Back in the saddle

It was so great to walk into the Dory Shop this morning and smell the wood shavings falling from Jay’s plane as he made the bevel on the broad plank for a new Black Rocks dory he’s working on.

The broad plank is the plank above the garboard plank, which is the first attached to the boat’s bottom. The next plank is the binder plank, that is, if it’s a four-plank dory. On a small boat like this one if your lumber is wide enough you may be able to build her with three. The uppermost plank is called the sheer plank.

It’s fascinating to watch a craftsman at work. There’s a coordination of effort, hand-eye you might call it but it’s so much more than that. The movement is so fluid, directed by a keen eye and the occasional caress of freshly exposed wood.

When Jay takes it the boat, it fits perfectly. Neither of us are surprised of course, but as always I am just a little awed.

Dory Plug