When I started this boat I stated that it was an experiment and so far it has been a successful experiment. For instance I choose to build the boat right way up mainly as this is the usual way to build a traditional boat. I now know that it would have been easier to build the boat upside down. The plank keel bevel would have been much easier to shape. I could have  steam bent the frames in place over ribbands a lot easier working alone than fitting them in after the planking was done. And it would have been easier to paint the outside of the boat.

But I didn’t! So here’s my preferred method of turning a boat, either alone or with help. The boat is resting on the ground at all times and the roll is under control throughout. I’ve even seen a video of a 50′ boat being turned this way.

It gets worse kind reader once the boat’s painted I’ll have to roll it over again. Doh! In the foreground of the the photo above you can see the two detachable Keips or rowlocks that I’ll be trying out. I had to have them removable so that the articulated cockpit coaming/ splashboard could flip flat for hiking out. Once it’s assembled I’ll be posting pictures.

If you would like to discuss having your own wooden boat built, repaired or restored please don’t hesitate to contact me, Tiernan Roe, at +353 28 38973 or +353 86 1586937.

Roeboats, Ballydehob, Co. Cork, t:+353 (0)28 38973 m: +353 (0)86 158 69 37 e:roeboats@ymail.com

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Here are a few photos of a big adventure that my six year old son and I have been planning all winter. We did it in a 8′ plywood pram punt that I nailed together in an afternoon 6 years ago and have left out in the garden since. It’s been used variously as a covering for stuff, a play pirate ship and see saw and is still going strong.

Our first trio of the summer I picked him up from school with the punt in the back of the van, drove down to our local pier and rowed the 200′ to the head of the creek where there is a small terraced hazel grove. The sheltered inlet where we were had been an orchard in previous times. He even did some of the rowing and of course there were plenty of treats. I think the best thing for him was being able to boss Dad around as he was the captain.

If you’d like to go on your own adventure in a wooden Roeboat why not give me a (Tiernan) call on +353 28 38973 or +86 1586937 and we can get started on building your wooden boat.

Roeboats, Ballydehob, Co. Cork, t:+353 (0)28 38973 m: +353 (0)86 158 69 37 e:roeboats@ymail.com

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With all the sunny weather we’ve been having it was interesting to have a German visitor to the yard for a little bit of cosmetic work.

She’s a Chiemseeplätte, which is a 6.3m long with a 1.4m beam sharpie with a metal (in this case aluminium) daggerboard and a high peaked 10 m² lug sail.

I think she’s a lovely looking and simple boat and I’m guessing that she should be fast enough. This boat is widely traveled having been brought over from the South of Germany near Salzburg, to Leitrim and finally West Cork via Kerry. The boat will be dry sailed around the bays and inlets of West Cork and I hope the owner gets many years of enjoyment from her.

If you would like to discuss having your own wooden boat built, repaired or restored please don’t hesitate to contact me, Tiernan Roe, at +353 28 38973 or +353 86 1586937.

Roeboats, Ballydehob, Co. Cork, t:+353 (0)28 38973 m: +353 (0)86 158 69 37 e:roeboats@ymail.com

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After a lot of oiling I had decided on how I was going to lay out the interior of the boat. I was able to reuse the mahogany thwart that I had taken out of my old Wayfarer about 9 years ago that was gathering dust in the workshop. When I got it out it fit almost perfectly. Next in were the battens that will hold up the from of the seats. These are relatively thin but I wanted the seats to be flexible so that the will move with the sitter for better comfort. This process of tailoring the boat to the end user is something that I go through in all my boats as like good shoes or bespoke suit Roeboats are made to fit you perfectly.
Also in the photo you can see that mast thwart is fitted and I’ll be fitting cleats to hold the mast in position as this years rig will be an experimantal pacific lateen rig or crab claw rig. It’ll be great if it works, and as they might say over at Sailing Anarchy it’ll look sick, and if it isn’t good enough I’ll be able to change to a more traditional balance lug rig or some such.

Originally I was going to build the boat without stern sheets ( the seats at the very back of the boat) As I like to be able to get close to the transom to ship the rudder and operate the outboard motor. This was unnecessary as the rudder will be fixed and I won’t be fitting a motor. So stern sheets there will be.

If you would like to discuss having your own boat built, repaired or restored please don’t hesitate to contact me, Tiernan Roe, at +353 28 38973 or +353 86 1586937.

Roeboats, Ballydehob, Co. Cork, t:+353 (0)28 38973 m: +353 (0)86 158 69 37 e:roeboats@ymail.com

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With all of the frames steamed in it was time to fit the breast hooks, quarterknees and the inwales. This made the boat significanly stiffer and I was able to start making the floordboards. I went for fairly closely spaced boards  that are easily removable so that stuff won’t easily slip down there and if it does it is easy to get. I also wanted to make sure that the floorboards were higher than most normal bilge water. Neither of these would have been possible if the floorboards were simply screwed to the frames.

Once I had finished the floorboards I had a datum from which to position the seats at the most comfortable height. You can see in the picutre above a mock up of the articulated coaming/washboard that will be a comfortable back support. And an nice wide seat when hiking out on the gunwale.

Finally after many many mockups and comsultation with the crew a height and depth for the seating was chosen. Now I just have to work out exactly how I’m  going to build it. Me thinks it time for some linseed oiling = time to think.

If you would like to discuss having your own boat built, repaired or restored please don’t hesitate to contact me, Tiernan Roe, at +353 28 38973 or +353 86 1586937.

Roeboats, Ballydehob, Co. Cork, t:+353 (0)28 38973 m: +353 (0)86 158 69 37 e:roeboats@ymail.com

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Well after much steaming,  breaking frames and a little bit of swearing all of the frames are now in. I started on the longest frames and those that broke were mostly salvageable to be used elsewhere. I had to reduce them down to 13 x 22 mm from the initial 16 x 22mm as they were proving just a bit too stiff to be manageable on my own.

I’ve started on the inwales, breasthooks and quarterknees. The aluminium primer delineates the underwater shape of the boat so you can see clearly here that she will be double ended underwater. This should make her easy to row and sail.

The clenching of the nails went quite well with the nails bedding down nicely into the hot frames. I had to my 6 year old son to buck the iron for a few of the nails which were out of reach. You be surprised how handy a small child can be in  a boat shop. No more trying to squeeze into tight spaces, just send in the kid. Now if only I could convince his mother that helping me would be better than school.

I can assure you that if you would like to discuss having your own boat built there will be no child labour involved. So why not give me (Tiernan Roe) a call and we can get started +353 28 38973 or +353 86 158 6937.

Roeboats, Ballydehob, Co. Cork, t:+353 (0)28 38973 m: +353 (0)86 158 69 37 e:roeboats@ymail.com

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Well that’s all the planks on the 16′ clinker sea boat that I’m building. The timber I’m using has worked out pretty good and the sweep of the tree fitted the sweep of the planks quite nicely. It’s not until the last or Sheer plank goes on that you can really see how the boat will look. In the photo above the final tweaking of the sheerline is still to be done. I needed to lower the aft end of the sheer to make the planking lines look sweet. That fine high bow will be perfect for keeping my crew dry when we’re beating into a good West Cork chop.

I also tarred the bilge of the boat so that it will be well protected from any water ingress. This is a little overkill but I’ll be keeping the boat in a tree lined creek where the falling leaves in the autumn can collect in the bilge and create a veritable wood rotting soup.

Next up is the steaming in the oak ribs. I have them shaped and soaking in water outside. Thankfully they didn’t blow away. It’s been a bit breezy here the last couple of days.

If you would like to discuss having your own boat built, repaired or restored please don’t hesitate to contact me, Tiernan Roe, at +353 28 38973 or +353 86 1586937.

Roeboats, Ballydehob, Co. Cork, t:+353 (0)28 38973 m: +353 (0)86 158 69 37 e:roeboats@ymail.com

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Well I managed to get the Dublin Bay 21′ model finished. It took a fair bit of faffing about trying to get the paint finish as best as I could. To solve the few issues I was having I had to resort to using a scale sized brush. Yes that’s right I was using tiny little brush to paint the boat. At least it meant that any imperfections were to scale. Apart from that I pretty happy with how she turned out and hopefully the client will be too.

Of course I can build a full size Dublin Bay 21′ as well as half hull models so if you’re interested in talking about having either one built please don’t hesitate to contact me, Tiernan Roe, at +353 28 38973 or +353 86 1586937.

Roeboats, Ballydehob, Co. Cork, t:+353 (0)28 38973 m: +353 (0)86 158 69 37 e:roeboats@ymail.com

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There hasn’t been much progress lately on the 16′ sea boat as I’ve been busy working on redesigning the Roeboats website. Which is still a work in progress so please let me know if you find anything that’s not working or looks funny. The other thing that is soaking up the time is building a half hull model of a Dublin Bay 21′ for a client in the South East of Ireland. The photo above was taken to gauge how the nameplate might look. The model has yet to get the finishing coats of paint and things like the mast and bowsprit.

I hope you like the new look of the website and it’s not yet finished. When it’s done it should be easier to navigate and look better with more and better information. All of which should help you in your decision to have Roeboats build your dream boat.

If you would like to discuss having your own unique Roeboat built why not give Tiernan Roe a call +353 28 38973 or +353 86 1586937 or send an email.

Roeboats, Ballydehob, Co. Cork, t:+353 (0)28 38973 m: +353 (0)86 158 69 37 e:roeboats@ymail.com

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Here are the first few planks on 16′ traditionally built sea boat I’m building. I had to re-line the planking after the I put the garboard on. I was half expecting this and it didn’t cause too much trouble. I chose to go with eight planks per side and the next one will have nine to make the job a little easier and be more economical of the planking stock. Luckily I had plenty of wide planks from which to cut the curved planks from and that the wood I’m using is fairly stable.

I’ve five planks on in this photo and I should have the sixth pair on, or nearly on, by the time you’re reading this post. I’m still mulling over the details of the rig and interior. Once the boat is framed out and I can remove the molds I’ll spend a lot of time lying down in the boat and sitting in it and generally relaxing trying out what will work best.

Why not contact Tiernan Roe, about having your dream boat built phone +353 86 1586937 or email roeboats@ymail.com

Roeboats, Ballydehob, Co. Cork, t:+353 28 38973 m: +353 86 158 69 37 e:roeboats@ymail.com