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Trading Wherry 'Lady Garnet'

D

Don McDermott

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Name
Don McDermott
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I've probably been remiss in not sharing this project earlier, although it's been discussed a few times in various threads! I'm building a 48-foot trading wherry, a traditional wooden cargo-carrying sailing vessel, once a common sight on the Norfolk Broads. Lady Garnet will be clinker-planked in oak, as is traditional, and will be a gaff-rigged vessel. I've been doing a YouTube series on the build, which is really just getting started... I've bought a lot of oak, which has now arrived and I'm ready to probably begin! The latest video link is here:

I will share photos as I progress, and also the links to videos when they come out (probably every other Saturday). Please feel free to offer criticism/advice throughout the process - I will definitely be asking some questions! :)
 
Enjoyed watching and will will have to watch ep 1 to 7 now.

I see you enjoy the 3 rivers race. I did it a quite a few times in the 90’s as a crew on this hire cruiser.

Eastwood Whelpton – Sailing on the Norfolk Broads

www.eastwood-whelpton.co.uk www.eastwood-whelpton.co.uk
nice to see that it is still afloat.
Was always had great fun although with a boat that size getting mast up and down without stopping was impossible and getting under the bridges a real challenge. Can you imagine trying to paddle that under Potter Heigham bridge against the tide.
 
AndyP said:
Enjoyed watching and will will have to watch ep 1 to 7 now.

I see you enjoy the 3 rivers race. I did it a quite a few times in the 90’s as a crew on this hire cruiser.

Eastwood Whelpton – Sailing on the Norfolk Broads

www.eastwood-whelpton.co.uk www.eastwood-whelpton.co.uk
nice to see that it is still afloat.
Was always had great fun although with a boat that size getting mast up and down without stopping was impossible and getting under the bridges a real challenge. Can you imagine trying to paddle that under Potter Heigham bridge against the tide.
Click to expand...
Thanks Andy!

The 3RR is great, sadly because I'm so busy with the wherry, I'm going to give it a miss this year, although I might watch it as a spectator. I remember Windjammer, I think she raced the last three years. It's a hard enough job paddling a Thames A-Rater through Potter Heigham against the tide, a hire cruiser like that must be exhausting!
 
Why did you choose a wherry over a 1/2 sized barge or a Humber sloop?
Planks are going to be hard to steam and fasten? Will the planks be jointed I'm guessing so?
Oak so no glues used?
 
JamesHow said:
Why did you choose a wherry over a 1/2 sized barge or a Humber sloop?
Planks are going to be hard to steam and fasten? Will the planks be jointed I'm guessing so?
Oak so no glues used?
Click to expand...
Shallowness of draft, ease of rigging (less crew required), clinker-built (I prefer clinker to carvel). There are also much fewer trading wherries left than Thames barges, so from a historical perspective, more important to build a new wherry. A new Thames Barge (Blue Mermaid) was built not that long ago, although she was steel. Don't get me wrong, I love Thames Barges, but the trading wherry is my favourite kind of sailing craft. Not too familiar with the Humber sloop but they have quite a deep draft I believe? Anything with a draft over 4 feet is too much for where I intend to operate.

The planks will have to be scarphed to achieve the length. The planks are thick, but oak steams really well, especially when it's only semi air dried.
 
Crikey that’s a serious no messing about job! And that’s not all the Oak you will need for that size of boat. Just lifting one plank to machine it will be a 2 man job. Definitely won’t miss any of this thank you.
Ian
Didn’t press send on this earlier, I was going to ask about a Humber yawl? But you answered that.
 
Another video, trying to get a handle of all this oak! I've sorted a lifting device for the future, which is a relief because manhandling all those planks was not easy! (Also, no background music this time, which I know caused comment)
 
I did a video once, Don, on handling large pieces of oak. The trick is to not put your support at the ends, but to put them either side of the middle, so that you have a "see saw"-counterbalancing thing going on. Rollers are also your friend. I lifted a 300 x 200 x 8m piece of green oak into place above my garage entrance with just my wife to help me. That's getting on for half a ton, almost by myself. You think it into place, rather than muscle it.

I'll be watching the video tomorrow.
 
Yes, I use Wally Wallington’s methods when shifting heavy stuff, I have to get my 1/4 ton combination mc up 28” into the air and into the back of a van soon. All planned and will photo it all. (No wifely help needed).
 
Another update... Wet rot, woodworm and stacking green oak to dry. It's been a busy time at Building Lady Garnet! It won't be long before actual boatbuilding can begin.
 
I enjoy videos of anyone working that hard - and those boards look seriously heavy!

I expect you already know the wonderful book about wooden boat building "From Tree to Sea" by Ted Frost. I had a look in there to see what he remembered from his apprenticeship in Lowestoft in the early 20th century. He illustrates the use of a traction engine to drag the whole logs to the steam-powered saw, assisted by heavy horses. To take out the sawn planks, it was his father and the saw mill foreman at one end, with three or four ex-fishermen at the other. I reckon you and your sister are doing ok!
 
AndyT said:
I enjoy videos of anyone working that hard - and those boards look seriously heavy!

I expect you already know the wonderful book about wooden boat building "From Tree to Sea" by Ted Frost. I had a look in there to see what he remembered from his apprenticeship in Lowestoft in the early 20th century. He illustrates the use of a traction engine to drag the whole logs to the steam-powered saw, assisted by heavy horses. To take out the sawn planks, it was his father and the saw mill foreman at one end, with three or four ex-fishermen at the other. I reckon you and your sister are doing ok!
Click to expand...
Thanks Andy, it is indeed hard work, and I'm very appreciative of my sister Alexandra for helping me on her days off! I'll tell you something else. Last year, when I was looking for a place to build Lady Garnet, I had found a piece of disused agricultural land. The owner was keen for me to put up a tent and do the build there, but the planning authority said no, as it was on the greenbelt. Best thing that could have happened! If I had done the build in that field, there would have been no telehandler, no engine hoist, no Charlie (the yard manager who drives the telehandler and is also much stronger than either me or my sister). I'm not saying I couldn't have done the build, but it would have taken a lot more work and time and stress. And it really makes me respect the old-time shipbuilders, when you think of the work that had to be done without so many of the modern tools we take for granted.

I've heard of From Tree to Sea, but I've never actually read it, it's just another book that is on my ever-growing list of boatbuilding or wherry related literature that I really must read!
 
Ah yes, glad you got a more suitable spot than just a muddy field!

I know that boat building used to be done in very primitive locations - for example in this atmospheric old painting from Bristol in 1826:

1743346927566.jpeg

(from https://maps.bristol.gov.uk/kyp/?ed...Edition&x=357180.27&y=172130.47&extent=875.11 )

but I wouldn't wish those working conditions on anyone!

I do recommend the book though, assuming you allow yourself some downtime now and again. Ted Frost must have had such detailed recollection of his apprenticeship, right at the end of commercial building of timber fishing vessels. It's full of the nitty gritty of the construction, all in his own pencil drawings, from the trees being felled to the boat steaming away.

Ok, the boat he describes was bigger than a wherry and had an engine, but there must be an overlap in some of the techniques used, even though nobody will expect you to bore all your bolt holes by hand, or do quite so much adze work.

Here are a few pictures to tempt you further:

IMG_20250330_155509934.jpg

IMG_20250330_155402497.jpg

IMG_20250330_155543020.jpg

IMG_20250330_155438706_HDR.jpg

Published 1985, ISBN 9780861380336. Out of print but fairly easily available from the usual places.
 
AndyT said:
Ah yes, glad you got a more suitable spot than just a muddy field!

I know that boat building used to be done in very primitive locations - for example in this atmospheric old painting from Bristol in 1826:

View attachment 32702

(from https://maps.bristol.gov.uk/kyp/?edition=bristol&layer=Braikenridge drawings&mapbase=BCC 2019 Q2 Basemap&overlay=1844-1888 OS 25" 1st Edition&x=357180.27&y=172130.47&extent=875.11 )

but I wouldn't wish those working conditions on anyone!

I do recommend the book though, assuming you allow yourself some downtime now and again. Ted Frost must have had such detailed recollection of his apprenticeship, right at the end of commercial building of timber fishing vessels. It's full of the nitty gritty of the construction, all in his own pencil drawings, from the trees being felled to the boat steaming away.

Ok, the boat he describes was bigger than a wherry and had an engine, but there must be an overlap in some of the techniques used, even though nobody will expect you to bore all your bolt holes by hand, or do quite so much adze work.

Here are a few pictures to tempt you further:

View attachment 32704

View attachment 32703

View attachment 32705

View attachment 32706

Published 1985, ISBN 9780861380336. Out of print but fairly easily available from the usual places.
Click to expand...

Down time? What's down time! ;) I actually did consider going full-on traditional and shaping the backbone pieces with axe and adze, but ultimately decided that would add years to the project, so bought an electric chainsaw instead...

Those illustrations are fabulous!
 
Come on show us the lines ..

Are you using steam bent frames or sawn frames?

They are going to be some size so steam bending would be tough?!

Is it larch on oak timber?
 
Here are the lines, and also the link to the video in which I talk about how (and why) I designed the plans:

I'll be using grown oak bends for the frames. Steaming, as you say, would be extremely difficult, and I'd rather not laminate if I don't have to.

The planks are oak as well.
JamesHow said:
Come on show us the lines ..

Are you using steam bent frames or sawn frames?

They are going to be some size so steam bending would be tough?!

Is it larch on oak timber?
Click to expand...
 

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  • Lady Garnet lines.jpg
    Lady Garnet lines.jpg
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Don McDermott said:
Here are the lines, and also the link to the video in which I talk about how (and why) I designed the plans:

I'll be using grown oak bends for the frames. Steaming, as you say, would be extremely difficult, and I'd rather not laminate if I don't have to.

The planks are oak as well.
Click to expand...
Wow have you found trees suitable for grown oak frames youll need some patens to take yo suitable woods / sawmills? Too much run out and the frames won't be very strong.
The lines look sweet with not too much hollow or difficult bends!👍
 
JamesHow said:
Wow have you found trees suitable for grown oak frames youll need some patens to take yo suitable woods / sawmills? Too much run out and the frames won't be very strong.
The lines look sweet with not too much hollow or difficult bends!👍
Click to expand...
Hello James, I have been put in contact with a timber yard (and let me tell you, this place has to be seen to be believed, I will try to get video of it next time I go there) and they have lots of grown oak bends which will be suitable for the framing. Once I loft the boat out full size, I can make templates for the frames and then start collecting them! Obviously I have a bit of time as I won't need the frames until after all the planking is done, but there will be roughly 50 on each side of the boat, so better to start collecting them sooner rather than later!
 
Another update on Lady Garnet, the milling of a 12-foot log. This was an amazing experience, I'd never seen anything like this first-hand.
 
Just watched the video. It's a great demonstration of how different your woodworking is, compared to most of us. Even with machinery, when each piece is too heavy to move, you'll need a whole other skill set that most of us have never had to think about. Watching with interest.
 
AndyT said:
Just watched the video. It's a great demonstration of how different your woodworking is, compared to most of us. Even with machinery, when each piece is too heavy to move, you'll need a whole other skill set that most of us have never had to think about. Watching with interest.
Click to expand...
Thanks Andy. It is certainly a struggle, dealing with those pieces! Fortunately I now have a chainsaw but even so... well, it's been an interesting week, that's for sure!
 
HOJ said:
Be worth looking out for something like this (not mine):
View attachment 33050

I have a couple of hydraulic lifts on wheels in my shop, and various sets of skate type wheels, certainly makes life easier.
Click to expand...
Thanks. I've borrowed an engine hoist, which has proved very useful so far!
 
I rode down to Maldon yesterday, and there were 7 Thames Sailing Barges on the quayside. I know they're not Norfolk Wherries, but they were also tough working boats designed with simplicity and robustness in mind, and to be operated by a crew of only two. I got chatting with one of the guys who suggested I volunteer with them. They do lots of restoration work in the winters, and accomodation is provided over the weekends on one of the boats. It'd get me out of the house.....
 
Mike G said:
I rode down to Maldon yesterday, and there were 7 Thames Sailing Barges on the quayside. I know they're not Norfolk Wherries, but they were also tough working boats designed with simplicity and robustness in mind, and to be operated by a crew of only two. I got chatting with one of the guys who suggested I volunteer with them. They do lots of restoration work in the winters, and accomodation is provided over the weekends on one of the boats. It'd get me out of the house.....
Click to expand...
Ooh, that sounds fun!
 
Mike G said:
I rode down to Maldon yesterday, and there were 7 Thames Sailing Barges on the quayside. I know they're not Norfolk Wherries, but they were also tough working boats designed with simplicity and robustness in mind, and to be operated by a crew of only two. I got chatting with one of the guys who suggested I volunteer with them. They do lots of restoration work in the winters, and accomodation is provided over the weekends on one of the boats. It'd get me out of the house.....
Click to expand...

And maybe learn a few skills for a future project:)
 
All my labour is unpaid. Always. I've no problem with that.
 
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