Building Eleutheros - Wooden Boat | Sailing Eleutheros EP1

Join us as we share with you the building process for Eleutheros, a full keeled cruising sailboat that we built ourselves from the keel up! We began building in 2002, by laminating frames, and making the backbone all out of iroko. The mold for the lead keel was made, and we melted 7500 pounds of lead in a cast iron bath tub, and poured it into the mold. In 2004 we were forced to move away from the property where we were building the boat, and this meant that for the remainder of the build we would no longer have a heated space to work on the boat in the winter time. The boat was built over 19 years, in seven locations, and travelled over 2000 km before being launched at Beach Point PEI. The boat is carvel planked and decked with iroko. She is a modified version of Francis Herreshoffs’ design #99, but is nearly 3 feet longer, as well as a number of modifications in rig and construction. The masts are made from Spanish cedar, and are hollow rectangular in section. The standing rigging is made from high modulus line or dyneema.
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[@matthiashauptmann9423]

There must have been numerous occasions where you must have been sure the boat will never see water ... Besides regular jobs and raising a family this was quite a task. And quite an accomplishment! My sincere gratulations for making it work.

[@eleutheros]

Thank you. It did seem very overwhelming at times, and when looking back it’s hard to believe I did it.

[@larrybaker5316]

she is absolutely gorgeous ! what incredible wood working craftsmanship you have. In high school, about 1965, I had a dream to build a wood sailboat like you did. Time, money, and skills prevented me, but I enjoyed watching you celebrate your hard work. Thanks for sharing. at 75 I can still dream!

[@eleutheros]

So glad you’ve enjoyed watching. 👍🏻

[@Poppy_love59]

I've never seen anyone steam bending wood in place, that's really quite brilliant I'd say!

[@eleutheros]

Not my original idea, and I don’t know who to give credit to, but it does work exceptionally well.

[@maesy6730]

It fills my heart with joy to know there are exceptional people working away quietly, creating works of 'art' and beauty. You have my admiration and wish you many years of pleasure and pure joy sailing her.

[@eleutheros]

Thank you for your kind words. Very glad that you enjoyed this.

[@TomMurphy-s1l]

I love every part of this video from the music choices to the beautiful boat. Amazing work!!

[@eleutheros]

Awesome, thank you!

[@fransdriesen1311]

The boat you love built with love and craftsmanship…Outstanding job..

[@richarddebeer9081]

My Lord what a magnificent undertaking and such a beautiful yacht. Tell me that bathtub wasn't the only one in the house! Congratulations, Bravo!

[@eleutheros]

Thank you. Yes, quite an under taking, sometimes it’s hard to believe that I did it. And the bathtub was a reclaim, so no one went without a bath.

[@sandystrait3878]

Holy Mackerel! Thats a life well lived!

[@eleutheros]

Thanks for commenting!

[@driftlesshermit]

Thanks for sharing. Really enjoyed watching your amazing boat build. Your homemade steamer was brilliant. I always thought about using the clothes dryer exhaust hose and do something similar.

[@eleutheros]

@@driftlesshermit Thank you for watching. The steamer works really well, and with a larger steam source it can be adapted to bigger projects. 👍🏻

[@polygamous1]

Determination from above may your sailing days are from heaven too very well deserved keep safe keep healthy happy and keep sailing

[@luizfernando-ko4gi]

Meu modelo de veleiro preferido!! Like e inscrito do Brasil!

[@eleutheros]

Thanks for watching and subscribing!

[@mountainking5566]

It's been my life goal since I was a boy to build a 39ft to 40ft wooden sailboat myself and it still is I'm 30 now and it's never gone away congrats.

[@eleutheros]

Thanks for your comment. Our boat took a bit longer to build than expected, due to a number of unforeseen circumstances, so I’m glad I started it when I did.

[@larrybaker5316]

hope you are able to! It was my dream to build 1 also, but time, money, and skills prevented me, there is nothing prettier than a wooden sailboat! at 75 years old I can still dream.

[@Rennypennyd]

Amazing to watch the formation of this sail boat! What a journey!

[@Canyoucanoe2]

Very nice work! And good job seeing this big of a project through.

[@mzungu4770]

Wow! Beautiful boat. Incredible work.

[@eleutheros]

Thank you very much!

[@bebefreed]

Beautiful, all of it. I am encouraged by your persistence over the years through so many years and moves! I think my favourite details were the melt-down in the old bathtub, and the your system for steaming the wood! Where there is a will there is a way!

[@eleutheros]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it !

[@bebefreed]

Very much. Quick question: where did you find the long plastic sleeve for steaming the wood ? Did you make it? Or them ?

[@eleutheros]

@@bebefreed I make them from 6mil polyethylene. I weld the seam with a clothes iron and keep the iron from sticking with parchment paper.

[@howtosailoceans1423]

Beautiful boat. Thanks for the tour (and dinner)! Fair winds and following seas.

[@eleutheros]

We’re glad we had the opportunity to meet you. Safe travels, as you sail onward.

[@stevenself554]

A jewel box that sails.

[@asakurad]

A lovely vessel and a testament to dedication. Well done.

[@eleutheros]

Thank you.

[@FoxyFilth]

Great work you guys, can't wait to see more.

[@eleutheros]

More to come in two weeks, glad you enjoyed.

[@KennyP88]

Absolutely gorgeous.

[@eleutheros]

Thank you! 😊

[@waterboy8999]

What a piece of work, stunning! Best wishes from Scotland

[@eleutheros]

Thank you

[@Seafariireland]

Magic build!

[@12345ythan]

Beautiful boat. WOW.

[@eleutheros]

Thank you 👍🏻

[@seancasey2444]

Wow 19 years to build I hope you enjoy it now and cruise all over.

[@eleutheros]

Yes it was a long haul! We are enjoying the boat and hope to cover some ground!

[@thomasduby728]

Beautiful job, family. Very nice. It looks really cozy down below. Nice choices on your interior.

[@eleutheros]

Thank you

[@timothyflood1423]

Fantastic job!! Couldn't be more beautiful. That really shows dedication, to the craft and goal!!

[@eleutheros]

Thank you very much!

[@eddiejdejong8169]

Amazing, love to see the progress.

[@eleutheros]

Glad you enjoyed it. KZbin didn’t even exist when I started building.

[@lincolngrove2808]

Fine work, nicely detailed. What a beautiful boat.

[@eleutheros]

Glad you like it!

[@andreasrapp19]

Great work! And a very nice boat!

[@eleutheros]

Thank you very much!

[@peterforrest6682]

Pleased to have found your channel. My complete admiration for what you've achieved. Beautiful yacht and craftsmanship. Loved the video...thanks.

[@eleutheros]

Glad to have you along.

[@robertbruce5084]

Thanks so much for posting this.............beautiful job you've both done. I can appreciate "your sticktoitiveness" that's required to complete a project like this. I've finished a boat from hull and deck, so have some idea of what you've accomplished. I hope to keep abreast of your sailing adventures, in your beautiful creation. If you ever get to the other coast of Canada, give us a shout. We're in the gulf islands.

[@eleutheros]

Thanks for your encouragement and comments! You never now where we may end up, so if we end up out there we will look you up.

[@lowellharrison9148]

This is awesome! I subscribed to catch the next episode. Good luck!

[@eleutheros]

Thanks for subscribing!

[@stuartburke383]

You did a beautiful job, you should be very proud! Enjoying your channel in Nova Scotia.

[@eleutheros]

Thank you. We’re glad that you’ve enjoyed it.

[@rollinrock6696]

Stunning!

[@eleutheros]

Thank you for watching!

[@jimmyjohnstone5878]

That's a beautiful boat. The upkeep of all that varnish would be too much for me but I love the look of it. The interior finish is just perfect too. Well done.

[@eleutheros]

Thank you. Yes, the varnish is a bit of extra work, but we don’t have a house or a car to maintain, so it seems worth it to us.

[@jimmyjohnstone5878]

@@eleutheros I crewed a home built wooden Fireball dinghy for many years. The shed was well insulated and we could afford to heat it enough to do the winter varnishing job in comfort, but it was still a slog. We sailed from early March right up to the Xmas holiday period so only had the winter for any varnishing. It was mainly just touching up, not a full all over job, but was still a lot to do in at weekends and evenings. We eventually sold it and bought a foam sandwich version. Your boat is on another scale altogether. It's the perfect live aboard if you can keep on top of maintenance.

[@christianvolquardts8613]

Respect!

[@onthemoney7237]

Beautiful boat guys good fun 👍🇺🇸

[@eleutheros]

Thanks for watching 😊

[@renaykung3542]

Lovely yacht

[@eleutheros]

Thank you.

[@bendaves77]

Really quite amazing.. if I were to take the time to build my own boat I would probably build more boat than I would really need because I would only be doing it once..

[@eleutheros]

Deciding on what to build was challenging, and required some research. But there is a tendency to think bigger too.

[@bendaves77]

@eleutheros there's many wonderful and proven designs by too many to count designers. How did you decide to add 3 foot onto your plans rather than 10 feet or leaving it at 30ft?? Just curious..

[@eleutheros]

@@bendaves77 well there was so much that I liked about Herreshoff’s #99 design, but it was just a bit small. So I drew up a plan that was a bit bigger, with the changes that would suit us.

[@lloydholland6475]

Iv taken my hat of too you sir , magnificent and thanks

[@eleutheros]

Thank you. So glad that you enjoyed this.

[@thomsonsails2540]

Beautiful work. Looks like tight planking. Did it need caulking? Because how do you get those beautiful varnished topsides with caulking?

[@eleutheros]

This could get me all kinds of controversial comments, but the boat is all glued with epoxy, but no fibreglass anywhere. The boat is well sealed up with tung oil based varnish, and marine primer below the water line.

[@thomsonsails2540]

@@eleutheros I don't see why it shouldn't be glued. Makes sense to take advantage of what's available. You've made a beautiful craft there.

[@margrietsmit6]

I enjoyed that!

[@margrietsmit6]

....Your cousin from Ontario😊

[@eleutheros]

@@margrietsmit6 thanks Margriet!

[@charlesdorey4343]

Very nice.

[@eleutheros]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it.

[@loveyou211ful]

Niiiiiiiiice!

[@ΦΩΤΗΣΡΑΛΛΗΣ-τ8β]

Καλησπέρα σας. Επειδή η λέξη ελεύθερος είναι ελληνική λέξη. Το σκάφος έχει κάποια σχέση με την Ελλάδα? Το σκάφος που κατασκευαστηκε? Ποσο κόστισε? Ποσα μετρα είναι?

[@eleutheros]

Thank you for your comment. Our boat is 10 meters long. Other than the name, the boat does not have any particular association with Greece. Also since I built the boat myself, there were no labor costs, so my only investment was materials and hardware.

[@ΦΩΤΗΣΡΑΛΛΗΣ-τ8β]

@@eleutheros ❤️

[@Canyoucanoe2]

...if you get a chance to go into more detail on parts of the construction, please do so.

[@eleutheros]

Hey, thanks. I will certainly consider putting something together with more building details.

[@SuperJlonergan]

you know instead of a kettle to steam you can just get a wall paper remover

[@eleutheros]

Yes, that’s right, but I was using what was at hand.

[@SuperJlonergan]

no motor??

[@sergueiothonucci1638]

😃😃😃