Wooden Narrowboat Building - Steaming planks - Spey Docking

During the 2014 docking of Spey, two planks were set to be replaced. This film shows the process of test fitting and final adjustments, creation of a new scarf joint, steaming, bending, and temporary fixing of the plank in place.
See her boating along in these videos:-
Starting:
• Starting Spey's Single...
Icebreaking:
• Spey and the ice...

[@p52457]

Ok, I'm a Texas farmer, age 74, and I recognize hard work. This rivals the very best. What a wonderful crew. I saw "steaming planks" had no idea what you were doing and then I watched it all. My very best to you and the crew and stay safe !

[@shleep2000]

Honestly Mike, I could watch your video's all day! And sometimes I do. Thank you very much.

[@robcaldwell4010]

Had the pleasure of seeing and hearing Spey coming through the wharf we moor at it was an amazing sight :)

[@crazyhorsetrading8655]

Thanks for uploading this video. I found it really informative. Wow that's damn hard graft. Awesome to see the skills being passed on, something we should never let die.

[@ianmccarthy9744]

Thanks Mike. Before too many people ask, yes we know about the split which appear inside and we have now sealed that split with special glue and a thin layer of galvanised tin, just in case.

[@ianmccarthy9744]

All the people in the Video are members of the NB Spey Group, or there partners. The Spey Group has owned and maintained the boat for over 40yrs, A younger generation have now joined and are now learning the skill set required to operate and maintain her, so they can do the next 40 yrs.

[@BrassLock]

People (journalists usually) say that Millennials are a selfish lot with a short attention span, and spend their time staring at smartphone screens. This video seems to present a breathtakingly different view.

[@Neil_Morris]

I won't pretend to understand exactly what was going on in all of that but it was absolutely fascinating all the same. Thanks for posting!

[@oxenforde]

Well. That's one way to steam a plank. **eye brows raised** (Impressed)

[@inthenameofjustice8811]

I went out with a woman that was a streaming plank, once. On a holiday to Cornwall, one night I said to her, 'Is that a full moon up there, love?' She said, 'How am I supposed to know? I don't live round here.'

[@steverawlings]

Awesome skills,awesome video..many thanks for an entertaining watch

[@urbanrider7981]

My grandparents worked for fellows Morton and Clayton,they had the perch and the cley

[@llessibm]

Really enjoyed this - thanks

[@tonyholmes9524]

Really enjoyed this, Thank you

[@3scottiedogs]

Great video 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👏

[@vincent7520]

Excellent video.W

[@dillbuckler1239]

Them 2 new planks just need a new boat around them now

[@p.a.reysen3185]

We are across the pond, in the colonies. We are on the Mighty Columbia River and have been soaking up everything that has been posted about Narrow Boats, in contemplation of laying down a new 90 foot keel for a 100% wooden wide-boat. In choosing only oak for ribs, keel, and planking, our question goes to the planking. Our choice for planking is 2 1/2 " by 8" by 96" (or longer if possible) dried scaffolding wood. Our question is whether there are any wooden boats that use the spline technic between the planks where after fitting, to router (3/4") out upper and lower sides of the planks and inserting a 3/4" oak spline between the planks. Out thoughts are to finger joint lap the planks to accomplish the necessary full length of the boat, then steam the planks to make the necessary curves. Because of the river conditions we will be not using a flat bottom but joining the V-keel to the planks with a properly sized beam having both top and one side inserted to accommodate the bottom most plank and the keel. Is there someone in your society that might have an insight in helping us accomplish our goals? Any information will be greatly appreciated. (Pat R. on the Columbia River, America)

[@mykaskin]

Hi, wooden boat building is completely out of my knowledge. Narrowboats are very much their own thing and the construction is much different from a sea going or river craft, though similar to wooden barges in some ways. Generally v bottom cruisers are built in a different way, check out the KZbin channel 'Ship Happens' which looks at the maintenance of a large wooden boat of the type you are talking about.

[@guzzi1948]

right tools for the job may have speeded it all up

[@meandmyvelo6380]

Are wooden narrow boats water tight or do they leak a bit as wooden yachts do?

[@mykaskin]

Few wooden boats should leak if built and maintained correctly. The dry wood swells and with the oakum that is pushed between the planks creates a perfect seal. There are still sometimes small leaks due to failures or mistakes but when done right shouldn't leak.

[@peterradclyffe8056]

which drydock, we used to do this work in tring,uxbridge,bulls bridge and brentford

[@mykaskin]

This is the Wigan drydock. The Spey group of just finished an even bigger docking at Northwich recently - keeping up the good work! No rest with a wooden boat...

[@mrsdawnyc]

Are these people volunteers, if not I bet this was expensive

[@rparker069]

is that a hammer and sickle on the rudder

[@cjeam9199]

Does it need to fit that tight? That was a whopping great split hammering it caused.

[@mykaskin]

It needs to be tight enough for it to be sealed with Oakum (thin string that is hammered between the seems) to get it water tight, however obviously the splitting isn't a good thing and I'm sure the guys could tell me what went wrong and what they should have done to ensure it didn't happen next time but I'm no wooden boat expert! :)

[@cjeam9199]

mykaskin Hm ok thanks for the explanation. As I understand it in wooden boats in salt water the swelling of the wood when it’s in the water means you can’t have the fit too tight or add too much oakum, as the planks can start to push away from the frames. Maybe this still isn’t too tight though or they behave differently in fresh water.

[@mykaskin]

@@cjeam9199 They do swell, but as to if this is too tight I'm not too sure to be honest!

[@Slick1G3]

that plank wasn't split from hammering on it thats what they call a (check ) in the wood most times its on one side and not all the way through the board

[@RJrigges]

What's the pros and cons of a wooden narrowboat over a metal or fibreglass?

[@mykaskin]

RJrigges depends on what you want to do with a boat, but for the main part, wooden boats need a more rigorous maintainable schedule than steel or fibreglass. How ever if all you want to do is carry bulk liquids on a shallow canal these wooden 'tar' boats where considered the most suitable. This boat is maintained by a private group, as you can see there is quite a bit of work involved in keeping it going.

[@caldaq219]

About how long was needed just to steam the plank?

[@andyg3]

until it got dark

[@lizhaydon2250]

How old is the boat being repaired?

[@mykaskin]

It was built in 1937, though nearly all but the some of the bigger bits of wood deep in the boat have been replaced - so discuss and debate...

[@Slick1G3]

I NOTICED THE END OF THE PLANK BURNED .

[@jons6125]

Slick1G3 it’s a reaction of oak and the rusty hot water I think not burning

[@inthenameofjustice8811]

This, is a no comment comment.

[@keliweisgerber3896]

If you enjoy woodworking plans, you will love woodprix. Get inspired by all the endless possibilities of furniture plans and other wood projects to build, for both indoors and outdoors.

[@Slick1G3]

Hope you didn't build your spit fires like this lol