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| Making of the Hull |
| The planks are bent to shape over an open fire and fitted while still hot. More and more top futtocks extend the shape of the ship upwards. |
| As the frames go up the planking continues the planks are fastened in place with wooden pins that shipwrights call treenails or trunnels. Wedges are driven into the ends of the trunnels so that they hold strongly |
| Once the ship is planked to the turn of the bilge the lower frame timbers called the floors are fitted. Planks which fit under the square-tuck stern are carved to shape. They are called oxters,the Scots dialect name for armpits. Grown oak timbers,are sawn to form the ships frames Spars are being shaped |
| Bow and stern views with the top timbers in place defining the shape of the hull The staging on the outside of the hull follows the curve of the ships sheer and rises to about 25 horts above the floor in the stern.The framing of the stern rises right to the roof of the shed. |
| The hull is all framed up amd staging has been erected on the inside for the shipwrights to fair the frames and fit the beam shelf. .Preparing to fit the last strake (line of planks) in the bow. On a Ram there should be least Four weapon ports pierce her rail on each side of the ship. |
| Now it's planked up to the height of the rail. The lowing lines of her sheer are now evident. The deck beams are in place and grown knees are being fashioned to secure them to the hull. |
| Remember drill holes and drive in the treenails that fasten the planking to the timbers.. The bow shows sharp hollow lines below the water and a rounded shape above the waterline Shaping the hanging knees that secure the deck beams to the hull is a lot of work. They are hewn from the root boles of trees |
| The inside of the hold is now completely planked, forming what shipwrights call the ceiling. The top of the poop deck almost touches the roof of the shipyard shed.In a couple of months time we will take the shed away. |
| The large mortice cut in the forward face of the stem will take the tenon of the beakhead knee.The beakhead extends forward from the bow. |
| From high over the stern we see the main deck being laid.the sail maker has started workon the sails when it seems he should be sewing a shirt. |
| Now has all her masts standing tall.and ready to set sail...Now the ship is towed across the harbour to dockside for stepping the mizzen mast and bowsprit. The mizzen mast is stepped and then the bowsprit. |
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