Brigantines Construction Archives

Coming Soon!

Coming Soon!

December 2001

Coming Soon!

December 2002

Coming Soon!

DECEMBER 2001
Nearly two years into the construction project, the matching hulls are almost ready for planking. Shipwrights have laid the deck beams, coamings are in place for the deck houses and, for the first time, the hulls have been identified as "Irving Johnson" and "Exy Johnson."

With over 6,000 photos of the construction effort, our Photo Archives take you through every step of what was the largest wooden boat building project in the country.

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December 28, 2001 >>>>>>>
Notes by Master Builder Allen Rawl

The intricate, grid-like structure of the ships' deck has been completed. Exy Johnson's frames have been faired. All of the fiberglass water and holding tanks are on the site and several have found their place in the hull of Irving Johnson.

The U.S. Coast Guard inspector is periodically witnessing our work, to assure that the vessels will meet the Coast Guard requirements when completed.

Approximately one third of the ships' spars, yards and topmasts are finished and await the ironwork that is made off-site. James L. Brink Sailmaker has lofted and cut all of the square sails and will return to begin work on the fore and aft sails within the next two weeks.