hours I spend working here.

 

[dls322]

Re: Building a Galleon

Neat project! Keep the pics coming.

 

[southkogs]

Re: Building a Galleon

Very neat project: we visit Jamestown every couple of years and see the ships over there. Very fun talking to the guys who rig 'em and sail 'em. Keep posting!

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Building a Galleon

Is the oakum to seal between hull planks, or is something else used?

 

[minuteman62-64]

Re: Building a Galleon

Between hull planks and deck planks.

 

[blackhawk180]

Re: Building a Galleon

Very cool project! When I first read the thread title, I thought "minuteman needs to proof read before posting" but sure enough, you're working on a Galleon! Keep those pics coming.

 

[minuteman62-64]

Re: Building a Galleon

Learning more, little by little, observing hull planking. I had thought fastening was w/trunnels. However, watching the actual operation, turns out they are using 7/16" x 6" bronze lags w/bronze washers. Lag holes are pre-drilled w/counter bores, small roll of oakum under washer and driven home with 1" impact driver. The guys say the oak framing really grips the bronze lag screws. Finally, the counter bores are plugged (that's what I thought were trunnels ). As the planks are installed they are sealed (haven't figured out yet with what) to prevent premature drying/cracking/warping. Quite an operation - four to five person crew does about a plank per day with all the measuring, cutting, fitting and forcing into place. I still haven't figured out the entire sequence, but I'm working on it

Photos show (1) installed below water line planking and (2) a plank being installed, using a 1.5 ton jack against a temp. cleat to force it into position. Poor quality second photo probably due to my flinching when a giant clamp was dropped just as I was taking it

 

[drrpm]

Re: Building a Galleon

Very Cool. I also hear that the remains of the Santa Maria may have been found near Haiti.

 

[minuteman62-64]

Today worked in the bowels of the ship. Cleaning out in preparation for putting 5 tons of tar in the bilges. The tar will bring the "floor" of the bilges up to the elevation of the limber holes.

Learned a couple of things today. I thought the butt blocks for the planks were being attached w/lags. From inside the hull I could see that they are actually through bolted. Makes more sense.

Also, the hull planks are being sealed (on the outside) with rolled on West 105 epoxy resin as they are hung. UV protection will be provided with the eventual coat of top coat (paint, I think), color yet to be determined.

Photo shows caulking of the garboard planking.

 

[minuteman62-64]

Hull complete, weighed and almost ready to lift onto trailer and haul about 1 mile for launching. Masts, rigging and remainder of interior work will be performed on the floating hull at the location of the San Diego Maritine Museum.

Attached photo shows port bow.

 

[Twidget]

That is gorgeous, thank you for posting pics. Keep them coming!