Bella – intheboatshed.net

Nick Smith’s best motor launch yet – and the next one could be yours

West Country-style boat builder Nick Smith has sent in some photographs of the completed motor launch Bella.

‘Dear Gav,

‘I’ve attached some photos of the complete Bella taken last Thursday.

‘It’s been a long haul as usual but worth all the hours – she is in my opinion the best yet, so maybe I am getting the hang of it. I managed to get an excellent final coat of varnish on despite the conditions, although the engine box lid has some dust in it, so it will get another coat.

‘And so it remains to button her up in a cool shed until the spring when the owner will come and collect her.

‘I am off to New Zealand for a few weeks of sun and then back to Britain to prepare two existing launches ready for the new season 2011, and to build another launch. Thanks for all your good work, and a happy and prosperous New Year

‘Nick’

I’d like to add that Nick’s in the market for a commission for one of his handsome motor launches – so if any readers would like a grand, seaworthy traditionally craft finished to the best standards for fishing, birdwatching, picnicking or general outings, please contact him using the details below.

If a commission doesn’t come in, I’m sure he’ll be building a motor launch on spec, though what size I couldn’t say. Maybe he’ll make his mind up while stretched out on one of those New Zealand beaches…

For more posts at intheboatshed.net on this project, click here; here, here, here, and here.

Nick comes from Devon, learned boatbuilding the traditional way and specialises in new builds in clinker and carvel for sail, motor and rowing power from 8ft to 28ft with a special emphasis on West Country style and design, and also takes on repairs and refits from 25ft to 50ft. These days he’s based in Hampshire, and can be contacted by email at nick_smith_boatbuilder@yahoo.com and by phone on 07786 693370.

PS – can we say you’re looking for a commission for this spring, or would you feel that was giving too much away? G

Nick Smith motor launch Bella – fitting the engine and shaft

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Nick Smith and colleagues has been fitting the engine to the motor launch Bella – it’s quite a process as these photos and his notes below reveal – and fitting the aft deck, which is now looking very special.

Find more posts about Nick’s boats here.

The photos are in order, from the top and numbered left to right in Nick’s notes. Here’s what hehas to say:

1 Drilling the shaft log to take the stern tube. Notice the rudimenary drilling jig, which is simple and effective; I use the same method to drill through the keel deadwood, from the outside in.

2 The ply template holds all the necessary information taken from the motor, dimension of shaft line, engine mounts etc. The old boys would use a string line to line up the shaft, but I use straight edges – they have to be right and don’t get the false readings that can happen when you inadvertently lean on the string with your knee.

3 Once happy with the shaft angle I can glue on the tapered engine beds. These are angled exactly to the shaft angle. Now we are getting somewhere!

4 Simple as that! Fit the stern tube, slide the shaft in, lift the engine into place, sort the engines’ fore and aft position, adjust the four mounts to line up the couplings exactly,drill off for the coach screws to hold the flexible mountings down, and then bolt down. Add the flexy coupling and bolt shaft to gearbox. A good day’s work.

5 As 4 above.

6 Whilst the stern gear engineers were knocking up their bit, I got on with other jobs, including laying the after deck, making up the locker front and locker door, and some paintwork, including varnish on the seats. I’ve got a gloss on them already, even only after one coat of 50/50 and one full coat. Here’s the after deck, khaya mahogany king plank and cover boards, iroko planks, payed with black polysulphide compound. The mahogany is to be fully varnished and the deck planking is to be fed with a linseed oil-white spirit mixture.

Bella is six to eight away from completion, but as the old boatbuilders in Salcombe used to say ‘a boat’s only finished when it goes away’. Looking at my timesheets, so far I have been building her for 13 weeks in workshop time, so I’m reasonably pleased with the progress.

More photos next week.

Cheers

Nick

Nick Smith’s latest project – she gets engine beds, seat mountings, and a name

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Bella being fitted out

Aft thwart and after laid deck; templating for aft thwart; midships thwart knees going in

Sorting prop shaft angle; longitudinal engine bed fitting; beds and engine template

West Country-style boatbuilder Nick Smith has sent in these more photos showing how his current project is progressing. He also reports that she now has a name, Bella, which I must say seems very fitting. No more calling this lady Bamboo Viper II!

For more posts at intheboatshed.net on this project, click here; here, here and here.

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