Cutting Futtocks

Cutting Futtock for Frame

Today we worked on the keel some more and two of the boys were

First Stage of Bow

using the chain saw and cutting out pieces of white oak so we can have frames for the futtocks that we are making. The girls worked on the beginning of the bends. Some people worked on the jig. We had a very easy going day today so lets hope tomorrow goes the same way.

Storehouse as shown on Fort St. George Map

History:  The first building that the colonists built was the storehouse for the supplies that the ship Mary and John brought over from England.  Here is the drawing of the storehouse from John Hunt's map of Fort St. George, which was found in a Spanish museum.  

Vocabulary: Futtocks- timbers forming the lower, more curved portion of the frame in a wooden hull.

Blog By Bianca D'Arcangelo  and Patti

Maine Memory, First Frames

Preparing to Cut a Frame Futtock

Rob Stevens, Shipwright, Making the Cut

Everybody was very busy and working very hard today. One group of people worked on making more bows for the shed, others helped with frames for the Virginia. Another group was working on shaping the keel, which is an important step to building the Virginia. The first futtocks for VIRGINIA's mid-ship frames have been cut from some very large timbers.  Everybody is working very well together and we are all getting a lot of work done. The media group made a preliminary plan for the Maine Memory Network Grant, which we received from the Maine Historical Society.

Flipping the Keel for More Shaping

History: The original Virginia could hold 30 tons. In those times, one ton was equal to 252 gallons of wine. This is a fairly accurate estimate. Our Virginia will be 38 tons because of safety regulations and the engines. Also, on this day 14 years ago one of our members was born. Happy Birthday Miracle!

Vocabulary: Tiller- A lever attached to a rudder to steer a boat.

Blog Post by Courtney Brooks