This guy is such a craftsman, it is great to watch him work, so particular in the way he does everything. It has changed the way I think about any little project now.

Now if only Maya would stop screeching on the fiddle . I watched all of the series where Aladino rebuilt the boat that fell out of the slings and then they travelled to the Med via the French canal system.
Now he is again doing a sterling job on the Cape George boat.

I agree Keen sailor.
I have picked up lots of little tips from this and other boat rebuild sites.
I have come across a clear concise demonstration on the correct way to remove masking tape from the hull after a boot topping or stripe paint job.
here it is.
gary

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keensailor said..
This guy is such a craftsman, it is great to watch him work, so particular in the way he does everything. It has changed the way I think about any little project now.

No doubt it will be splendid when all done. I did have to cringe as watched two of my pet hates, cutting on the floor & a wobbly vice bench !

I am currently watching this rebuild of a 1910 yacht. I found the episodes on the lofting process really interesting, I never really understood how a lines drawing actually worked to create templates that are used to make a hull accurate to the design. Only half way through still trying to catch up to current episodes.

mate if your only up to episode 6, you've got quite a few to go.
And a few dramas along the way.

Its an amazing rebuild, that finally is getting some momentum.
Leo has some great skill also.
Tally Ho is definitely one worth getting into.

Up to the planking episodes (No 88 or 89), Leo takes zero shortcuts, he is a great role model for DIY'ers, inspires you to take the time and do the job right.

Thanks for the tip(s) guys. I'm really enjoying the Tally Ho series. I'm only up to Ep 30 or 31 when he is starting to fit the new frames but it has been very interesting (and educational).

I was really enjoying the explanation of the lofting process and how you turn a plan into a life sized boat on a lofting floor. I commented to my good wife that it was really interesting. Her response - "mind numbing"

I am in two minds about Leo. I love watching his chisel skills, I have never been able to get joints like his but then again, I don't have to, I use epoxy glue. I have real trouble seeing the amount of work and rare tree species that go into making a boat that could have been launched by now if he had used a more modern method - like cedar strip composite. The skills are incredible, but the sheer waste of endangered woods, or the casting of bronze hardware when we would do the same with glass today in hours has me shaking my head - what is the real point of it all? The boat will be no better than one we could build from scratch in simpler and stronger methods. But the video would not be as interesting.

Knowing two boats that took decades to build (I built the shell of one of them) and neither owner saw launched (one suicided and the other died naturally), I would also like anyone thinking of emulating Leo to remember that sometimes getting into a big project can be the biggest mistake you can make in your life. Certainly the guy I built the shell for went through hell in the end over the project.
I have built 4 boats in my life and only one is a singularly happy experience. Be careful of dreams, make them simple and achievable, or they can turn into an ordeal. I worry about the people emulating Leo who don't get the help and money he does - who get stranded with half a boat and no way of finishing it. Go small, simple and get it done - rough is fine, just finish it and get sailing. Another problem with perfection is using the boat. You have to be able to leave it on anchor and walk away to the other side of the island. You have to know that you can lose your boat because it may happen. So going so deep down the money and time road for something you want to use as a cruiser doesn't sit right. A guy I knew built a wonderful trimaran - it took him 15 years to finish it. Then he capsized it and lost it. You gotta build it knowing you may lose it all one day.

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Kankama said..
I am in two minds about Leo. I love watching his chisel skills, I have never been able to get joints like his but then again, I don't have to, I use epoxy glue. I have real trouble seeing the amount of work and rare tree species that go into making a boat that could have been launched by now if he had used a more modern method - like cedar strip composite. The skills are incredible, but the sheer waste of endangered woods, or the casting of bronze hardware when we would do the same with glass today in hours has me shaking my head - what is the real point of it all? The boat will be no better than one we could build from scratch in simpler and stronger methods. But the video would not be as interesting.

Knowing two boats that took decades to build (I built the shell of one of them) and neither owner saw launched (one suicided and the other died naturally), I would also like anyone thinking of emulating Leo to remember that sometimes getting into a big project can be the biggest mistake you can make in your life. Certainly the guy I built the shell for went through hell in the end over the project.
I have built 4 boats in my life and only one is a singularly happy experience. Be careful of dreams, make them simple and achievable, or they can turn into an ordeal. I worry about the people emulating Leo who don't get the help and money he does - who get stranded with half a boat and no way of finishing it. Go small, simple and get it done - rough is fine, just finish it and get sailing. Another problem with perfection is using the boat. You have to be able to leave it on anchor and walk away to the other side of the island. You have to know that you can lose your boat because it may happen. So going so deep down the money and time road for something you want to use as a cruiser doesn't sit right. A guy I knew built a wonderful trimaran - it took him 15 years to finish it. Then he capsized it and lost it. You gotta build it knowing you may lose it all one day.

I agree. There also those people that do this with no intention whatsoever of actually finishing and going to sea! The people that end up buying the boat don't see half of the workmanship anyway.

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Kankama said..
I am in two minds about Leo. I love watching his chisel skills, I have never been able to get joints like his but then again, I don't have to, I use epoxy glue. I have real trouble seeing the amount of work and rare tree species that go into making a boat that could have been launched by now if he had used a more modern method - like cedar strip composite. The skills are incredible, but the sheer waste of endangered woods, or the casting of bronze hardware when we would do the same with glass today in hours has me shaking my head - what is the real point of it all? The boat will be no better than one we could build from scratch in simpler and stronger methods. But the video would not be as interesting.

Knowing two boats that took decades to build (I built the shell of one of them) and neither owner saw launched (one suicided and the other died naturally), I would also like anyone thinking of emulating Leo to remember that sometimes getting into a big project can be the biggest mistake you can make in your life. Certainly the guy I built the shell for went through hell in the end over the project.
I have built 4 boats in my life and only one is a singularly happy experience. Be careful of dreams, make them simple and achievable, or they can turn into an ordeal. I worry about the people emulating Leo who don't get the help and money he does - who get stranded with half a boat and no way of finishing it. Go small, simple and get it done - rough is fine, just finish it and get sailing. Another problem with perfection is using the boat. You have to be able to leave it on anchor and walk away to the other side of the island. You have to know that you can lose your boat because it may happen. So going so deep down the money and time road for something you want to use as a cruiser doesn't sit right. A guy I knew built a wonderful trimaran - it took him 15 years to finish it. Then he capsized it and lost it. You gotta build it knowing you may lose it all one day.

Regarding the timbers

I was involved (Partner) in a business from 2009 to 2015 importing similar timbers to the ones Leo is using, dense tropical rainforest timber from the Amazon. Leo mentioned he sourced his from Suriname, the timber I imported was from Peru but essentially all Amazon Timbers. Like Leo the timbers we imported were Forest Stewardship Council certified (FSC). In order to carry that certification you can be sure the timbers are not endangered, there is a UN list of endangered species and anything on it cannot carry FSC certification so Leo is not using endangered species in fact FSC certification is regarded as the best environmental standard. Our own industry and government created the AFS standard here in Australia as the FSC standard was to rigourous, especially in regard to respecting 'Traditional owners" of forests. There are many others aspects to the standard but essentially it is selective logging, no clear felling, a logged area must remain an intact forest after the timber is harvested, only species and individually approved trees (gps recorded) in a survey the year before can be taken. Its a robust standard, not perfect but certainly the best available.

Regarding the Construction

My own boat is timber, but the modern cold molded compsite method you mentioned which I agree is a better method, however I do think something built from durable products in such a way as to last a very long time (100+ years) is environmentally friendly. Recently in the windsurfing world there has been some "eco" friendly boards being built using bamboo etc that are having issues after 1 or 2 seasons and being scrapped. I think a much more robust product with a long life span will prove more sustainable in the long run even if the initial construction has a greater environmental impact.

Regarding Dreams of Building/Restoring a boat

Agree 100%, look in the interesting boats for sale thread, I posted a pic of my own similar experience to what you mention.

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Kankama said..
I am in two minds about Leo. I love watching his chisel skills, I have never been able to get joints like his but then again, I don't have to, I use epoxy glue. I have real trouble seeing the amount of work and rare tree species that go into making a boat that could have been launched by now if he had used a more modern method - like cedar strip composite. The skills are incredible, but the sheer waste of endangered woods, or the casting of bronze hardware when we would do the same with glass today in hours has me shaking my head - what is the real point of it all? The boat will be no better than one we could build from scratch in simpler and stronger methods. But the video would not be as interesting.

Knowing two boats that took decades to build (I built the shell of one of them) and neither owner saw launched (one suicided and the other died naturally), I would also like anyone thinking of emulating Leo to remember that sometimes getting into a big project can be the biggest mistake you can make in your life. Certainly the guy I built the shell for went through hell in the end over the project.
I have built 4 boats in my life and only one is a singularly happy experience. Be careful of dreams, make them simple and achievable, or they can turn into an ordeal. I worry about the people emulating Leo who don't get the help and money he does - who get stranded with half a boat and no way of finishing it. Go small, simple and get it done - rough is fine, just finish it and get sailing. Another problem with perfection is using the boat. You have to be able to leave it on anchor and walk away to the other side of the island. You have to know that you can lose your boat because it may happen. So going so deep down the money and time road for something you want to use as a cruiser doesn't sit right. A guy I knew built a wonderful trimaran - it took him 15 years to finish it. Then he capsized it and lost it. You gotta build it knowing you may lose it all one day.

I couldn't agree more. Watching Aladino I think I couldn't do that at 53, they have youth on their side at least. I think sometimes we get wrapped up in the material possession too much and forget that the real joy is in the actual sailing experience.

It's certainly not something I would consider taking on for a second (even if I had the skills required). Leo is fortunate in that he has found a way to finance the rebuild so his project has actually become his job. He is not battling those competing priorities. He also has youth (time) on his side and very few, it would seem, other responsibilities (mortgage, kids regular day job etc) that would prevent most of us taking on such a project.

Having said all that and noting the valid points made above about the benefits of modern boat building it's still enjoyable to watch, if only to observe the boat building process from days past. The attention to detail and patience required to transfer all the measurements and angles from the plans to the lofting floor and then onto the frames is a time consuming and intricate process (i'm only up to ep 30 something) and an admirable skill in itself.

Is this project necessary? Beyond the historical value and preservation of wooden boat building techniques / skills, probably not. It's an indulgence for Leo but half his luck. He is doing something he is obviously passionate about and gains a lot of satisfaction from and he has created a way to make this happen.

I'm looking forward to the rest of the videos.

If it weren't for people like Leo and Aladino among countless others similar things then nothing would ever be made or done in a traditional way again. I can recall fathers and their young sons building things like MJ's or Flying Ants, now think back to when was the last time you saw that happen, these are all skills and traditions being lost forever. To that end I applaud people like Tally Ho and Magic Carpet for doing what they're doing.

This is a good example of a yacht restoration.

that was a great vid Ramona, the amount of work the couple did, and vision to turn out the end product was pretty gutsy.

For me, the TH project is pure escapism also.
The fact that he and his crew are learning how to make sand casting dies, rivets etc, is part of the attraction.
I certainly dont have the space, time, money, knowledge, skills, drive or resources to do anything remotely like what Leo is doing, and thats what makes it all the more watchable.

Plus I like his team also, their own stories.