Maximizing Arabella's Ability to Sail Upwind - Ep. 305 - Acorn to Arabella: Journey of a Wooden Boat

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Maximizing Arabella's Ability to Sail Upwind - Ep. 305 - Acorn to Arabella: Journey of a Wooden Boat

Рет қаралды 56,892

Күн бұрын

There’s always work to be done on a wooden boat, but the cooler temperatures have prevented some of this work from getting done outside. During a window where the weather is finally decent, Steve spends some time tackling projects that need to get done on deck-including rigging the reefing system and downhauls for the main and mizzen sails. The main sail of Arabella has three reefs. A reef essentially shortens the sail, so on days when the wind is strong, the sail area can quickly be reduced. Steve works on finding the permanent solution for this system. Meanwhile, Akiva embraces the new season with a rare nap down below.
Now that it’s officially spring, hopefully the warmer weather provides more opportunities for adventure. And, of course, more opportunities to chip away at that to-do list.
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Acorn to Arabella started as a wooden boat building project in Granby, Massachusetts. Steve began the journey as an amateur wooden boat builder crafting a 38' wooden sailboat in his backyard: designer William Atkin's Ingrid with a Stormy Petrel's gaff rig. These videos follow the journey from tree felling, to lumber milling, to lofting, to the lead keel pour and now sailing the boat-sharing details of the woodworking, carpentry, metal smithing, tool building, and tool maintenance that traditional wooden boats command. This ultimate DIY project continues beyond the boat shop, as Steve and crew travel and learn to cruise aboard the handmade wooden boat that they've built. Just kidding about all that, this channel is about a Siberian Laika named Akiva.
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Пікірлер: 141

@aidan6123 5 ай бұрын

what happened to the stuffing box and the electrical problems you had? Has this been repaired?

@AcornToArabella 5 ай бұрын

Time will tell. The new alternator is on the boat waiting for install and the motor hasn't been running since November-ish. The anode still looks decent, so maybe it was, and maybe it wasn't the stuffing material. It should be solved, the anode looks fine for the moment, but things have a habit of changing on a dime around here! Watch this space i guess...

@DrDaveSalisburyPhDMBA 5 ай бұрын

It has been very therapeutic to watch these videos from the beginning of this project to present. Thank You for taking us along!

@russelltate3703 5 ай бұрын

A sailboat is never finished, at least from my experience.... however, the successful completion of each project is a great feeling! Enjoy each job crossed off the list and each one added to it.

@benmac940 5 ай бұрын

I think that's boat in general isn't it, it certainly is in my experience anyway.

@user-ji7qb6ek7h 4 ай бұрын

You guys are really doing a great job of "hanging in there". About 5 hours round trip to Grandby gets tough I am sure plus everything else going on. God bless, We know Steve and apparently Robin have unbelievable stamina. Thank you.

@pragmax 5 ай бұрын

Okay, the sounds of working at that bench against the near quiet and creaking of the boat is... well, it's a real treat with headphones on. It's very relaxing in a way. Thank you for this.

@alshaver3742 5 ай бұрын

ASMR

@ukulelefatman 5 ай бұрын

Steve, I launched my Grady White from Saquatucket for decades. If you are planning a sail around the tip of Monomoy, pay attention to the time of CURRENT change (as well as tide change). Tide and current do NOT always coincide. The rips there are extremely strong and dangerous. Mountainous. It's possible to have a pleasant time at slack water, but it doesn't last long. Fair winds.

@AcornToArabella 4 ай бұрын

Great info! We're really excited to get over to Monomoy if this da*m weather would ever cooperate

@nigel4425 5 ай бұрын

Think about putting reefing horns at the gooseneck - so much easier to reef. You are very rarely reefing in good weather, so anything that makes the process easier/safer is worth considering. If you have double sided horns, it makes progressive reefing much easier, and safer, leave reef 1 where it is, just hook reef 2 on the other side, pressure back on the halyard, bear away and off you go.

@shaunmcdaniels2460 5 ай бұрын

@Nigel4425… One more time in English if you would be so kind!!! LOL…

@Ornthoron 5 ай бұрын

The two most useful tools in the making of Arabella: 1. Your climbing background 2. Clamps

@rong1924 5 ай бұрын

Yeah I think only a rock climber would put the turnbuckle at the top.

@mrvertigo23 5 ай бұрын

3. Brain 4. Family 5. Online supporters 6. Akita 7. The fantastic people involved hands on 8. Your indefatigableness - you started it with Rambunctious! ;) 9. and the rest

@mikethedesertrat 5 ай бұрын

I'm a boater but not a sailer. It always amazes me how many lines are on a sailboat and how sailors manage them all. I can see both sides: the headaches, and the therapeutic nature of their demands.

@bmxerkrantz 5 ай бұрын

slimmed and trimmed is one or two line(s). two is sailing single headsail only, and one is sailing mains'l only. most everything else is either ease of use or to gain performance. easy enough to start simple and add complexity as you gain confidence. lots of fresh (me included) sailors want to use it all, just because it's there. but listen to the boat. if just one sail is up and she has a good heading and speed, then sit back and enjoy. it doesn't always have to be complicated.

@lory2622 5 ай бұрын

@@bmxerkrantzI am still aghast that I never knew “boater” versus “sailor”. They have always just been “stinkpot” and “rag hanger”.

@MegaBait1616 5 ай бұрын

@@lory2622, We call them Blow Boats in Tampa, lol.

@mrvertigo23 5 ай бұрын

Different ball game - I've owned and been on a few boats in various scenarios. Been on a Sailing thing with no sails up, engine only and thought it was falling over and was going to die at any moment. Terrifying things

@benmac940 5 ай бұрын

@@mrvertigo23a yacht doesn't handle the same without her sails up. They're designed to primarily sail and handle so much better with the sails up generally

@markwaters8907 5 ай бұрын

Good morning. Everyone, thank you for my weekly fix 😊

@NevadaSteveTV 4 ай бұрын

Man, I love that vise!

@Gottenhimfella 4 ай бұрын

My ideal sailing vessel would have at least two of these three things: vice, lathe, mill. But I reckon Steve's vice would score at least 1.5!

@TotalBoat 4 ай бұрын

Awesome work, Steve!! 👏⛵

@dwaynekoblitz6032 5 ай бұрын

A custom credit for Robin! Excellent!!

@robertorr7410 5 ай бұрын

I have been watching to learn about wood working. What a spin off from my original learning path. I still prefer to have Steve teach about carpentry vs boating!

@AcornToArabella 5 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching! There should be no shortage of carpentry along the route if the first year on the water is any guide.

@robertorr7410 5 ай бұрын

I see now there is no shortage of carpentry skills needed. It's a wooden boat right?

@bakkenta1 5 ай бұрын

If you want to see some amazing joinery/carpentry, check out Tally Ho.

@badcat4707 5 ай бұрын

Good morning Akiva and Crew 😸😺

@glencrandall7051 5 ай бұрын

Thank you for sharing. Have a great day and stay safe.🙂🙂

@russwabuda1556 5 ай бұрын

it is so nice to see you prepare for warm weather and sailing adventures rather than cold weather, dockage and long nights. to have a dream is the first step in having a dream come true. best wishes

@stefanvanvuuren3931 5 ай бұрын

Wow, I never remember the boat creaking so much in the background. That is a very beautiful sound, it must be amazing to sleep in that, I imagine it becoming a Sound of Home. ❤️

@gordonquickstad 5 ай бұрын

That staysail looks very tidy now when it's furled, and your heritage vice is proving its worth!

@mrvertigo23 5 ай бұрын

Sailing and Climbing - classic combination

@joecioe8566 5 ай бұрын

Good video I like watching and learning about all the little details of a sailboat.

@philparmenter53 5 ай бұрын

Happy Friday and A2A day from Plymouth UK

@PBarrPrince 5 ай бұрын

Same to you friend, from Alabama, USA.

@AcornToArabella 5 ай бұрын

Morning!

@AndrexT 5 ай бұрын

Greetings from ex-Polperro hotelier living in Canada. When I went to the launch, I was able to see Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts. Have stood at both ends of the Mayflower trip.

@TgWags69 5 ай бұрын

A coping saw with a metal blade would be a much better choice for cutting out that brass. Might be a good addition to your onboard tool list. Lightweight, no batteries, and less material wastage.

@JonnieBGuud 5 ай бұрын

Still looking for that t-shirt that has all of Steve's "titles" and Robin's now too!😂

@petrichor649 5 ай бұрын

Beautiful segment with Steve climbing the mast. Nice

@mm-hl7gh 5 ай бұрын

looking forward for the journeys!! and the boat improvements!

@rick91443 5 ай бұрын

Happy Friday. Good weather here for the past two days; late lunch...cheers...rr Normandy, Fra.

@sailinwrench 5 ай бұрын

Your Cunningham will help you control draft location which will help to sail windward. With the draft moved forward, it in essence improves your angle of attack. Very important sail control component, IMHO. Come on spring!!!! 😅

@alshaver3742 5 ай бұрын

A lotta work, but what a stellar, inspiring and entertaining enterprise!! boat/bot/noun - a hole in the water, surrounded by wood into which one pours money

@scottkrebs1122 5 ай бұрын

If you ever need extra cash while cruising, I am certain there would be a need for minor boat repairs that other cruisers would be happy to pay you to complete. Your talent and workmanship would be in demand.

@SavingMaverick55 5 ай бұрын

Interesting stuff. I wanna check out Arabella before you guys leave Harwichport and head north. It'll be cool to show my kids what a similar boat to ours looks like fully rigged and on the water.

@gertboerman3666 5 ай бұрын

For the downhaul on the cunningham........a truckers hitch might have done the trick. A double one sure would have.

@mikeaustin9810 4 ай бұрын

I just watched 185 episodes of the Tally Ho build. I'm looking for another boat build to start watching. I'm on episode 20 of the Acorn to Arabella build with some 300 more to go. I think I'm 7 years behind the build but I will be binge watching you two guys building a boat to catch up you guys are awesome keep up the good content !

@AcornToArabella 4 ай бұрын

Welcome aboard 🫡

@schwabrichard9829 5 ай бұрын

I see Akiva is working on a machinist mate rating!

@sam1812seal 5 ай бұрын

She’s a very pretty boat in the sunshine ☀️😍

@charlesmoore456 5 ай бұрын

Here's to a Happy Friday and Cold Coffee!

@script.kitchen8543 4 ай бұрын

You should really try going up the mast when you’re under sale in a light breeze just to see what it’s like. It would kind of be some kind of rock climbing-sailing hybrid sport, where you’re aloft, like in the crows nest, while you’re sailing.

@bawrytr 5 ай бұрын

I was wondering about bedding the fittings properly on the mast, but figured you'd get it done once you had some other things ironed out... It's all looking better and better and closing in on perfect.

@Aramis419 5 ай бұрын

Every time I see Steve take a drill to something, I can hear Jack Sparrow shouting, "STOP PUTTING HOLES IN MY BOAT!"

@GregoryVeizades 5 ай бұрын

"Stop Blowing 'oles in my Ship!"

@mrvertigo23 5 ай бұрын

Rambunctious - great word m8

@billyblobb4990 5 ай бұрын

Amazing bench clamp.

@TukangPerahukayu 5 ай бұрын

Halo sodaraku videonya sangat menarik sekali,, kapal layar yang sangat cantik sekali❤❤🎉🎉

@ryan_mcme 5 ай бұрын

Afternoon, 'bella fam! Happy Friday!

@WillDeutsch 5 ай бұрын

Maybe it's an east coast thing but I've never heard them called slides - those are hanks on the sail...

@AcornToArabella 5 ай бұрын

You are correct, we are corrected. 😅

@WoodenBoatBen 5 ай бұрын

Oooooh, that stays’l sets real nice. Bummer about the turnbuckle at the masthead. Maybe leave that climbing line in place.

@Jacob-W-5570 5 ай бұрын

The traditional way to fix that turnbuckle issue on the fore stay is to have a block at the bottem that turns the forestay aft along the bowsprit and then have the turnbuckle (or block and tackle) there. But puting it in top also works I guess XD.

@gilbertmarshall7957 5 ай бұрын

Great episode. Next time you go up the mast, any chance you could explain the system you use?

@Ayns.L14A 5 ай бұрын

Hello you beautiful people, Happy Friday........... Dear Viewers, PLEASE don't forget to hit that THUMBS UP button, Subscribe and Share far and wide, it costs nothing ,it takes a second, and it helps the channel with the algorithm, and that makes the world just that little bit better, Thank you for your time .............

@AcornToArabella 5 ай бұрын

☝️

@shaunmcdaniels2460 5 ай бұрын

I have followed Acorn to Arabella since you pored the lead keel… Just an amazing story!!! My dilemma is I don’t understand how the rigging works. I also don’t understand how you can tack into the wind so you can keep moving forward…. Maybe a video segment about how all of this works??? Thanks for your time!!

@metwelve12 5 ай бұрын

Here is the first video in a series that explains the physics of sailing: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/pNqVm5qJvd-5YH0.html (Howarth Sailing). Basically, upwind sailing takes advantage of two sets of force vectors. One set below the waterline and the other set above the waterline. The result of the interaction between the two sets of vectors is why the boat can sail upwind. His presentation is the most straightforward and understandable I’ve seen.

@JoesWebPresence 5 ай бұрын

It must be stressful for you every time you have to drill holes or rasp flat spots into the mast. All that carefully crafted, carefully painted and varnished wood. The effort required to consciously override your gut, screaming "Don't ruin that!" must be immense. I get worked up about drilling holes for cables through a nice hardwood shelf with a couple of coats of varnish, so I can't imagine what it would be like to have to cut into masts you've done so much work on getting round.

@w00dw0rks101 5 ай бұрын

Nice double Jorgensen clamp to hold that bronze plating

@taylor.... 5 ай бұрын

I love this channel. But if there was a channel of just Ben's closing credits I'd follow that too. Live, laugh, luff. Very punny... FUNNY

@AricScooby 5 ай бұрын

I think you should leave the climbing line in place. Add a crow's nest top o' the mast, for an In-law apartment 😅

@user-lk2cj2qs1d 5 ай бұрын

My kind of channel Old fashion wooden boat NO TUPPERWARE

@adamcurrey4456 5 ай бұрын

stephen be phtotobombing akiva's shoot at the end of the video.

@ross82 5 ай бұрын

Bit of basics, Halyard tension effects the leech, whereas the Cunningham (downhaul) effects the luff.

@tracythorn2918 5 ай бұрын

I hope you soon have the weather to take it out for a test sail!

@mikeriley305 5 ай бұрын

Steve would it be possible to show the different knots used around the boat, and why you chose they specific knot, during one of your episodes?

@Deano1948 5 ай бұрын

Looked like it was going to be a lot more fun when you were building it. Maybe that's just me!!

@AcornToArabella 4 ай бұрын

We thought it would be more fun, too, but we do need to be local to care for my mother right now. 62 with terminal cancer...talk about not a lot of fun! Once the Spring weather hits and we can start exploring, the fun will resume!!

@Deano1948 4 ай бұрын

@@AcornToArabella Sorry to hear of your Mother's illness, especially as she is so young. So glad you're able to be with her during this time in her life!

@richardredling3291 5 ай бұрын

I am curious. Why are you mounting hardware without some kind of bedding compound?

@abraxasracing 4 ай бұрын

Screws for deck cleats? That would make me nervous.

@TheDigger76 5 ай бұрын

On my Dragon I have a little hook that connects the Cunningham to the sail. Wouldn’t the dog bones be perfect for that as well? No need for the extra step of fiddling through the rope!

@StephenLinhart 5 ай бұрын

I'm curious, it seems when the construction phase is basically over, maybe you don't actually need few types size of fasteners, but just fewer of each of most of the types and sizes? Because of potential repairs in addition to maintenance and innovations?

@mashcury 5 ай бұрын

Keep the rope! (climbing line ;))

@dougsinclair3596 5 ай бұрын

The dog and his Mast - er.😇

@dickdegraaff5452 5 ай бұрын

Dear Robin, Anne, Steve an all others who worked on Arabella, Willeke and I love to see how Steve did made some adjustments and modifications to offer Arabella’s sails as much as possible tension so Arabella can use her sails optimal even with a soft blowing wind. We are keen to see these improvements by full sails in top. We look forward to your next vlog and send you love from the Netherlands

@stephenpapworth 4 ай бұрын

A file only cuts one way - pushing away from yourself. And you should never use a file without a handle on the tang. You'll only impale your hand once!

@andrewstoll4548 5 ай бұрын

Well Friday 03/22/24 moring here in Detroit we woke up to snow falling and will get about 6-8 inches of snow today.

@brianscarborough8642 5 ай бұрын

Steve, I'm sure you are already planning for a staysail cover, and a jib sock for the roller furled headsail?

@sartorst3376 5 ай бұрын

18:39 hanks

@Slikx666 5 ай бұрын

Hope your mum's doing well Steve, chemotherapy isn't nice but I hope it works. 🤞

@bentucker5009 5 ай бұрын

You might want a jackline on the lower luff of the staysail.

@JC-ny3kf 5 ай бұрын

Only cut/smooth metal with the forward stroke of a file. "Filing" on the backward stroke clogs the file; it's worse with soft metal like bronze or aluminum.

@GregoryVeizades 5 ай бұрын

A light backstroke will clear the file. But yes dont use full pressure on the back strike.

@ElleKendra 5 ай бұрын

are you sure you don't want to through bolt that padeye on the deck for pulling down on the main sail?

@Pocketfarmer1 5 ай бұрын

Yes , flat spots to weaken the mast. Others might have made coped pads to reinforce things and spread loads.

@boooshes 5 ай бұрын

It is also a reason one might elect to leave the lower part of the mast and the boom octagonal.

@Pocketfarmer1 5 ай бұрын

@@boooshes quite true.

@marievictoire1939 4 ай бұрын

“Slides” are piston hanks!

@Gottenhimfella 4 ай бұрын

That's right. Slides are fitted to luffs when there's a track or foil, (either male or female) whereas hanks (which on anything bigger than a sailing dinghy are generally either piston type or one-handed spring clip, eg Wichard type) clip onto a wire or rod.

@randolphfriend8260 5 ай бұрын

💜

@nick.caffrey 5 ай бұрын

Robin agricola nauta est!

@nutsmcflurry3737 5 ай бұрын

Now with two permanently living on Arabella, how long before the workbench is sacrificed for living space and storage?

@randhagenstein2099 5 ай бұрын

Regarding mast climbing, have you ever considered using a "rope walking" approach? (more of an arborist technique than a climbing technique)

@nosivadbor 5 ай бұрын

It’s “reefer” madness 😶‍🌫️

@giacomomurari 5 ай бұрын

I'm sorry to say that, but I think that the pad eye you have screwed on the plank at 10:00 will not last long, I think the traction on those four screws will be too much.

@en4ce_ 5 ай бұрын

pulling up on a block an tackle is always bad for your back...

@Chr.U.Cas1622 3 ай бұрын

👍👌👏

@rodneywroten2994 5 ай бұрын

Steve not just your boat after refurbish I Guess the new ones too weather beaten especially on deck, after a very short time, IGUESS YOU Just have to suffer with-it. One more stupid quester. Were you able to repair side rail from the bad storm

@brookemarshall5126 5 ай бұрын

Instead of flattening any surface, why wouldn’t you ask people to 3-D print you a plastic mounting bracket that would never go and keep the integrity of whatever you’re trying to flatten out?

@bren-xmotorsports55 5 ай бұрын

Any idea where Arabella will be the week of may 13th?

@apachepaul 5 ай бұрын

Just curious...is there a reason the reef turning blocks were installed to starboard?

@apachepaul 5 ай бұрын

Clamps clamps in clamps, Stephen Denette.

@kennethbransford820 4 ай бұрын

=== He has aged a bit compared to when he had first started this. Time stops for no one. ====

@davidmessersmith786 5 ай бұрын

I’m curious, is the use of straight blade screws for the hardware a historical issue? They don’t seem to be the best from a driver point of view. Phillips or star screw heads seem to be more friendly and provide a better bite to tighten up with?

@GregoryVeizades 5 ай бұрын

These screws are going to be exposed to the elements and paint and coatings for years and years. A well fit straight bit and good fasteners have a much tighter fit than you would imagine. I've Even seen people use impact drivers and wrenches in flat heads. But the big reason is because its the easiest head type to cut into a damaged fastener to remove it.

@daviddial7010 5 ай бұрын

What is the difference between a Hank and a slide?

@meganluke444 5 ай бұрын

A hank (on a jib) slldes up and down on a stay. A slide is designed to slide on a track on a mast. Both attach the leech of the sails.

@4stringmanagmaildcom 5 ай бұрын

Hank is the proper term on the forestay.

@sartorst3376 5 ай бұрын

@@meganluke444 luff

@sartorst3376 5 ай бұрын

@@meganluke444 luff

@AcornToArabella 5 ай бұрын

Somewhere between this landlocked video editor and a greenhorn of a sailor, we will get all the terms sorted eventually. Should’ve said Hanks. Thanks!

@rj5529 5 ай бұрын

why do they use slotted screws and not crosshead?

@glencrandall7051 5 ай бұрын

Probably tradition. 200 years ago slotted screws were all they could make. And they look good when clocked.🙂🙂

@ianwit 5 ай бұрын

Easier to clean out the slot of an over painted or varnished screw to remove it.

@larryray4811 5 ай бұрын

Channel went from excitting to boring since you finished it

@AcornToArabella 5 ай бұрын

Who can forget the thrilling year and a half of planking? Or being on the edge of your seat for couple of months when the mizzen went from 7 inch diameter to 6 inches?

@Sciolist 4 ай бұрын

Viewership has gone down by half so he does have a point.

@thisnicklldo 4 ай бұрын

@@AcornToArabellaI dunno, I thought the mizzen mast shaping was pretty tense - and let's not forget it went down to less than 6 inches in parts (well, one part actually, to be fair, but that was a pretty tense moment). Anyway, it was a very innovative set up, mostly worked, and it came out alright in the end.

@4stringmanagmaildcom 5 ай бұрын

Arabella is not going to be a sleek or fast sailing boat. Hull speed is probably 6 to 6.5 knots. It won't take much wind to get her going hull speed. From Google: The Cunningham controls the fore and aft position of draft in the mainsail or genoa and works together with the traveler, mainsheet, outhaul and vang to optimize sail shape and increase boat speed. So from that you can see it's just one of several methods that help control the shape (draft) of the sail. In light winds you want to "power up" the sail by increasing draft (fullness) in high winds you want to "de-power" the sail by flattening it. Think of an airplane wing; slats and flaps for landing (low speed) and those devices retracted for cruise flight (high speed). On Arabella I doubt the Cunningham will add speed or increase pointing angle more than a few single digit percent ... but it will make the sail look better ... and in sailing there is a saying ... if it looks fast, it is fast. haha 🙂

@jorglange2666 5 ай бұрын

Atkin's Ingrid design has a 30' waterline so hull speed is about 7.4 knots. Atkin designed her with a Bermuda rig which is a lot simpler than the gaff rig and later improvements on the fiberglass hulls are a cutter rig for example the Alujela. I converted my wooden Ingrid from a ketch to cutter rig to make it simpler and sail better, need at least a 50hp engine to cruise at 7+ knots, mine has a 65hp Kubota 😊

@4stringmanagmaildcom 5 ай бұрын

@@jorglange2666so what is your feeling about the Cunningham? As I eluded to, I think it's mostly cosmetic. I don't think it's going to improve performance to any degree.