Fitting The Shelf, Picking Out Deck Beams - Ep. 128 - Acorn to Arabella: Journey of a Wooden Boat

Bob and Steve finish fitting the black locust beam shelf into Arabella. This involves some pattern making and a whole slew of hooked scarfs to be cut.
While Bob does the final few fits on the shelf, Steve launches into finding the strong (king) deck beam locations. Right before Bob heads back to his shop he and Steve select some likely deck beam timbers and Steve gets to work cutting them out.
It's sure been a lot of fun working on the deck structure and the good times have just begun!
If you have not watched any of Bob's videos check them out here!
/ bobemser
Thanks for following and supporting our endeavor. We could not produce these weekly videos without your help!
Thank you!
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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.
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[@TheArtofBoatBuilding]

I had a couple of great weeks working with Steve on Arabella. Steve is a fantastic craftsman. His methodical approach to boat building is amazing and it shows in this well built vessel. Thanks Steve, I appreciate the opportunity and most of all am honored to call you my friend! Looking forward to the next time. Cheers Buddy, Bob

[@brutusbarnabus8098]

Bob, I had been watching your channel before you made your surprise cameo on AtoA. Your craftsmanship and attention to detail are second to none. You are one of those rare guys that can be given a task and that it will be done and done well is never in doubt. Steve was very fortunate to have you for these past two weeks.

[@carrot595]

Is that Sampson you hear calling?

[@johnanderson8096]

@@carrot595 Wouldn't that be nice if Bob went out and worked with Leo a couple of weeks... I could see it happening... We can keep our fingers crossed.

[@serg2963]

Same here!

[@RobertFay]

*Thanks for helping out, Bob.*

[@judechandler5102]

I still remember the pouring of the lead keel. The best thing KZbin's recommendations have done for me. Ever.

[@rockwilder0]

I discovered this channel the same way. Been hooked ever since.

[@oxman0313]

Same here.

[@scottlp2323]

Me too. Been an amazing, unmissable journey ever since. :)

[@cf6282]

Me too! Want to see it to the end.....but actually I want this to go on too!

[@jimfowler9556]

Same. Here from the beginning!

[@hkimsey]

It’s good that Bob was there to help. Youth is full of energy but that energy needs direction and focus! 😃

[@moonstarer55]

Always a pleasure watching you guys create Arabella. Keep up the great work.

[@normp.3657]

bob enser sent me. i love his channel, "the art of boat building", and came because of him. now, i am hooked and enthralled

[@stephenborchers1205]

Great video. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸God Bless America on this day!!!!! 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@robertorr7410]

I like how you explain what you are doing Steve. Im no carpenter and I enjoy your teaching style. Thanks

[@oldwillie313]

Steve, You deserve a lot of credit for your passion, tenacity and heart in building this boat!

[@mitchpowell608]

right....the other dude just bounced...is he not involved anymore 🤔

[@dahak972]

Mitch Powell when you’re pulling in $16,000.00 a month you can bounce anytime you want. Lol

[@brutusbarnabus8098]

@@ian-c.01 - Oh really? Do tell how he is "still very much involved?" Ben relocated his family to MA and still managed to get a video out last week albeit a shortened one. Why didn't "still very much involved" Alix step up and edit the video last week so that Ben could focus on moving his family? I love all of the apologists for Alix. Dude went back on his word just like the majority of his generation does, but hey he participated so give him yet another ribbon. Steve is a rare throwback to the not so distant past when a man's word meant something. @Mitch Powell is right - dude bounced. I try not to comment on this, but I can't stand reading the excuse's people make for him. Damned enablers.

[@brutusbarnabus8098]

@@dahak972 - Well said by another, I am certain, beta-male who talks out of his ass and whose words mean shit. lol

[@AcornToArabella]

Simmer down folks Alix did not bounce, the summer off was planned for a very long time. We put in massive hours and at the end I (Steve) own Arabella and Alix will have had the experience helping me build her, a berth any time he wants and not a whole lot else. A summer off to tour the US with his love is the least I can do to "pay" him back in a way. He and Keira are currently making their way back east and should be here in 2-3 weeks so he will appear in the videos roughly 5-6 weeks from now. You have my word he will be back with bells on and ready to work =)

[@mattevans-koch9353]

Thank you for another great video Steve, Bob and Ben. When you get Arabella done not only will you be an accomplished boat builder but a fine furniture builder too. I chuckled when the fit that Bob was working on at the end of the beam shelf being discussed as "it won't be seen." It may never be seen but it will be perfect because Bob and Steve will know what it looks like and won't accept anything less. Not just amazing craftsmanship but artistry as well.

[@absoluteelectricandmainten7432]

Thank you so much for sharing this! It is amazing to see your super clean joinery. Thnx for showing us how it’s done.

[@geissler35]

As a tile guy I always envied you guys working with wood all the time. No water, hands aren’t wet, wood does break or chip, not so heavy and all that. Then I started doing more wood working and realized how wrong I was. Rather have a tile cut then a splinter any day

[@simonaldridge82]

Bob's channel 👍👍

[@Slikx666]

Nice one Bob. 😉👍

[@notnowhoney1663]

In addition to the elegant craftsmanship displayed with the woodwork, I am convinced that the musical and editing talents of Mr. Fundis have no KZbin equal!

[@ronsmith1364]

Need some wood carvers to create some art with the bobs n bits that are accumulating in the 'scrap' piles. This journey of wood melding together from living grain of trunk & branch to boards & planks creating a living vessel that will journey through waves & seas. I knew of a Paquito who sails & I am enjoying seeing an acorn grow to Arabella 🤩👍🏻👍🏻✌

[@davidmspinelli8951]

Acorn to Arabella and The Art of Boat Building are two of my favorite channels. It was really awesome to see you and Bob working together. Not only that but Arabella is looking absolutely incredible! It will be exciting to see the deck beams go in, that will really give a vision of the she of the boat. Great video as usual guys! Be safe and stay healthy! Oh yeah, Sampson Boat Company and Life On The Hulls are the other two I wait eagerly for the next video!

[@Royden58]

Perfection is fantastic to see you guys

[@oldsailor9022]

Great to see you guys working together

[@talegunner115]

That building must have the greatest smell of fresh cut lumber. Oh how I love that smell.

[@pacificcoastpiper3949]

You and me both 😌

[@Digital-Dan]

@@pacificcoastpiper3949 Not so much when it's burning.

[@Dan6erous]

Great to see your work complimented by Bob's.I appreciate the opportunity for us all to imagine "our way", not just "one way." His channel is also awesome.

[@MandG80439]

It finally struck me: this isn't just a boat, it is a work of art! Fit and finish is the work of fine craftsmen, not "merely" boatbuilders. VERY nice!

[@HazItMade]

WOW! So cool to watch the craftsmanship! I was reminded of the following per what Bob was saying as he was getting ready to go: A vulture boards an airplane with a dead possum under each arm. The flight attendant approaches and says, "I'm sorry, sir, but each passenger is only allowed one carrion!"

[@ericfarrar6607]

You've really captured the spirit of those old shows on public broadcasting.

[@jeanhawken4482]

It is wonderful watching the artist at work on Arabella and and Tally Ho. The two wooden yachts have brought many good people together to build safe sea worthy crafts. Both teams are providing such pleasure

[@myfavoritemartian1]

What a wonderful thing this is turning out to be! When it gets to water and you are living aboard, remember, All the great people you have met, all the good people who have helped with materials and all those who have lended a hand, will be a part of the boat. Each board will have it's own story.

[@kenshores9900]

Always enjoy watching the craftsmanship used in this build. I realize there is a lot that is not shown because it would be like watching paint dry. However the editing maintains the craftsmanship while showing how you are constructing the internal parts. Good video, good editing.

[@K.E.L-117]

My first "live" watch after a massive 150 episode binge

[@KooolGMurder]

Whats your take on the production quality? Im feeling less and less stoked about the episodes lately and dont know if its the absence of Alix, changes due to covid or if im just loosing interest in the build.

[@K.E.L-117]

With a pretty objective view of the project as a whole having watching it in the space of about 10 days I'd say that obviously the production quality was peak when there was both an editor and a cinematographer plus an endless motley crew of helpers filtering in and making visually huge chunks of progress but in all honesty I really like the adapted format also. For example, the introduction of the split screen so that tasks such as rivetting that are divided visually and were formally shown as back and forth cuts is a great improvement. The lose of the pans and high fidelity footage is very understandable and I'm treating this period more as what the entire project was supposed to be, a video journal. The latest episodes seem much more personal and like recordings for posterity with informative asides, honestly I think the formulaic KZbin video format driven by the push and pull of diminishing attention spans and the KZbin algorithm feeding them is awful.

[@K.E.L-117]

@@KooolGMurder anywho, as The Dude once said "that's just like, *my* opinion, man"

[@AcornToArabella]

Thanks for the succinct feedback!! The cinematographic aspect (aka Alix) will be back soon. He and Keira are currently making their way back east. I (Steve) am no cinematographer! hahaha Having Alix back and fully recovered will make a big difference in the video quality. It's amazing what Ben can produce with the quality of footage that I give him. The MVP award surely goes to Ben!

[@K.E.L-117]

@@AcornToArabella hi Steve, please allow yourself a little credit. Is that little creek skimmer you made still giving you a good core workout with those danger wobbles?

[@HighMXHubby]

Excellent progress!!!

[@nordyfamily]

I am excited for your progress! Keep up the great work.

[@shawnwedge5833]

Bob is awesome. Good help!

[@cf6282]

What a great help Bob was! So good he helped out!

[@G_Money72]

Having Bob around has got to be an amazing experience!

[@SootHead]

Even after watching all this time, I still can be gobsmacked by the precision and perspiration going into this boat. Steve, if you weren't a master boatbuilder when you started, you will be one when it's finished.

[@petert3355]

Yeah Jim, Even before launch, she has been well bathed in salt water.

[@davidc6510]

Bob

[@airshipguys]

The beautiful craftsmanship on display when setting the final shelf pieces was inspiring! I loved how the curved grain was used to match the shape of the deck beams. Best of luck to the editor trying to start a new business in the middle of the Arrabella project and a pandemic. Cheers from Juneau Alaska, Greg Chaney

[@mojo6524]

Bob's channel is very informative. I've learned a lot from watching his work.

[@MadMulberry]

Bob looks like, I imagine, what a grown up Tintin would look like. A lovely bloke too. Been a long time subscriber of his.

[@lancedaniels]

Thanks for posting and sharing. Really great to see the deck beams begun. Wonderful that the boat had such a great guest craftsperson for the time he was there.

[@matthewcombs2857]

Great music by Ben again. Love the “Morning Dew” cover

[@davihar]

what a project. Good on you

[@patmancrowley8509]

Thanks, Bob!

[@deborahpetith8710]

You should be so proud of yourself, Arabella is growing so quickly and so well. Big thumbs up.

[@tl4ever262]

Alas another episode about a beautiful boat being built buy hand has come and gone. You my friend are the master of your destiny. I wait patiently for each and every episode with excitement in my heart. You never disappoint. Arabella is a fine ship already and she gets prettier and prettier with each addition of your fantastic skill. Keep up the good work Stephen .

[@GG-ty4mi]

Well said.

[@cf6282]

Hehe, once I see the new episode I go, it must be Friday!

[@jimjenkins673]

Perfection. ......../),,,,,,,,,, fair winds Arabella and crew.

[@Cradley684]

Great Steve, Stay Safe now !!!.

[@peepawhebert6479]

It's so great that these two can be friends and collaborate. Two top notch channels. I hardly watch any tv any more. Bob has a sculpture on Belleaire causeway here in Fla. My wife and I are going to go check it out this weekend.

[@saltwaters2217]

I love that boat.

[@markmcginn8012]

I am amazed by the level of detail these craftsman / artists exhibit on a weekly basis. I look forward to this each week. Thanks for sharing your beautiful art and process.

[@FilipeNeto616]

Great job. Nice progress. Keeping this pace, and when Alix returns, he'd better bring the sails with him!

[@melvinfarqart1368]

He has lost interest in the project.

[@FilipeNeto616]

@@melvinfarqart1368 it doesn't seems so. Steve said he'll be back soon from his "time-out". He didn't have vacancies in the last two or three years, and decided to take a break. At least this is message they've been told us.

[@tynyyn5344]

Steven, how do you maintain the passion week in and week out. What is your motivation on a daily basis. I find it refreshing that a young man has the ability to go to work everyday and keep the fires burning in his belly to continue the build. Do you ever sit back and say "aw, heck, I don't want to work on the boat today"? You are an inspiration to the youth of today. Thanks for taking the time to film your build. It is a passion on your part to do both, build and film.

[@JenkinsBoatWorks]

He has done that, takes off in his canoe and goes fishing for a bit. He is amazingly resolute though

[@thisnicklldo]

Those days don't make it onto video

[@gordonquickstad]

Youse guys are definitely boss with the Skillsaw.

[@cruiserdonrussell4799]

I'VE BEEN WATCHING EVERY EPISODE SO FAR AND THIS IS REALLY STARTING TO SHOW SIGNS OF BEING SPECTACULAR 1

[@akay4500]

Ain’t the Internet great? I love this stuff..!

[@rogerbayzand4455]

Really nice to see Bob helping out, I really enjoy The art of Boatbuilding too.

[@joebrown1382]

I love watching those pieces fit together so nicely. It's a beautiful thing. Nice to have good experienced help. Hate to see Bob leave.

[@chrissteere9494]

I so enjoy watching this every Friday morning with my cup of coffee! I will miss these days when you are finished. I am now on to the Art of Boat Building!!! Thanks and take care!

[@garyfroeschner2523]

Excellent video as always. Was great to see Bob helping you out these last few episodes. I also subscribe to his channel. Your right, he makes beautiful tools.

[@deanlindholm8663]

Your scrap pile must be a woodworkers dream

[@styxdragoncharon4003]

Thank you for being the insperation I needed to get back to building things again!

[@gritnix]

"If you think a week, probably two." Advice to live by.

[@gritnix]

Generally for me, it's just overestimating what I can get done in a particular amount of time. Very much just the opposite side of the coin from underestimating the amount of time a task will take. If I take a day off work and have six things to get done, all requiring driving here and there to places that have business hours so I don't get to just "go faster" or "work longer", I have to be a lot more realistic that if I get three of those things done, that will be success.

[@Digital-Dan]

Multiply best intuitive estimate by 4 and 9 to bound the work. Average time = 5x.

[@thomasarussellsr]

Remember to estimate your work according to the math used by Scotty from the Starship Enterprise. Double It. Then when the Captain (boss) cuts you back by a quarter or third you still have a cusion for your actual time thought. And if you actual estimate in your mind was correct, you look the hero to your boss for getting done ahead of schedule. Or you could even milk a little to meet their demands and make it look as though you worked extra hard just to get done by their rediculous timeline. Still looking like the hero to them.

[@SeanBlader]

That's interesting, I was just expecting a project to be 3 days, and in the end it ended up being 1.2 days.

[@ThaJay]

@@thomasarussellsr In programming, you triple your own estimate and then your manager doubles that. So very much in line with what @Dan Swinehart said.

[@buffplums]

Great seeing Bob I did find his channel a few weeks ago, subscribed and started following one of his boat projects. Really nice guy.

[@AcornToArabella]

A wonderful human!

[@buffplums]

@@AcornToArabella indeed

[@avoirdupois1]

Great to see this progress. those fitted joints are beautiful.

[@lanesteele240]

I have never been on a sail boat, worked on one, interested in owning one but i cant wait til the next episode to come out each week

[@plakor6133]

5:38 so satisfying! Beautiful stock.

[@buffaloj0e]

This episode just flew by, I could watch this for hrs.

[@MrLeatherman23]

Hello from the smokey West. Been thinking of you guys as I watch the news reports as the land I love catches fire. Stay cool and stay safe, my digital friends.

[@gordonclark7632]

It's a good fit when Bob can tap the timber in with his fist.

[@jonmassey8124]

Been watching Bob's Channel after you recommended it a few weeks ago.. such good explanations and tips that can save you many hours if you follow his advice.. Also has cool music in the background 😉

[@patrickgilhooly8340]

Sure appreciate your timely high quality videos, thank you Sir. I just hope to live long enough to see her in water. For 22 years I sailed a Farrier 27 in Hawaii, now am way over the hill. stay safe. P G, in Corpus Christi, Tex.

[@gunsmoke6230]

The editing is so much better! Now I’m fascinated thank you! 🇺🇸🙏🏻💪⚓️

[@I86282]

Thanks bob. Good job man.!!!

[@Brutalford]

You know I've been watching you guys's videos since the very first one and I find it absolutely amazing how much work you guys have really put into it I think it way underestimated how much time it would take to build it but the time spent building it will be nothing compared to the time that you enjoy it

[@brother9916]

I have to say, you have helped me get through working from home. Love seeing this project really taking shape and i cant wait to see it sail again one day! Great Job!

[@daleskidmore1685]

Good to see you keep Bob up to your standards, lol. That oak just looks stunning with the oil on it in the close ups; I can just imagine it glowing in the lamplight while the boat gently rocks on the ocean.....

[@Digital-Dan]

Noah would be envious. Beautiful.

[@camerondrew9402]

This always comes out just in time for bed on Friday. Satisfying end to the week and the music this episode was perfectly my mood. Thanks again for including us in this journey gents!

[@davidrobinson1461]

Ditto for me here in Aus. Best Friday night viewing after the football is over. After Steve's short piece on chisels a few weeks ago, I have been motivated to do a better job of sharpening my small collection, thank you for that.

[@hedhtr4]

Bob, "if your going to make it...make it perfect"

[@Bystander333]

Loving the music on this one.

[@forsakenfortnite5771]

Wood working is what I love wish I could be helping out looks like a lot of fun and beauty

[@SirRoland867]

Woo hoo, on to deck beams! Great work guys!

[@wayphun72]

Having a good mechanic like Bob on the scene must have been so nice!

[@patmancrowley8509]

Wooo-Hooo! It's Friday and I get to watch a NEW episode of Acorn to Arabella!

[@GregHartSk8er]

Coming along great! Things are starting to look exciting!!!

[@spgoo1]

The joints on the shelf are neat! Good job in such hot weather!

[@Hoops_McCan]

I really liked the cover of 'Look Into the Air' you used in this vid. Great job and I enjoy watching these videos

[@abrahamtov364]

Starting on the deck, great long way from the keel and pouring lead!

[@jaberwoky_]

A2A is really looking beautiful, Steve - I always look forward to your Friday upload! Great work, Ben.

[@eleanorchapple8772]

This is looking like a boat. It’s beautiful. Such a long hard slog but so worth it. I hope Alix comes back soon to be there in the home stretch.

[@Willco5114]

You remind me when as a kid I got the end of my thumb with a band saw. Waited about half an hour in the Doc's waiting room wondering how much I lost but not wanting to look. Super painful but grew back pretty well.

[@csnelling4]

Alex is missing so much. Thanks for the video Stephen 👏👏👏👏👍🇬🇧

[@JenkinsBoatWorks]

I"ve been thinking that too. I can see taking off for a couple weeks but he truly has been gone for a long time.

[@lbh002]

Inspirational as ever.

[@richardsiddon610]

Thanks guys! Have a good weekend.

[@randys1889]

Fine work! Cheers from Southern California USA ~

[@bulkbogan4320]

steve should get 2/3 of this boat for the work and dedication....

[@ThaJay]

In a comment above Steve replied that he is the owner so that means Alix has done a lot of work for what he's getting back.

[@bulkbogan4320]

@@ThaJay thanks im not so keen on the lore of the Arabella but sounds good to me..

[@Aware_Coffee]

I think that you guys should get a rc sailboat to see how they work. They also teach you a lot about tracking/jibing and how different wind speed effects the boat.

[@Aware_Coffee]

I would recommend the kyosho se seawind. Or any other 1 meter class sailboat.

[@shaunolinger964]

Caught up and slobbering all over my phone waiting for the next episode. Who says you can't time travel? Four years in four days. Seriously.... I cannot begin to tell you how much I have enjoyed this series. I had three goals for my life... a good wife (I got the BEST), a small piece of land (my father told me to wait, I can have his in a few years when he doesn't need it anymore).... And a boat. A live-aboard boat. I'd originally wanted a sailboat. See, my parents moved my sister and I onto a sloop rigged Bayliner Buccaneer 270 when I was barely 4 years old. For the next 18 months we lived aboard "Touché" (yes, named for the cartoon turtle) while they built a sailboat from scratch. Using fiberglass, they built the 60 foot Bruce Roberts designed staysail schooner "Lady Puff". My mother wrote a fourth verse to the song "Puff the Magic Dragon" by Peter, Paul, and Mary, in which Puff meets Lady Puff and become a "joyful cruising pair", "frolicking in the ocean mist" "past the Land of Honalee". We met the tall ship "Lady Washington" in the San Juan Islands, and dipped our flag in salute to the Coast Guard training ship "Eagle", just to name a couple of our adventures. I learned to sail a boat ,how to row a dinghy, and the words to a good many sea shanties before I knew how to write. In August of 2000 I fell and broke my back on a heavy construction site, just five months after I married my wife, and two weeks before her 20th birthday. With that massive injury went my ability to run the decks and handle the rigging of a sailboat, so I looked at converting a sailboat into a power cruiser, with their sleek efficient hulls and small fuel efficient engines, as well as the self-righting abilities few power boats can boast of having. Then my wife got hurt. A massive head injury, traumatic brain damage, and a major loss of balance. There was no way I could put her on a boat, and with that went my lifelong dream of getting back aboard a cruising boat. So we have a land yacht. A 31ft motorhome, 37 years old but with good bones and a strong frame. We're refitting the interior to accommodate our family of three, with a special marine-style bunk for our first mate, eight years old and growing fast. She was even under the rig last week running a hydraulic floor jack helping us pull the engine and transmission for rebuilding. Through you, and "Arabella", we can be part of something we will never be able to do ourselves. So when I say "tears of joy" at your success, I am man enough to admit I mean exactly that. Joy at your success, happiness that someone else is making it happen where we could not. Not because we didn't want to, or because we didn't try. Because life gets in the way sometimes. So, we adjusted our dreams to fit our capabilities, and this time we're going to get it done. We're in a safe place, purely by accident, for riding out Covid and the hate and violence raging through our country right now. You guys take care, and keep doing what you're doing. Steve, that bit about quiet time in the shop, working on your boat..... man I completely get that! For me it's an audiobook on Bluetooth headphones, ignoring the world as I build something for the motorhome. If I need more solitude than that, I launch the kayak and go paddling around Scappoose Bay, Multnomah Channel, and the mighty Columbia River. You do what you need to do. I deeply appreciate you taking me along for the ride.

[@charlesmoore456]

Just keep building!!

[@lynncampbell3207]

Thanks

[@piledriver141]

Beautiful work!! Alex is missing out.

[@MichaelAMalone]

I have to say that how ever you figure out the angles and cut them befuddles my mind, but it always seems to work out.... Lol's