Acorn to Arabella - Journey of a Wooden Boat - Episode 60: Forward and Midship Floors

As we continue moving forward on the forward and midship bronze floor timbers, we are kindly interrupted by a friend of ours who plays us a cover of 'Boats to build' by Guy Clark.
The bronze floors are a tedious amount of work. Bending the compound curves in the wings going up the frames is a very time consuming task. We end up having to move away from the two man press and find a faster and more productive way forward.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'Boats to Build' sang by Steven Piper of the Piper Hopkins Band
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sign up for our email newsletter: eepurl.com/hn3Qyv
Acorn to Arabella is a boat building project taking place in Granby, Massachusetts. Steve and Alix started as amateur boat builders building their own 38' wooden boat in their backyard: designer William Atkin's Ingrid with a Stormy Petrel's gaff rig. These videos follow the journey from tree felling, to lumber milling, to lofting, to the lead keel pour and beyond-sharing details of the woodworking, carpentry, metal smithing, tool building, and tool maintenance that wooden boats command. This ultimate DIY project will continue well past launch, when they will travel and learn to cruise aboard the boat that they've built. Just kidding about all that, this channel is about a Siberian Laika named Akiva.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Acorn to Arabella wishlist: www.acorntoarabella.com/acorn-...
Total Boat referral code: totalboat.refr.cc/steveandalix...
FOLLOW US:
Patreon: / acorntoarabella
Instagram: / acorntoarabella
Facebook: / acorntoarabella
Website: www.acorntoarabella.com

[@jasongleave355]

This program reminds me so much of my dad, he was a submariner on diesel/electric boats in the Royal navy when he wasn't at sea he would teach young men and women how to repair and build historical boats in there restoration ship yard in Portsmouth, when he came home he either stunk of diesel or that lovely smell of the wood yard, watching you guys reminds me as a kid watching and helping dad and the way you do things brings back epic memories, I so wish he was still here to watch you guys together, he would love it, keep up the good work, its going to be one stunning boat

[@AcornToArabella]

Thank you so much for this thoughtful comment! Sounds like your father was a good man. Glad to be bringing back some good memories for you.

[@peacockal]

The community behind this boat is something special. Well done.

[@peterlukaszyk1719]

This is not boat building this is art. Your attention to details is mind blowing guys. Excellent job.

[@dwaynekoblitz6032]

This journey started for me a random “Pouring a 4 1/2 ton keel” video. You have come so far. What a boat she’s going to be!

[@bennyhill5938]

yeh me too! first they give you the free "just try a bit of lead keel" line, then you're hooked, and then they're your dealer

[@willwassell9230]

Yep, that’s where I started. I remember thinking these guys were going to poison themselves with that. Been hooked in ever since.

[@OldMotorcycleAdventures]

Same here! I was actually doing a search on picking up a keel in a video game called Wurm Unlimited, and found that exact video!

[@Jjjjk783]

Same. I was watching some copper working tips and it was a suggested video. It turned into watching videos til 1 am on a work night. Watching these guys pursue their passion is so uplifting.

[@AcornToArabella]

Haha seems to be a recurring theme here. Never thought that video would be so wildly popular. It just hit over 2 million views recently!

[@Poppi2006]

As an easy chair supervisor (i.e., totally clueless), I now appreciate the construction difference for the ribs between Acorn to Arabella and Tally Ho. Bending steamed wood versus cutting Live Oak into the proper shapes. Thanks for the great videos.

[@AcornToArabella]

Yep, both very different yet valid approaches depending on application and design.

[@georgefrench1907]

Sensible division of labor on the floors. 👍 And props to Steve Piper for a sweet rendition of “Boats to Build.”

[@marinkagreen9415]

Love the music interlude, glad he kept his clothes on....

[@watchfordpilot]

Raw and naked, but real passion and feel :)

[@skipper2285]

I am impressed by the change in both of you over the past 2.5 years. In Episode 1 you were both pretty squirrelly. You've developed into conscientious craftsmen. I think it all comes from giving serious consideration to the future, both for the build and for yourselves.

[@buynsell365]

You guys are killing it !!! Keep up the great work.........so much progress has been made........and a LOT of work. You guys are literally making history here.

[@lancedaniels]

Thanks for posting and sharing! Tedious work on the floors. Sailing Arabella to look fwd to and kindnesses of well wishers and supportive viewers assured.

[@davidmcfate3768]

Well done! I am really impressed with your 'new' format for the videos! Please do not take this the wrong way, I have LOVED every single installment, but the addition of a dedicated (and obviously skilled) video editor is an awesome supplement to your team!!

[@jameswieser483]

You guys are building this boat the way a luthier builds a custom acoustics guitar. Massive attention to detail. Love your work keep it up. As always I’ll be looking out for the next video.

[@garyschraa7947]

James ~ You're trippin' me out because that was exactly what I wanted to say .

[@marcryvon]

@@garyschraa7947 Ditto !

[@AcornToArabella]

A luthier's first violin still likely has a few defects ;) but we are doing our best to make her as well as we can!

[@ianfiddes9871]

In Scotland where I'm watching this video, we say anything built well and of sturdy well crafted and solid material Is 'Clyde built' meaning well manufactured; I would be fair in saying your wooden vessel ‘Arabella' more than covers all the criteria for that honest label of good hard labour and commitment. Well done to you both and all involved.

[@cawfeedawg]

God I love Bronze. How Noble, how warm, how ductile and such color!

[@warpedjester]

cinematography has gone up a lot with the new guy working on it. Doing a great job!

[@OlderNotNecesarilyWiser]

I wouldn't say it was any better, just different I think Alix did it better, as he was more into it, more focused, and cared alot more.

[@AcornToArabella]

Well, you'll be happy to know that Alix is still doing the cinematography :) Alix shoots all the footage and then passes it on to Ben to edit. Both doing a great job and care deeply. Let us know if you have specific concerns or comments about the videos. Thanks!

[@daBuzzY90]

Ok boomer

[@TheTacos4life]

Although they are more frequent, I still find myself checking daily hoping every other day updates. Love the progress.

[@AcornToArabella]

wow... that would be a ton of work! haha Would be great if the videos edited themselves!

[@TheTacos4life]

@@AcornToArabella well, I'm not gonna lie. Alec Steele made a video almost every day, not only doing content, but editing and he did that for a long time by himself. And the quality is good. So now with a team, just saying perhaps it's very possible 🤣.

[@ThatGuyFromArizona]

Lincoln Electric really set you guys up... THANKS LINCOLN!!

[@patmancrowley8509]

Wow! That was a wonderful song, eh? EH! And great progress on the boat and glad that you've purchased an hydraulic press. That makes life so much easier.

[@dandexinventor]

Good s_it Manerds! I look forward to each episode and picture myself there helping out. I gotta work my job or I would be there. I love anything working with my hands... welding, woodworking/fabrication, have made some saddles, doin electrical work, making jigs and solving stuff on the fly, all while having fun and treating others like I would want to be treated...all makes life worth while. What has life cost me so far? Everything, and wouldn't have it any other way. Spend it, all of it while smiling, every chance you get!

[@jamesgeddes797]

One of your best videos yet! Loved the live music. Videography was superb, nice angles, etc. You guys and your team are rocking it!

[@luclatinette]

The editing on this one was superb, keep it up!

[@mabamabam]

Technically better but stylistically its getting a little busy. Less is more

[@TheEarthwinders]

Well, I found your channel last week and didn't accomplish much this week because I was just binge watching every episode on your channel. Fantastic work gentlemen. You're an inspiration. It's a monumental project, and even if I never take on anything quite this big myself, it certainly boosts confidence in smaller projects to see how you go about tackling these issues one step at a time. I look forward to future episodes as your journey continues. Hold Fast!

[@AcornToArabella]

Thank you!

[@fireantsarestrange]

Like you promised.. one upload a week.. great job too. Thank you.

[@randycurry]

As I watch you guys tirelessly create a living entity in Arabella, I find a peace and calmness that helps me through my day. Thanks again for sharing.

[@paulrosebrock]

You guys probably have thought of this but I watch a great site called EngelsCoachShop where he authentically builds horse drawn coaches and wagons. (Think 20 mule team borax wagons, or Budweiser commercials) Anyway, he fixes huge timbers together with ironwork for the running tackle and does a lot of this fitting of thick bands etc. To maximize surface contact he then “beds” the metal in before bolting down with wood glue of all things (probably cause it doesn’t stick to the steel for removal). Really amazing craftsmanship in his product.

[@scotlandwoodwork2553]

He is an incredible Craftsman.

[@mcshawnboy]

I am a fan of them too! I was particularly fortunate in my 16th year to be part of reenactment of a historic battle at Fort McHenry in the Baltimore harbor that similar to how West Point, NY protected river traffic via the HUGE CHAIN that could rip a ship to the waterline if foolish enough to try to run the blockade without authorization. It was a series of 5 forts with the huge chain strung between them & as a last resort the British ships of the Line hoped that all night bombing of the fort force of all their cannons they could seize the fort as a prize of war. A man who was an attorney, Francis Scott Key, from Frederick, Maryland where a statue of him is in a historic cemetery. He was in the city to broker as prisoner exchange in the War of 1812 where the Brits hoped to storm our port's and recapture the U.S.A.

[@johnwright6706]

I was thinking of Engels too. If they watch some of the fit up that he does using a hydraulic press it might give them some ideas on how to streamline what they're doing.

[@vancemarin8022]

@@johnwright6706 I was going to say the same thing but you beat me to it.!

[@paulrosebrock]

John, yea that hydraulic press he uses is just the ticket for that bronze.

[@digiprez77]

I don't think there is really any other option to fabricate those bronze timbers besides melting and casting, and that would be even more onerous considering you have to cast them all differently. One thing is for sure, nobody else is going to appreciate how much effort you guys are throwing into this floating work of art. I can't even imagine how you are going to feel when you finally set sail. Truly inspiring.

[@alanabrams8017]

Really nice cover of one of my favorite Guy Clark songs. Thanks.

[@ChuckNasty.]

Great episode, love the song Guy Clark. Keep it up guys!

[@jib9639]

This channel is something special. Thank you.

[@jackrabbit5047]

Lovely song. Nice to have an ode to boat builders.

[@Danvers97]

You guys have become my absolute favorite youtube channel and project to follow. It's such an incredible process to watch

[@AcornToArabella]

Thank you! That means a lot.

[@adamrtr71]

Fantastic video and editing. Love the music.

[@mattevans-koch9353]

Great progress gentlemen. Remember perfection takes time. Take care and have a good week ahead.

[@nukejets]

Excellent video! It's a pleasure to watch you work on Arabella. Thanks.

[@stephendavies923]

One thing to be taken from you guys is, Know what you you want, learn how to do it, take your time accordingly and do it right. Great work.

[@1019wc1019]

It helps to not have to participate in the rat race of trying to make enough money to live. Thanks to their patrons.

[@AcornToArabella]

Stephen, yes, something that should be taught more in school and our society in general. 1019wc1019, true and very much appreciated but we would also be applying those same ethics to the build if we were going slower and working day jobs.

[@lookronjon]

Looking good guys. She’s really coming along. Thanks.

[@metalltitan]

Fantastic work as always. Ben's a great addition to the crew, videos are looking great.

[@kenolson3064]

Thank you gentlemen for providing a good scratch on an old itch.

[@jeffkatzer]

Beautiful workmanship and a nice guitar song.

[@timcaron9049]

Great video. Love the song and guitar in the beginning. Goes well with your project. Doing great. I really enjoy watching. I have always wanted to build a boat but now I get the step by step watching you guys building. Very inspiring.

[@claeswikberg8958]

hats of you you guys, the boat is coming along nicely, and Ben is dooing great with the editing, love that he just used the raw audio and no music when you where fitting the brass at the end!

[@xw6968]

A little bit more explaining about the why and how was very helpfull in understanding why its so hard to get them in that shape. With one person working on it that goes more relaxed and easy aswell. Thank you, best regards.

[@medickaisu]

Amazing quality on the videos these days... editing, camera work, etc. It does justice to the care and quality of the build. So glad to have subscribed back in the early days. You have come a long way.

[@davidpereira7669]

Absolutely great stuff guys. Keep it up. Can’t wait for the launch!

[@richhamel6810]

That is a great video! Your grandkids will sailing on the boat someday. . .maybe even your great grandkids. . . thank you

[@Vincent-Vega24]

Just know, i love you guys! You inspire me....

[@AcornToArabella]

Thank you!

[@billlippincott3937]

Excellent as always

[@Redchrome1]

Definitely a different style to the editing. Keep up the good work! I'll see you tomorrow!

[@mikedudley3053]

Nice attention to detail, keep it up, it will pay off ten fold.

[@randys1889]

As per usual, great video guys!

[@gaiaocracy]

So happy to see you decked out in good PPE.

[@ibulleti7948]

That song was great, must've felt pretty royal having live music to work to!

[@Chr.U.Cas1622]

Very well done again and as always.

[@TheJimbodean67]

Keep hearing david bowie’s major tom when you’re wearing all the ppe for working the bronze lol. Commencing countdown engines on. Glad you got the stuff to be safe. Thanks for sharing!

[@azuritet3]

First doggos, and now music. Two thumbs up.

[@RobertFay]

Excellent work custom fabricating the compound curves in my view, gentlemen. Congratulations. It went just about how i expected it to go. For me, i would find it very satisfying because it was all Properly time consuming to get it correctly done. Very nice craftsmanship all the way around! Let us hope the slight gaps between brass and wood wind up serving to be exactly WhatIsNeeded to support air drying and Prevent Rot in the ribbing.

[@AcornToArabella]

Thank you! they will also be bedded in Dolfinite.

[@ShriKaav]

Perfect timing to start my day!

[@h2energynow]

Awesome bending think metal, on a complex curve. Wow impressive.

[@Cliffepoos]

Great musical performance. I loved it.

[@hiltonfulp6293]

1st I’m seeing a mig welder for brass/copper. Some of your welds look real nice. I stumbled across your channel a few days ago and I can’t help but to watch and binge watch from the beginning. Keep up the good work guys, nice video work by the way!

[@AcornToArabella]

Thank you!

[@birdseyeview1543]

Love seeing Alix working on the boat!!

[@netpackrat]

I think as time goes on, we will find Alix to be a competent craftsman in his own right. The meticulous nature that was previously applied to video editing will now be applied to boat building instead.

[@birdseyeview1543]

@@netpackrat Bending those floors as well as he did certainly puts him squarely into the craftsman club, I applaud his entry into this side of the project, looking forward to more!

[@AcornToArabella]

Thank you!

[@erikdailly]

Hi guys! Yes, it's a hell of an investment, these bronze floors, in every sense possible. But it'll pay off and as I've seen with my own eyes, they're gonna be beautiful! Enjoy your Open Day tomorrow - I'm sure Piglet will be a huge success!

[@bennyhill5938]

piglet? wtf is piglet?

[@AcornToArabella]

🐷

[@garyschraa7947]

You know , ________ Everybody needs a vacation at some point right ? So the Dutch blood coursing through my veins keeps telling me [one of you or both of you ] should . . . well I just wish you could go to the Netherlands to the town of Lelystad and walk around on the Batavia and meet Willem Vos [pron. Villhem] It's a crazy pipe dream to be sure . But it's just crazy enough to work . I've been there , been on the Batavia and it's absolutely the real deal . Willem is absolutely Thee guy

[@Diggnuts]

Ha, it seems your convoluted plot to gain free live entertainment is working! Good form..

[@swpo1]

Jenny's dream had come true, she was a folk singer!

[@piledriver141]

Great video, nice shots of your work

[@markkmiecik9797]

The only people with patience are fishermen and boatbuilders. I'm a bit late with this, but you measure the amount of twist first, twist the wing that amount and then bend it. This way it only takes one operation instead of several to achieve the twist, and as long as your template for the bend is down the middle of the wing you're golden. My father worked as a harp maker for Lyon and Healy in Chicago and he and I did a lot of wood + metal fitting work together when I was a younger man in the 60's.

[@bennyhill5938]

I'm liking the new split screen feature!

[@frankcava8073]

I have worked with cast and plate silicon bronze for a really long time. A few drops of cutting oil on the drill press and drop saw would really make your cuts faster and cleaner and save your drill bits and blades from super fast wear. I know your team is likely going through a lot of disposables (Bits and Blades) so it might be a good idea to get some cutting oil. You dont need much. Just a few drops will do ya on most jobs. Love your videos and just so ya know, I get sea sick as all get out, but this work is still super engaging for me. DOH! at 21:57 I see,,,, cutting oil! Hooray!

[@AcornToArabella]

Yup, we got donated a bunch of supplies and cutting oil was in there. Worked great.

[@johntripp2028]

Those floor timbers are beautiful.

[@jerrysantos6484]

Beautiful Song. 👍

[@camondw42]

Another great video. Good work!

[@TheoChem1to1]

Dang... I dont think the like button is big enough for the work going on here. Super impressive!!!👍

[@drfrankenstein4127]

Such a peaceful song.

[@heathschwab]

Good job yea the new press save y'all alot time and looks like it may help for them better. Great song also that was so cool of him o loved listen to it. Tell him great job. Till next video have fun and god bless

[@RamsesTorresLifevantageIndDist]

Nice welds. And great editing. Looking forward to your progress

[@hkimsey]

Great video!

[@stevenself554]

Gorgeous bronze boat jewelry hiding beneath the cabin sole. Too bad that the floors will not be visible to all but on the other hand I like the idea of Arabella having this beautiful secret.

[@AcornToArabella]

Tiny bits may show... but regardless, we know they are there and that is satisfaction enough :)

[@jdb79jdb79]

I can't wait to see this thing sail. I want to be on it already.

[@stabilini]

Man this got to another level. Congrats on new editing, it was perfect.

[@csnelling4]

Great video 👍🇬🇧

[@63256325N]

Thanks for the video.

[@gaiaocracy]

What excellent production value on this video!

[@AcornToArabella]

Thank you!

[@texxasal]

Having followed your progress from the beginning, I continue to be amazed by your level of dedication and craftsmanship. Observing the myriad of ways you solve problems gives me pause to consider how long this project would have taken "back-in-the-day", using just basic hand tools of the period (no electric or hydraulic equipment)? To do what you've done would truly constitute a "Generational" effort, spanning your entire adult lifetimes. I wish you only the best and most continued success on your project. It defines the term "Labor of Love".

[@AcornToArabella]

Thank you! We also go a bit slower as we are learning as we go. Back in the day they were all craftsmen and had plenty of tricks up their sleeves. Maybe they weren't making bronze floors like this but they could build boats this size in no time flat. Very impressive.

[@ruperthartop7202]

Great stuff. Cheers

[@MrPotatochips4]

If it was me? I'd change the name of the boat to "Flowers of Bronze", at least till the floors are done. Excellence all round :D

[@Slikx666]

That was a beautiful song sung well.

[@K.E.L-117]

My face when Steve-O drops some very tidy welds in.

[@equipt0xxx]

The first part of the song reminds me of Hurt by Johnny Cash. Love watching your videos guys. Keep up the hard work.

[@sridhar6788]

Watch the beard Stephen.. also you could try Plaster of Paris to take an impression of the compound curves... messy but can get the job done

[@stellyryanj]

Beautiful song! Super neato!

[@bandols]

Even before you showed who was playing this song I was thinking how beautiful it was.

[@eudALify]

Loving the new edit style

[@janrbh17]

Man! that`s tedious work! but you`ll be proud when finished! Looks great :-)

[@KurtM558]

When it gets hard to bend, heat the piece until red and quench in water. It will take the stress out of the piece due to work hardening. Might want to do that after welding as well to get consistent stress in each piece.

[@mcshawnboy]

After an accident at a very low speed and I was the only truck and person injured. I have loved woodworking since growing up in Pennsylvania and seeing the skills of people who only had hand tools to build mines, cities & barns. I loved the books of Eric Sloan about wooden farm buildings, especially barns. I'm not able to stand much more than a couple minutes so my hobbies of woodworking and rusty machinery are beyond my abilities so I was watching the Travel channel and I saw a workshop in Sedona for the lost wax process that at it's earliest was somewhere in Israel. I got into making many different types of jewelry and the method you speak of is used extensively in this field.

[@Tom_Err]

Heating and quenching will probably cause distortion and it is very difficult to correct this on the finished floors.

[@AcornToArabella]

There weren't any issues with the metal getting hard to bend, just hard to find the right compound curve. Annealing happens during the welding process as well as it gets heated as it is welded, they are just not quenched (there seems to be differing information out there as to whether the quenching is needed or not...)

[@KurtM558]

Acorn To Arabella we did an experiment in material science showing how bronze work hardens. We used quenching after heating to compare how the grain structure changes. I was just wondering if it would help you get the compound curves easier because as you go back and forth, the material hardens. Welding tends to localize hot spots, so you could heat the entire floor to bring some “spring” back to the material before final installation.

[@jamesesteban7600]

I'd like to see more video of you guys working with musical accompaniment. Not that I don't like hearing you speak but I've always liked watching people work especially shop work and heavy equipment.

[@AcornToArabella]

Thank you for the feedback

[@stevendavis7416]

have you guys thought of gathering up all your bronze scraps and casting a Cannon? That would be very cool !

[@netpackrat]

A couple of swivel guns for the rails.

[@abdulbasit2571]

RESPECT.. for you guys... good work.. watched the whole series in one night.... and waiting for more...

[@AcornToArabella]

Wow... that is a LOT of screen time

[@abdulbasit2571]

@@AcornToArabella your work deserve's this. I want to see Arabella sailing across oceans.

[@riverwizard22]

Drilling Brass,Bronze, Aluminum are all so satisfying..

[@fredflintstone8048]

Enjoyed the finger picking version of Don't think twice, it's alright.