The Building of Katy

A chronological account of the construction of Katy of Norfolk, a plank on bulkhead wooden model depicting a typical, but fictitious, Virginia pilots' schooner of the very early 19th century.

 

Working the bow and stern blocks.

 

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Keel

The instructions showed clearly how to place the blocks of wood that will be shaped to support the bow and stern structure planking.  The photos show the finished blocks with good clarity and readers will notice the open grain of the balsa wood described in the text.  The wood provide for this step may have been balsa but it was a very hard variety and required serious tooling to shape down.
   

A regular saw couldn't be used for fear of breaking the frames.  This wouldn't be such a problem if the sub-deck were more substantial.  A thicker sub-deck would stiffen this assembly more and make it easier to shape the ends.  Not a problem.  Dremel tools and cut-off wheels made quick work of the blocks.
   
The sub-deck is becoming an item of concern and it may be necessary to replace it with thicker wood.
   

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