When most people ask us about Arabella, we see one question pop up over and over again.  "How's the boat building going?"

There is one often overlooked aspect of projects: Preparation.  At the moment, we are in the preparation stage, which is just as important as the building stage.  The better we prepare now, the better set up we will be for the building stage.

-PROGRESS SO FAR-

2011

  • Purchased a used book called Fifty Wooden Boats, a Catalog of Building Plans. The thought of building a world cruising sailboat takes hold. [See more book recommendations here.]

2014

  • Steve believes he can build a boat and unsuccessfully tries to convince Alix and two others to join him in this venture.

  • This only strengthens Steve’s resolve.

  • A friend purchases a portable sawmill, Steve harvests trees, borrows the mill,and makes a large pile of Red Oak, White Pine, and Butternut boards.

2015

  • Steve acquires a significant number of power tools that are useful for boat building.

  • The wood yard and access road are cleared, lumber/firewood storage shed is built with lumber harvested and milled in 2014.

  • After countless hours of research a boat is chosen, Ingrid designed by William Atkin.

  • Patreon is discovered, the plan is ironed out and Alix joins Steve in the building adventure.

2016

  • The dark, dank prison-cell-like space in the back of the garage was renovated into a bright, warm, and cozy wood shop using mostly recycled and repurposed materials.

  • The plans for Ingrid (our future Arabella) were purchased.

  • Basic video equipment was purchased.

  • Website went live.

  • Finalized our logos, printed business cards, and got merchandise printed.

  • Lumber list was compiled.

  • Logging winch was fabricated and trees harvested.

  • Sawmill was delivered. Steve almost singlehandedly ran all the logs from the downed trees through the sawmill to produce the stack of lumber needed for the build.

  • Put out first video and launched Patreon (www.patreon.com)

  • Plans are lofted! (Lofting plans = Drawing them to actual size in order to take measurements and build molds from them. See a video.)

  • We began building molds.

2017

  • Built a keel mold out of concrete and later decided that due to moisture and the dangers of pouring in said mold was going to be more dangerous than it was worth, we decided to scrap that idea and make a wooden mold as the shape was actually much simpler than we initially realized.

  • Built and tested a smelter by melting down wheel weights. This allowed us to realize we need something much sturdier.

  • Purchased 10,000+lbs of lead, in the form of old wheel weights, scrap flashing/other parts and salvaged keels.

  • Laminated the bow and stern pieces.

  • Acquired a beautiful vessel named Victoria that is unfortunately on her last leg but full of beautiful details that can be salvaged and incorporated into Arabella. Many bronze pieces including a bronze double windlass, a bronze binnacle, 11 matching bronze port lights and so much more! (see the video of the walkthrough we did showcasing all she has to offer HERE)

  • Forged lasting relationships with amazing people and businesses that we believe in!

2018

  • Harvested and milled about 10,000 board feet of locally sourced white oak, black locust and varied softwoods (for dimensional lumber)

  • Poured our 4.5 ton lead keel successfully! This was a massive accomplishment and weight lifted off our shoulders.

  • Keel timber and lead keel are shaped and bolted together using bolts we made in house by threading 1 inch bronze rod.

  • Bow and stern timbers are shaped and then bolted together using 3/4 inch bolts made in house, including several homemade fin head bolts.

  • Station molds are completed and installed on the keel.

  • Lofting floor is pulled up and a second story is built in the boat house to allow for ease of access later in the build but also to stabilize molds.

  • Majority of rabbet is cut down keel timber and frame sockets are carved out in preparation for steaming in frames.

  • All steam bent frames are installed (some frames in bow and stern will be sawn frames)

2019

  • Mill planking stock from Eastern White Cedar we were donated

  • Fabricate all bronze floor timbers for Arabella

  • Install sawn frames in bow and stern of Arabella and finish cutting rabbet

  • Plank Arabella’s hull (in progress)

2020, 2021, 2022: An update is forthcoming, we’re hummin’ on this boat!