Judy P's Tickle Trunk

A couple of days ago I found myself standing in the kitchen, wiped right out. I was decked out in dusty green coveralls now stiff with patches of epoxy, a deep red ring around my mouth and nose from the vapour mask which hung limply from one finger at my side dripping sweat, and my hair dry with dust. No pictures please. For the first time in thirty years I wished I could have a cigarette. Thanks heavens I got over that before it happened. Who would have thought that the rub-rails could be so much work; after all, it was just a couple of strips of wood stuck to the hull.

Rub rails

For you non-boaters the rub rail protects the hull from rubbing against the dock or another boat or a walrus etc. What I got with the kit was 6 lengths of mahogany (or is it Spanish Cedar?) less than an inch square. The boat is 18 feet so it had to be glued together into two long lengths. The only space in the shop large enough to do that was on top of the boat itself. Then two edges needed rounding which required setting up the router table and feeding the strips, which were like al dente spaghetti. Lance helped here and we fed them right out of the room into the driveway, hauled them back and fed them again. I devised various contraptions to support them as they moved along. The routing was good but they still required hand sanding and finessing. Then holes were drilled for the fasteners. I managed to break off two small drill bits and had to break into Lance’s supply only to find his was much better and had I snuck them in the first place I probably wouldn’t have broken any. I tapped a brad into each one. Then applied glue to the flat edge. Now the fun part – getting that long wiggly stick attached to the side of the boat. Masking tape and several extreme Cape Breton swear words were most helpful. Once taped, it was nailed securely to the hull. I am less than expert at hammering but my thumbs came out okay this time. Repeated on  the starboard side. Then all the nails had to be set, I made a real mess of that. Then all the glue which squeezed out had to be cleaned up. Even now, writing it, it doesn’t sound like much but it took the better part of a day. All the bending and squatting and leaning was exhausting. That was when I caught myself wishing for a smoke and a nice rum and coke to go with it. I resisted both.

Rub rail and combing detail

I am so close now. The hatch covers and sills are completed, the hole for the painter drilled in the bow, and the rub rails epoxied. Now there are days of sanding to come and then the varnish. After that the hatch hardware is installed followed by the sliding seat rowing unit. Sadly, those things won’t get done until spring. Maybe a little sanding but definitely not the varnish. I am closing up the workshop and we will be travelling. It is kind of good because if I were to finish up in a couple of weeks I surely would want to launch her and this is not rowing season. I would need three pairs of long johns and have to triple up on worsted double-ball mitts, which would make rowing most uncomfortable. Naw, she can wait til April now and then a fine Christening and launching ceremony in May. Hmmm, I feel an excuse for a spring party coming on!!

© Judy Parsons 2014