The ash gunwales are partly fixed to the boat leaving only the two rubbing strips to be attached. The whole hull will then need a coat of varnish and colour. John fitted the gunwales and managed to run the tips of his fingers across my small four inch jointer. I did feel awful as he was on his own and I felt somehow responsible. He is ok and has shrugged it off but I am sure it would not have happened if I were there. Work has been a challenge and has kept me away from the boat so I have been looking at images of viking boats displayed in a Norwegian museum. How amazingly accurate they managed to work too and what a range of shapes they created. My ambition is now to visit the boats in the museum and get a sense of scale.
The first of the three part ash strips are attached.
They form the gunwales – or wooden edges of the hull and are made in 12 separate pieces, all glued and scarfed together to form a rounded rail.