Bristol Shipwrights

10/10/2022

While the work continues on Dawnell, we’re still getting things sorted for Evelyn. She’s going to need spars. In fact, quite a few.

We got lucky and found just the wood we need: 8/4 VG Sitka spruce planks and most of them are 30’ long. She’ll certainly have lovely spars. Someday.

10/04/2022

Thirty knots from the NE and cold rain made it a good day to take a look at Dawnell's rudder. Separating the pieces and driving out the bolts isn't much fun. But it's necessary if you think some of it is salvageable.

Right now, it's obvious the stainless bolts and drifts will have to be replaced with bronze. It looks like the center piece will have to go. Then again, maybe everything should be replaced? It's all good as long as it's done by spring.

Keep an eye out for an update on Building Evelyn late this week.

09/13/2022

Put on your dust mask and ear protectors. There’s a new Bristol Shipwrights video out.

We finally have everything in place to saw out the new white oak keel for Dawnell, a 1938 wooden Alden.

Lou Sauzedde and I have decided not to use the big shipsaw to cut the keel for Dawnell. Instead, we'll be using Lou's custom made 10" circular saw. This will...

08/06/2022

There's a lot of discussion over how to move forward replacing Dawnell's keel. Check out the latest video on Bristol Shipwrights YouTube channel. Find out about more of the damage we uncovered and what we're planning to do. Even one of the gentlemen from next door joined in on the act.

What do you do when the boat you’ve sailed and loved for over 30 years isn’t seaworthy enough to launch? There are only two sensible options: fire up the cha...

07/02/2022

So these people show up to see how Evelyn is coming along and then they sit and watch the latest video on their devices. Yep, a new Building Evelyn video just went up on YouTube.

Great to see my wife Vicki, her sister Kathy, and my nephew Ryan show up at the shop.

06/23/2022

It's time to replace the first piece of Dawnell last. All it takes is lots of time measuring upside down and a really sweet piece of white oak. Hopefully she'll see another 84 years on the water.

06/03/2022

There's a new Building Evelyn video up on YouTube today. It's all about making a planking pattern that's as long as the schooner.

We're pretty happy we found a 43' long piece of plywood and that we hit our deadline of posting a video on the first Friday of every month. Thanks for checking it out and subscribing to the Bristol Shipwrights YouTube channel.

Finally, we've planked up to the magic line. Now all the measuring, math, and drawing should pay off in a faster and more accurate planking job. But first w...

05/21/2022

There isn’t anything more satisfying in boatbuilding than finding the perfect timber. For true Quercas Alba there’s no place better than New England Naval Timbers and no one more knowledgeable than Duke Besozzi. And it really helps if you know a guy who can bring it home like AJ at Fattie’s garage.

So what are we going to do with a 23 foot long 27” wide 4 1/2” thick, clear of the heart, practically knot free white oak timber? Now that’s a good question.

05/06/2022

A lot has happened with Evelyn since the last YouTube video was released. But there's a new video up on YouTube now. Take a look when you have a few minutes.

We're also scheduled to release a new Building Evelyn video on the first Friday of every month, starting today.

It's been quite a while since Bristol Shipwrights have released a new video, but here's one you haven't seen before. Ken and Lou continue hanging the second ...

04/04/2022

Meet the latest Bristol Shipwrights crew member. He’s here to keep our posts and videos on track and on time.

04/02/2022

We're not just back in the shop, we're back shooting new videos of Evelyn. Judging by our expressions this is serious business. But it wouldn't be possible without Tom Walsh's distinctive photography and videography. We'll get him to come out from behind the camera in future sessions.

03/23/2022

In an effort to catch up on what's happened with Evelyn, here are a few photos of the usual suspects planking this winter.

Also, we're scheduled to start shooting videos again next week. We'll let you know how that goes. Thanks for following.

03/15/2022

Whatever happened to Bristol Shipwrights? We’ve been in the shop all along, but just couldn’t keep up with the posts and the videos. We’re working that out now.

In the meantime here are a few photos of the second layer of Evelyn’s planking. Thank you for all your enthusiasm about the project, you’ll be hearing more from us again soon.

08/10/2021

Some of best crew around - Melissa, Beth, Ken (the other Ken), Matthew and Vicki.

07/31/2021

Episode 17 of Building Evelyn is up on YouTube! You'll get some advice on mixing epoxy from a quality control engineer and see how we saved materials by using the offcuts from re-sawing the strip planking.

How many people does it take to glue up a deck beam? Pretty much as many as you can get. Lou Sauzedde kicks off and wraps up the video, but leaves it to "glu...

07/16/2021

The work never stopped, but we sure got behind on posting videos. Episode 16 of Building Evelyn is up, so if you have a minute, please check it out.

It's been a while since you've seen what's been going on with Evelyn. But Lou and Ken are back, patterning and cutting the garboards and broad strakes. You'l...

06/02/2021

A lot of people coming and going over the past few days. Vicki, Beth, Ken, Brian, Melissa, and Cordelia to name a few.

05/26/2021

It’s great to have a 60 foot planking/mast building bench. But as anyone with kitchen counters can tell you, horizontal surfaces plus human beings equals stuff where you don’t want it.