Finishing Touches-cleats, hardware, centerboard tie down

I hand made four 5" wooden cleats out of left over mahogany from the thwarts.  I put one on each side of the mast partner. I chose this location for these two so that I would have a mooring cleat towards the bow and also either of the 2 cleats could be used as a back up to secure the main halliard if the cleat on the mast breaks. I used 2.5" stainless screws and oak plugs to cover the screw holes.  I did NOT use any glue to install these so that if they break I can replace them easily.

Here you can see the square insert site on the inner stem that will accomodate the mast tenon. According to boat building and maritime traditions I installed a coin in the bottom of this tenon hole...a 2012 mint US penny. I glued it and covered it with epoxy.

This is a larger 7.5" cleat that is also made of left over mahogany. It is secured to the inner stem just above the fore bulk head seat with 3.5" stainless screws.. I will use this to secure the anchor line or a painter line. This location for a cleat for these applications was suggested by Arch Davis. Thanks again, Arch. One thing I'll say over and over is to CALL or eMail  Arch with any questions as you build his boats. I would have made a lot of mistakes had I not taken him up on his free advice he gives to his customers.

I placed the other two mooring cleats on the fore side of the mid thwart braces. This location gives you a place to put a second mooring line on either side of the boat and is also in a spot where it won't get in your way. Try to make your own wooden cleats like i did...they're not hard and they add  more character than a  metal cleat I think.

Heer's how I'll keep the centerboard in the 'up' position. This  18" bungee cord is just right for securing the board up.  I will use the same cord to keep the board in the 'down' position by securing it aoround the centerboard handle and to some screw eyes installed under the mid thwart.

This shows the bungee cord securing the centerboard in the up position.

A close up of my artistry showing part of the boat's name. I used the same  off white marine paint that covers most of the hull.

More of the the hand painted name as it approaches the front badge.

A view of the square tenon at the base of the mast that will fit into tenon hole in stem...shown earlier with it's 'good luck penny'.

Finishing Touches-My Wooden Boat Dream Come True

              It has been a rough 2013 Winter here in Central Virginia in more ways then one. The cold and the snow events continue on until late March. Just last night we had 3 inches of snow and windy, blstery cold weather, Some of the flowering trees are late, some have flowered and are struggling. In like a lion and out like one too.  I am hoping April will usher in the type of weather we are accustomed to this time of year. In 1976, during my first year at U.Va., we had average temps of 75 during March and even had a peculiar heaat wave where temps went above 90 for the entire first week of March. My room mates from the now ethereal 240 Balz Dormitory Suite and I hitched a ride down to Virginia Beach where one of the guys lived. That was yours truly, a Boston boy's, first encounter with the beautiful waters of the Chesapeake Bay and the mid Atlantic Coast. We took Chas Jett's family wagon down to Hatteras for an overnight camp out on the beach just north of the Haterras light house. I had my first attempt at surfing on Charlies mega board and didn't fare too well so I resorted to body surfing. A most peculiar phenomenon was discovered where if you swam just 20 yards north of the sharp bend in the outer banks where the Hatteras Light House was the water was 65 degrees. If you walked past the light house to where you were 20 yards south of the bend, the water turned a deep crystalline blue...the Gulf Stream....and you were able to immerse yourself in 75 degree water. Imagine that! Just 40 yards of beach and the water went up by 10 degress and looked tropical. In the first week of March. 2 weeks later, I stayed at U. Va. during Spring Break while the beautful weahter persisted in central Virginia. During that week U.Va. won its first , and to this date, only ACC basketball tournament while in my hometown of Boston a blizzard raged on dumping some 2 feet of snow on the ground. It was during that week that I fell in love with Virginia forever.
              So if the weather had cooperated like it did in 1976, the Ashley Grey would have been launched by now. I will present the launch of my boat some time in May I hope . For now, some additional photos of finishing touches to show you.