December Update... (Patreon)

Hey guys! I just wanted to write you a note to let you know what’s going on behind the scenes.

Cecca and I are going away for Christmas in a couple of days. We are actually spending Christmas in New York, housesitting for some friends, and then we are heading back to the UK for a few weeks to catch up with friends and family. 

One of the reasons that we are going to New York is so that I can go and see some seasoned White Oak which I am hoping to use for deck beams. I will be visiting a specialist sawmill in the area, and hopefully we will get a load of timber cut for the deck structure, which will be transported across the country shortly after I return from the UK. It seems crazy to move timber so far, but I really do believe that seasoned Oak is the best and most authentic material for this boat, and there simply isn’t any in the sizes that I need on the West Coast. Of course, if I had planned a little better…

Right now I’m tidying up the yard and wrapping up the million things that need to be done before we leave. The beam-shelf scarphs are cut and fitted, but have yet to be bolted. That might have to wait until I get back - we will see how it goes tomorrow! Either way, there should be a video released this weekend. I stress-tested the timbers (with the help of a bottle-jack and forklift) and am fairly confident that I should be able to bend them into place with some help, so that will be one of the first jobs for when I return. Getting the twist in these large timbers is likely going to be the hardest part, and so they might have to be steamed and/or planed slightly to shape. 

Unfortunately I’ve been having some more issues with the county over the last few months, which have been taking up an awful lot of time, energy and money. I don’t want to say too much about it yet, but I’ll let you all know when it is finally resolved, which should be fairly soon now hopefully. 

When we get back I’ll also be starting to make the patterns for the cast bronze floors. Once the beam shelves, stringers, and floors are in, it will be time to start planking (planking could be done before the deck structure too). All in all it should be an exiting start to 2020. In the meantime, I will be filming the mission to mill the Oak on the East Coast, and some of my other adventures in NY and back in the UK.

I have to admit I’ve been a little stressed and tired at times over the last few months. Running this project has been so much more than just rebuilding Tally Ho, and sometimes it feels like I barely have time to pick up a tool and actually make progress, which can be very frustrating. However, I am well on the way to resolving many of the things which have been bogging me down, and I am already feeling a lot more positive! Throughout tough times, I am always buoyed up by the amazing support from you guys - it really does make ALL the difference! I feel truly lucky to be in this position - so THANK YOU.

Happy holidays!