Nice drop. And yes, ur great grandfather would approve & b very proud. He gets to come with u now! He’ll b there every time u tell someone the story behind the mast & when ur drinking a beer as the sun sets & smile up at that timber.
I'm sure that your great-grandfather is so thrilled that you will be using this beautiful tree as your mast. His body is gone but his spirit lives on with you and in you and those who loved him so.
"Some" people look up from the ground and say........" that's not very high!" I have climbed up my mast many times.......I know, it's very high when you're up there............and when the wind starts blowing, the adrenaline is pumping even down in your ankles! Great job. Back viewing these videos, so the mast was always in the back of my mind. DD
OK, guys, here's the deal: I'm seventy-seven, one of my bucket list items (recently added) is to see Arabella in the water. I'll do my damndest to keep my end of the deal if you'll promise to work hard, stay away from loose women and strong drink, and give'r all ya' got.
Best comment yet!!! You sir have a deal. We will do our damnedest and hope to see you at the launch and take you for a spin around the bay. Grandpappy is 76 and plans to be there and sail with us, should be a grand ole time!
Dude that topping was sick. Loved afterwards, when you said you had never done one like that where you rope it off. Damn, forget bronze..you got brass balls. Hazzah. Keep up videos..this is my favorite channel by far.
Great videos and journey so far. I just discovered you and are liking the story...a lot! I'd recommend taking a page out of your great grandpa's book and plant some trees for your grandkids and great grandkids. Keep it up!
Nature has it covered, the woods around here heal very quickly if not over harvested. The spruce are not native so we won't replace them although the squirrel have planted many of them along the field edge so in 60 years there will be good sized spruce there.
Great story and it's getting better by the week. Video quality and content are right up there. Take it easy guys and have a great Christmas from Mallorca.
Guys I love it you are kicking ass! And I just want to help you out with felling the trees you are going to mill. When you face the log aka notch it go into the notch and bore cut the heart wood you don't have to go to deep but it will save the wood if you don't it rips the fibers apart on the first few feet of log . so if you want try it out and see if you notice a difference when you mill it if it saves more wood at the butt for you to use.... Stay safe and keep up the amazing work. I am so glad I came across T you guys... If you ever take a trip to Texas you have a open invite to come and stay
Great video! It is exciting to think of all the places in the world you are going to see from the top of that mast. Don't forget the coin when you step the mast in a year or two!
Just found and catchiing up on previous vids. Love the explanation you guys give of what your doing. Love the challenge and how you seem to be taking it on. Excellent, keep it up.
Thank you for the lovely comment! We are psyched to hear that you have been enjoying what we are doing and how we are doing it. We will do our best to keep on chugging through 2018 and beyond!
It's been a great little tractor and a ton of help so far! Sometimes though we need just a bit more oomph and the front loader on Tom's certainly comes in handy!
good morning boys, a couple of things: first as a fellow Baystater and a former Pioneer Valley boy just want to say I'm proud of you and I enjoy watching your journey from afar. Also as a tree climber of 33 years I'm glad you were able to get it down, had I known you were up to this kind of Adventure I would have contacted you sooner and helped you out but you seem to have made it just fine as it is. Interestingly over coffee this morning I was speculating as to where you guys are from and sure enough I was spot-on. I grew up in Feeding Hills so I guess I should know. (Floridian nowadays.) I don't have my gear with me as I'm just visiting my family who has since moved down to Suffield. As well I think your great-grandfather would be absolutely tickled to see you guys go at it also just as an aside I used to live above a wooden boat shop for years and I am also a sailor so truly, I love what you're up to. Good luck and Merry Christmas.
Nice! Glad to hear you are enjoying the project! The tree was 90% fun and 10% scary, still firmly in Type 1 fun, pretty easy day by all accounts. The most nerve racking part was dropping the pole as it was long enough to clip the house or take out the electric wires if we messed it up. Suffield is not terribly far away, if you are ever up this way and have time feel free to drop us a line and come see the insanity in person. =)
oh dude I could never do that up a tree then snap topped it you have big old man balls ,, cool stuff I didnt know a pine type tree would make a good mast,, thanks grand dad for the tree.. good job guys on this video thanks for the show..
If you understand/trust the rigging it's no scarier than driving down the highway. At least there is only you and the tree to deal with and not a bunch of distracted drivers! ha! Most masts are from evergreen trees like Spruce or Fir. Since the trees grow tall and straight they have evolved to handle the strains of being tall and skinny. Perfect for making a mast! They are also soft woods so they are lighter than most hardwoods, also ideal for spar making.
Looked at video on tree/mast. Been wondering what happened after. Listened to video again. Should have listened the first time. I am not a wood worker and am impressed with what is happening. Thank you.
Amazing job guys taking that spruce down. Stephen you are one crazy dude, if you had red hair, you could be a nutty red squirrel up in that tree. Excellent safe job and no animals were harmed in the making of this video. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night
Happy New Year to you both, and to your families May you thrive in Peace, Prosperity, and Joy! Your content is inspiring and the story-telling compelling! May they continue to be so during the coming years. RichB
Thank you! Same to you and your loved ones! We are psyched to hear you find our project inspiring and compelling! We will do our best to keep it coming all through 2018 and beyond =)
I don't know how it's possible, but I am so freaked out by heights that watching someone do this, even on a computer screen, can make my stomach quiver. When the top came off and the tree shook, my balls shot up into my lungs. I know it's tongue-in-cheek when he calls himself "mildly insane", but I actually think it does take a hefty dose of crazy to do this.
I might be a little nutty but more than that I have practically no fear of heights and have total faith in the rigging. After climbing and logging air time over 1,000 feet off the deck a 75' tree is a cake walk =)
The height part nearly made me puke and then when the top "fell" and shook the tree like a piece of rubber hose it nearly finished the job. I don't do anything over about 8 feet off the ground if it doesn't have a safety rail and something solid to hold onto. Kudos to you for your fearlessness but I will never fall a tree.......EVER now it just needs to dry nice and straight so it will be Arabella's mast
I used to work on radio towers the tallest was 789ft with a top of about 2 sq feet, tie yourself off and climb the antenna to change a component or a light bulb.
We can do a video every other week with either a quick little one or a Q+A in the middle. If we did a long one every week Alix would burn out making videos and with working Steve can't build fast enough to keep up with that pace. If we get enough support and Steve can also go full time on the project we might be able to swing it as Alix is still learning and is still getting faster.
Great video guys and good job on the tree. Quite a thud as it hit the ground and trees always seem a lot bigger down than up. Hope you guys have a great Christmas and New Year and looking forward to more in 2018. Cheers. Andy
"Many were increasingly of the opinion that they'd all made a big mistake in coming down from the trees in the first place. And some said that even the trees had been a bad move and that no one should ever have left the oceans." D.N.A.
Thanks! We would like to use it as a grown mast but milling and laminating might be a better option. Time will tell, we have a lot more research to do but we figured making it shorter would be easier than trying to put it back together again!
That was when straight trees were plentiful, unfortunately now they are few and far. A Ships carpenter would take a walk into the forest and come back with a mast. Not really. Cheers Mate
I like your videos. I am also interested in building a wooden ship. I am collecting books on information on making the backbone and ribs construction which is as you know one of the most important strengths of the boat. You have my attention to the bow and how you are making it. I have some trouble seeing what exactly you are doing but am trying to follow your work. I might ask you later on some of the details about that. I have over the years learned many things and so I am a blacksmith and sculptor and I work stained glass and other things. I worked on Military Jets of ten years and so understand the need for the rigging and stringers and structural strength. I have been looking at as many videos on design and construction of wooden boats. I think you have presented some of the best and informative videos so far. I am probably, ""IF"" , I ever do build a ship will do one of my own design. I have a long way to go and will be watching your efforts, successes and ultimately fruition of launching into the briny sea. I wish you great success and hope all your dreams are met on the high seas. Who knows, Maybe, I will join the boaters of the world and make one myself. Thanks for documenting this adventure! Keep up the good work and never surrender, never give up. I know this because of the great trials I have faced. It can be done!! You can do it. Those brass and bronze parts and that ship you bought was a great find!!! Take care. Oh, I am also blind, that of course is another story connected to one of my greatest trials. I salute you both and as I said Thanks again.
Boats and planes are both pretty complex things. If you can handle jets you can probably handle building a boat. There are a lot of great designs out there but we totally understand wanting to design one of your own. Feel free to send us a email acorntoarabella@gmail.com and we can try to answer any questions that you have. Don't fret, we won't give up =)
Beauty of a tree guys! Way to go Grandpappy. I really dig your project. It takes a lot of guts to take on something like that but the joy you'll get in return sailing a wooden boat you built will be immeasurable. I built two new masts for my schooner last summer. I can tell you, in comparison to what you've already accomplished, mast building will be the easiest part of your endeavor. I have a few opinions on mast building that I wont share here but feel free to hit me up if you'd like to discuss. I will share one opinion however.......go with the gaff rig ;) PS. Assuming you've read it through and through I feel silly for suggesting it but, Bud McIntosh's book has just about the best mast building information I've seen.
Bud is our main guiding light for the build with Pardey filling in the gaps and keeping us inspired to aim for a ridiculous standard of quality and finish. =) It's funny to hear that about the masts. We have been told again and again that the masts and rigging will be the hardest part of the build. It's seems a bit challenging but simpler than the hull, I guess we will find out soon enough one way or the other! We would love to hear your thoughts, no guarantee we will take your advise but we will listen and ponder. You can reach us at www.acorntoarabella@gmail.com or stop by the WoodenBoat Forum and look up "Building Arabella" under the building/repair section.
You guys are awesome. I have definitely noticed the uptick in quality as your series has progressed. I hope that one day your Patreon support is all you need for sustenance/building a sailing kitty. You are doing some quality filmmaking and telling a compelling story. Keep trying hard and don't forget take a few days out to sail and climb too :-). I'd love to show you around the climbing here if you are ever out in Denver. Videos 1x per week would be great. It would be totally okay with me if they were a shorter but more frequent.
Thanks! We will definitely keep on keeping on. It would be amazing if we got to the point where Patreon/RUclips/donations funded the whole project. If we got to that point we could be in the water in a couple years and make weekly videos. It would be amazing! If we are ever our your way we will let you know. Colorado has a pretty decent rep for climbing!
I would have topped the tree and let it fall with all the branches attached, as I would be worried about damaging the trunk without something to absorb the shock of the fall. I'm not an arborist though, and I'm psyched to see how your build comes along!
In Norway there are log homes several hundred years old that the logs are not checked. You started cutting the tree the way they did by topping and liming. They then left the tree standing for about three years so that it would dry out from the inside as well as the outside. The logs would have no checking. I found this to be true when I removed some dead Elm that had been standing for several years. Non of the logs were checked.
How do you guys deal with wood boring beetles, when the stem is laying around for a year? Don't the smell of freshly cut spruce attract them from every where, when spring comes? Do you leave the bark on?
It's not a issue over the winter. We used anchorseal on the ends to help keep them from checking, also helps keep the bugs out and once they are milled and drying they become less desirable to the critters. The bark won't be on long after milling and if the bugs get in there it's usually confined to the sap wood, they don't like munching the heart wood as much.
Just found come along has better control pulling trees down directional. Tire spin, bounced pull and communicating pull is hard. Higher you get pull rope the more leverage. My personal favorite is line to another tree which has a pulley . Then you can actually put come a long on tree your cutting or near base. Works best with 2 come alongs but can make prussic loops to pull rope and tighten , hook and readjust.
Wow what a video. I was hoping my breath alot on this it was so woow as you climmed and cut and I was on the edge of my well bed I guess can't set it hurts to bad so I'm always laying on my side. But you had me getting dizzy lol. But I was watching and was intense when you was notching out the too to drop the top you said you went deeper than you wanted something like that. I'm laying here nervous watching the second you said deeper than you wanted my phone falls backwards well slides back and shot I thought you fell scared the hell out of me. Lol. Think I was about to scream hold on lol. But wow what a drop y'all did awsome. Wow year and half to dry how ling do y'all think it will take to finally drop the boat in the water. Did y'all set a timeline for when you want to be done. I haven't heard yet but still watching older vidoes catching up. But have a good weekend god bless
OK, I've always wondered this: Why isn't there concern about the trunk breaking when it falls? I suppose it's flexible enough and the ground is soft enough. But still, that's a big impact. Is there ever concern about internal damage to the wood?
Sometimes there is, indeed, damage to the wood and that’s a great question. One tries to eliminate as many factors as possible that might cause more damage, but it’s a real risk.
Lads, I’ve got a 60 foot Sitka spruce mast for my steel 37 footer that was made from six segments and glued. At the base she’s only 10” wide. Advantages are weight (two men can lift and carry the thing horizontally). I can’t help but notice that your tree could probably make you two solid masts.
Sitka does seem to be the gold standard but unfortunately they are not an East Coast tree. So your mast is hollow and birds mouth constructed. Did we interpret that correct? We also have the mast and spars from Victoria that very well could have a lot of life left in them. We might have enough spar material to make a spare set of masts! haha
Yes, it's birdsmouth built. I'm just noticing how THICK that Norway Spruce is. How much do you intend to work off it by the time you have the finished mast?
Depends. If we mill it and glue it, it won't be too much work to bring it down to shape. If we keep it whole we have a lot to remove! The chainsaw and ax will be the primary tools. The log is at least 20" across the butt (my 24" bar barely made it through) and the mast is only 7". We might be able to get both masts from the one log outside of the heart. It's buried in snow right now so we will decide and explore more options in the spring. But yeah, it's a good sized tree =)
The padding was some old foam we had laying around with some sacrificial lumber on top, seemed to work well enough. Not sure on the HP. It could hardly drag the whole thing but with the bucket we could push/roll it easily enough.
Hello from Portugal, I share the dream of making a wooden sailboat with you guys ... keep up the good work. Sugestion: and if you split the weekly video in half? publishing half of each time on different days...
Seems fairly unanimous that folks want us to go faster/show more progress and the only way for us to do that is to ask for donations so we can reach that goal. We don't particularly like asking and would rather focus on the build but without donations have two options. We either build but don't make video's or we build, do one video a month and it takes us 10 years. Asking for donations seems like the best option for everyone, if there is better option we are all ears! =)
Don't take my comment as criticism of your Patreon requests. I understand that, and I don't mind it. My statement was meant to say that it wastes more time in the short format, since each video ends up with about the same amount of time sharing social media accounts and asking for patronage.
Did you peel the bark off? Once you get into the warm months, bark beetles will get under the bark unless you peel it. (By the way, I am in the logging business and a woodworker. I love guys who go from the woods to the workshop!)
Not yet, we decided to mill it up and use the clear butt to glue up the blank for the mast. It's too cold for the creepy crawlies right now anyway. It's a lot of work harvesting ones own trees then building something from them but it's amazing to know which tree the board or beam you are working with came from. Few know the material they work with that intimately!
Awesome felling. So, are you going to truck the timber to a industrial lathe or will it be hand hewn? Either way would be awesome to see. I've never seen a 50 foot lathe in action. I've seen 35 foot but not 50. I'm sure one exists in the boat building areas on the upper East coast somewhere. Hand hewn with a chainsaw, broad-axe, and draw knife would be a lot of work, but would be awesome to witness as well. Again, nice job taking down that family heirloom. It will be cool to take a piece of family history around the world with you. Merry Christmas guys.
Regardless of how we end up making the mast it will be all shaped by hand. Chainsaw, ax, adze, draw knife, hand plane... It might just be smoothing a birds mouth glue up or maybe the whole log. We have a lot of research and some decisions to make first.
Acorn To Arabella cool, I will be watching to see. I can't swing a build myself, so I have to live vicariously through you. If I can ever build my own, I'd have to launch it into the Ohio river then down to the Mississippi river and down and out into the Gulf and out into the ocean. Seeing as I am in central Kentucky, that would be my closest water access for such a craft. Thankfully, If I am ever able to build such a vessel, Jeff Boat isn't too far from me for local research. Thanks for sharing.
I'm 78, and I second the motion. Grandpapa, I Am also a machinist by trade, and enjoyed watching you work. Spent many an hour on a Bridgeport mill.
You dropped it right were you wanted it to fall. Well done. It should make a fine mast. Sweet.
It's been a long time since you felled that spruce. I watched it again. That was exciting!
Watching this for the first time. That is a job I am just too scared and too old to even attempt. Kudos...
Nice drop. And yes, ur great grandfather would approve & b very proud. He gets to come with u now! He’ll b there every time u tell someone the story behind the mast & when ur drinking a beer as the sun sets & smile up at that timber.
NO entry commercial.. what a treat to the ear and eye ! Thanks for your classiness !
THAT WAS SOOOO AWESOME!!! Thanks for the excellent videography and for not leaving much to our imagination, I am learning and yearning.
Thanks! It was a lot of fun, not every day do we get to top a 70+' spruce! Thanks Great Grandpa!
Great Grandpa is smiling, as are we! Happy Holidays and Fair Winds! Love watching the progress.
Thanks! Same to you!
AND FOLLOWING SEA'S
I wish I could stand heights like that. All that looking down was very real to me. What a day guys.
Saweet!!!! Nice Mast - thank you grandpa for the foresight to see this project move forward!! Nice drop Gents!!😁☕️🤓
Competence and courage are so cool!
I’m hooked. Watching episodes out of order. I’m amazed and inspired. Keep it up.
Thanks! Isn't that confusing watching them out of order? Glad you are enjoying them!
I'm 81 & determined to watch the video of your launch. Keep on keeping on. :)
I'm sure that your great-grandfather is so thrilled that you will be using this beautiful tree as your mast. His body is gone but his spirit lives on with you and in you and those who loved him so.
We agree, Grandpa is tickled pink and we bet Great Grandpa would be as well!
Your neighbors must bake pies for you on a regular basis... ^^
I love the videos and the project !
You know Victoria wasn't built with the care you are putting into this boat. Great job!
"Some" people look up from the ground and say........" that's not very high!" I have climbed up my mast many times.......I know, it's very high when you're up there............and when the wind starts blowing, the adrenaline is pumping even down in your ankles! Great job. Back viewing these videos, so the mast was always in the back of my mind. DD
Excellent video and presentation
That was AWESOME! I cant wait to see part 2 of the lead keel pour!
It's so exciting climbing trees great job
love the story of the mast! amazing
We are quite fortunate, that is for sure! Great Grandpa never would have imagined he was planting the mast for his great grandsons mast.
OK, guys, here's the deal: I'm seventy-seven, one of my bucket list items (recently added) is to see Arabella in the water. I'll do my damndest to keep my end of the deal if you'll promise to work hard, stay away from loose women and strong drink, and give'r all ya' got.
Best comment yet!!!
You sir have a deal.
We will do our damnedest and hope to see you at the launch and take you for a spin around the bay. Grandpappy is 76 and plans to be there and sail with us, should be a grand ole time!
Please tell me you're still alive. SIR.
Great! Job... Great! story about Great Granddad!!!!!
Thanks!
man....that was a fun one. helluva' nice job, boys!
It was fun! Glad you also enjoyed it!
Dude that topping was sick. Loved afterwards, when you said you had never done one like that where you rope it off. Damn, forget bronze..you got brass balls. Hazzah. Keep up videos..this is my favorite channel by far.
Hahaha
Thanks!
Glad you are enjoying them!
Wow, that was amazing!
Great videos and journey so far. I just discovered you and are liking the story...a lot! I'd recommend taking a page out of your great grandpa's book and plant some trees for your grandkids and great grandkids. Keep it up!
Nature has it covered, the woods around here heal very quickly if not over harvested. The spruce are not native so we won't replace them although the squirrel have planted many of them along the field edge so in 60 years there will be good sized spruce there.
Great story and it's getting better by the week. Video quality and content are right up there. Take it easy guys and have a great Christmas from Mallorca.
Thanks!
Don't know if we know how to "take it easy" but we will certainly try to have a great Christmas! =) Hope yours is filled with joy!
Very impressed with your boat building skills.
Thanks!
Love the use of chains as a pivot point.
Thanks!
Guys I love it you are kicking ass! And I just want to help you out with felling the trees you are going to mill. When you face the log aka notch it go into the notch and bore cut the heart wood you don't have to go to deep but it will save the wood if you don't it rips the fibers apart on the first few feet of log . so if you want try it out and see if you notice a difference when you mill it if it saves more wood at the butt for you to use.... Stay safe and keep up the amazing work. I am so glad I came across T you guys... If you ever take a trip to Texas you have a open invite to come and stay
Thanks for the tip! Next time we drop some bruisers we will give it a try and if we are ever down your way we will give ya a holler!
Great video! It is exciting to think of all the places in the world you are going to see from the top of that mast. Don't forget the coin when you step the mast in a year or two!
Thanks and we will!
JHFC, that was terrifying. Awesome video.
That's a great piece of work and a great piece of film. Well done.
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!
That was intense. OMG! That video should be in IMAX
haha
Thanks! It was a lot of fun, being up there is so much better than IMAX!
Trimming the tree trunk may have been easier when on the ground but I'm no expert so all I really can say is thanks for the video....
Just found and catchiing up on previous vids. Love the explanation you guys give of what your doing. Love the challenge and how you seem to be taking it on. Excellent, keep it up.
Thank you for the lovely comment!
We are psyched to hear that you have been enjoying what we are doing and how we are doing it. We will do our best to keep on chugging through 2018 and beyond!
That was impressive, I would have thought you would have dropped it towards the other boat as far away from the house as possible. 😮
wow awesome guys,love the old 8n great tractors
It's been a great little tractor and a ton of help so far! Sometimes though we need just a bit more oomph and the front loader on Tom's certainly comes in handy!
23 horse at the time did all they wanted it to do,still great little traactors,,especially concidering they were built in the 50s,
good morning boys, a couple of things: first as a fellow Baystater and a former Pioneer Valley boy just want to say I'm proud of you and I enjoy watching your journey from afar. Also as a tree climber of 33 years I'm glad you were able to get it down, had I known you were up to this kind of Adventure I would have contacted you sooner and helped you out but you seem to have made it just fine as it is. Interestingly over coffee this morning I was speculating as to where you guys are from and sure enough I was spot-on. I grew up in Feeding Hills so I guess I should know. (Floridian nowadays.) I don't have my gear with me as I'm just visiting my family who has since moved down to Suffield. As well I think your great-grandfather would be absolutely tickled to see you guys go at it also just as an aside I used to live above a wooden boat shop for years and I am also a sailor so truly, I love what you're up to. Good luck and Merry Christmas.
Nice! Glad to hear you are enjoying the project!
The tree was 90% fun and 10% scary, still firmly in Type 1 fun, pretty easy day by all accounts. The most nerve racking part was dropping the pole as it was long enough to clip the house or take out the electric wires if we messed it up.
Suffield is not terribly far away, if you are ever up this way and have time feel free to drop us a line and come see the insanity in person. =)
Greetings from the UK. Love watching your videos. Keep it up boys :)
oh dude I could never do that up a tree then snap topped it you have big old man balls ,, cool stuff I didnt know a pine type tree would make a good mast,, thanks grand dad for the tree.. good job guys on this video thanks for the show..
If you understand/trust the rigging it's no scarier than driving down the highway. At least there is only you and the tree to deal with and not a bunch of distracted drivers! ha!
Most masts are from evergreen trees like Spruce or Fir. Since the trees grow tall and straight they have evolved to handle the strains of being tall and skinny. Perfect for making a mast! They are also soft woods so they are lighter than most hardwoods, also ideal for spar making.
Well played gentlemen!!!!
Thanks!
Super cool!
Very good sound quality
Thanks for keeping the music turned down, so we can hear what You are telling Us. Thank You.
Looked at video on tree/mast. Been wondering what happened after. Listened to video again. Should have listened the first time. I am not a wood worker and am impressed with what is happening. Thank you.
Thanks! It's just a lot of work. =)
Another great video. To help even out the moisture loss, you might want to seal the ends to prevent checking.
Thanks!
We painted over the ends soon after getting it moved and set up on some cribbing.
Steve is fearless.
Nothing quite like being in the top of a tall tree and having the stuffing shaken out of you when the top goes :-)
Amazing job guys taking that spruce down. Stephen you are one crazy dude, if you had red hair, you could be a nutty red squirrel up in that tree. Excellent safe job and no animals were harmed in the making of this video. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night
He has been told he is "nuttier than a squirrel turd" on more than one occasion! hahaha
Happy Holidays to you as well!
Remember, measure twice, cut once.
Great videos guys.
I need u all n Oklahoma lol great work u all do .love ur vlogs
Thanks!
Happy New Year to you both, and to your families May you thrive in Peace, Prosperity, and Joy!
Your content is inspiring and the story-telling compelling! May they continue to be so during the coming years.
RichB
Thank you! Same to you and your loved ones!
We are psyched to hear you find our project inspiring and compelling! We will do our best to keep it coming all through 2018 and beyond =)
If you sail as well as you fell trees, I'll crew for you any day! Job well done!
Very well done boys
I don't know how it's possible, but I am so freaked out by heights that watching someone do this, even on a computer screen, can make my stomach quiver. When the top came off and the tree shook, my balls shot up into my lungs. I know it's tongue-in-cheek when he calls himself "mildly insane", but I actually think it does take a hefty dose of crazy to do this.
I might be a little nutty but more than that I have practically no fear of heights and have total faith in the rigging. After climbing and logging air time over 1,000 feet off the deck a 75' tree is a cake walk =)
The height part nearly made me puke and then when the top "fell" and shook the tree like a piece of rubber hose it nearly finished the job. I don't do anything over about 8 feet off the ground if it doesn't have a safety rail and something solid to hold onto. Kudos to you for your fearlessness but I will never fall a tree.......EVER now it just needs to dry nice and straight so it will be Arabella's mast
I used to work on radio towers the tallest was 789ft with a top of about 2 sq feet, tie yourself off and climb the antenna to change a component or a light bulb.
Great job guys!
Thanks!
Love the license plate blurred in one second, then completely unblurred the next lol
Would like to see videos every week
We can do a video every other week with either a quick little one or a Q+A in the middle. If we did a long one every week Alix would burn out making videos and with working Steve can't build fast enough to keep up with that pace.
If we get enough support and Steve can also go full time on the project we might be able to swing it as Alix is still learning and is still getting faster.
I like that idea Tom, good thinking, just like measure 3 times cut once.... or 2 time as some say...
Nice work out of you guys!
Thanks, it was a good days work.
Nice work young ferrers!
Very professional work guys. I have subscribed.
Thanks! Psyched to have you following along!
Hell of a way to get a Christmas tree :P
Nice work & no accidents.
Thanks! Even a little oops can be big trouble with stuff like this!
Great video guys and good job on the tree. Quite a thud as it hit the ground and trees always seem a lot bigger down than up. Hope you guys have a great Christmas and New Year and looking forward to more in 2018. Cheers. Andy
Thanks! Bare trunks do make quite the thud!
Hope your holidays are swell as well!
Okay, now I know you are crazy! I got dizzy just watching!
"Many were increasingly of the opinion that they'd all made a big mistake in coming down from the trees in the first place. And some said that even the trees had been a bad move and that no one should ever have left the oceans." D.N.A.
A master from a single tree is the way they used to do it. I am cheering for you guys. I am also looking at my timber in a new way!
Thanks!
We would like to use it as a grown mast but milling and laminating might be a better option. Time will tell, we have a lot more research to do but we figured making it shorter would be easier than trying to put it back together again!
That was when straight trees were plentiful, unfortunately now they are few and far.
A Ships carpenter would take a walk into the forest and come back with a mast. Not really.
Cheers Mate
I like your videos. I am also interested in building a wooden ship. I am collecting books on information on making the backbone and ribs construction which is as you know one of the most important strengths of the boat. You have my attention to the bow and how you are making it. I have some trouble seeing what exactly you are doing but am trying to follow your work. I might ask you later on some of the details about that. I have over the years learned many things and so I am a blacksmith and sculptor and I work stained glass and other things. I worked on Military Jets of ten years and so understand the need for the rigging and stringers and structural strength. I have been looking at as many videos on design and construction of wooden boats. I think you have presented some of the best and informative videos so far. I am probably, ""IF"" , I ever do build a ship will do one of my own design. I have a long way to go and will be watching your efforts, successes and ultimately fruition of launching into the briny sea. I wish you great success and hope all your dreams are met on the high seas. Who knows, Maybe, I will join the boaters of the world and make one myself. Thanks for documenting this adventure! Keep up the good work and never surrender, never give up. I know this because of the great trials I have faced. It can be done!! You can do it. Those brass and bronze parts and that ship you bought was a great find!!! Take care. Oh, I am also blind, that of course is another story connected to one of my greatest trials. I salute you both and as I said Thanks again.
Boats and planes are both pretty complex things. If you can handle jets you can probably handle building a boat. There are a lot of great designs out there but we totally understand wanting to design one of your own.
Feel free to send us a email acorntoarabella@gmail.com and we can try to answer any questions that you have.
Don't fret, we won't give up =)
wow, that was impressive
Excellent
Thanks!
awesome ..............
Beauty of a tree guys! Way to go Grandpappy.
I really dig your project. It takes a lot of guts to take on something like that but the joy you'll get in return sailing a wooden boat you built will be immeasurable. I built two new masts for my schooner last summer. I can tell you, in comparison to what you've already accomplished, mast building will be the easiest part of your endeavor. I have a few opinions on mast building that I wont share here but feel free to hit me up if you'd like to discuss. I will share one opinion however.......go with the gaff rig ;)
PS. Assuming you've read it through and through I feel silly for suggesting it but, Bud McIntosh's book has just about the best mast building information I've seen.
Bud is our main guiding light for the build with Pardey filling in the gaps and keeping us inspired to aim for a ridiculous standard of quality and finish. =)
It's funny to hear that about the masts. We have been told again and again that the masts and rigging will be the hardest part of the build. It's seems a bit challenging but simpler than the hull, I guess we will find out soon enough one way or the other!
We would love to hear your thoughts, no guarantee we will take your advise but we will listen and ponder. You can reach us at www.acorntoarabella@gmail.com or stop by the WoodenBoat Forum and look up "Building Arabella" under the building/repair section.
"Also being mildly insane, comes in Handy!" Quote of the day... I knew a tree guy who always yelled, "Headache!" whenever sending anything down.
I was waiting for you to sit on top
You guys are awesome. I have definitely noticed the uptick in quality as your series has progressed. I hope that one day your Patreon support is all you need for sustenance/building a sailing kitty. You are doing some quality filmmaking and telling a compelling story. Keep trying hard and don't forget take a few days out to sail and climb too :-). I'd love to show you around the climbing here if you are ever out in Denver.
Videos 1x per week would be great. It would be totally okay with me if they were a shorter but more frequent.
Thanks!
We will definitely keep on keeping on.
It would be amazing if we got to the point where Patreon/RUclips/donations funded the whole project. If we got to that point we could be in the water in a couple years and make weekly videos. It would be amazing!
If we are ever our your way we will let you know. Colorado has a pretty decent rep for climbing!
Epic job, well done. It would be interesting to have a Q&A vid. Happy Holidays.
Thanks! Feel free to send us a question for it, so far we have not gotten any!
I would have topped the tree and let it fall with all the branches attached, as I would be worried about damaging the trunk without something to absorb the shock of the fall. I'm not an arborist though, and I'm psyched to see how your build comes along!
The tree is fine, spruce is tough stuff! The branches would have for sure smashed the living hell out of the driveway though!
In Norway there are log homes several hundred years old that the logs are not checked. You started cutting the tree the way they did by topping and liming. They then left the tree standing for about three years so that it would dry out from the inside as well as the outside. The logs would have no checking. I found this to be true when I removed some dead Elm that had been standing for several years. Non of the logs were checked.
How do you guys deal with wood boring beetles, when the stem is laying around for a year? Don't the smell of freshly cut spruce attract them from every where, when spring comes? Do you leave the bark on?
It's not a issue over the winter. We used anchorseal on the ends to help keep them from checking, also helps keep the bugs out and once they are milled and drying they become less desirable to the critters. The bark won't be on long after milling and if the bugs get in there it's usually confined to the sap wood, they don't like munching the heart wood as much.
Just found come along has better control pulling trees down directional. Tire spin, bounced pull and communicating pull is hard. Higher you get pull rope the more leverage. My personal favorite is line to another tree which has a pulley . Then you can actually put come a long on tree your cutting or near base. Works best with 2 come alongs but can make prussic loops to pull rope and tighten , hook and readjust.
Thanks for the tips! Those are all very fair points.
"neighbor sitting have a coffee"
House shakes
What was that dear
Oh just those acorn kids again..
Wow what a video. I was hoping my breath alot on this it was so woow as you climmed and cut and I was on the edge of my well bed I guess can't set it hurts to bad so I'm always laying on my side. But you had me getting dizzy lol. But I was watching and was intense when you was notching out the too to drop the top you said you went deeper than you wanted something like that. I'm laying here nervous watching the second you said deeper than you wanted my phone falls backwards well slides back and shot I thought you fell scared the hell out of me. Lol. Think I was about to scream hold on lol. But wow what a drop y'all did awsome. Wow year and half to dry how ling do y'all think it will take to finally drop the boat in the water. Did y'all set a timeline for when you want to be done. I haven't heard yet but still watching older vidoes catching up. But have a good weekend god bless
I don't know how you do it. Must be a super power!
No super powers just a ton of determination.
OK, I've always wondered this: Why isn't there concern about the trunk breaking when it falls? I suppose it's flexible enough and the ground is soft enough. But still, that's a big impact. Is there ever concern about internal damage to the wood?
Sometimes there is, indeed, damage to the wood and that’s a great question. One tries to eliminate as many factors as possible that might cause more damage, but it’s a real risk.
Lads, I’ve got a 60 foot Sitka spruce mast for my steel 37 footer that was made from six segments and glued. At the base she’s only 10” wide. Advantages are weight (two men can lift and carry the thing horizontally).
I can’t help but notice that your tree could probably make you two solid masts.
Sitka does seem to be the gold standard but unfortunately they are not an East Coast tree.
So your mast is hollow and birds mouth constructed. Did we interpret that correct?
We also have the mast and spars from Victoria that very well could have a lot of life left in them. We might have enough spar material to make a spare set of masts! haha
Yes, it's birdsmouth built. I'm just noticing how THICK that Norway Spruce is. How much do you intend to work off it by the time you have the finished mast?
Depends. If we mill it and glue it, it won't be too much work to bring it down to shape. If we keep it whole we have a lot to remove! The chainsaw and ax will be the primary tools. The log is at least 20" across the butt (my 24" bar barely made it through) and the mast is only 7". We might be able to get both masts from the one log outside of the heart. It's buried in snow right now so we will decide and explore more options in the spring. But yeah, it's a good sized tree =)
Where can I find the play list,, from 1 to today's? Thanks,, Very nice work,,. Video too.. greetings from Portugal
ruclips.net/channel/UCAiDWnTP0WB1xCp6uuUo0VAvideos
Have you thought about honoring GGF with a bronze plaque attached to the mast? Part of him would be with the boat forever.
After all I knew,you survived it,but - man! - that was a LITTLE bit dangerous!
Just another day in the boat yard =)
It was far from the scariest thing I have done to build Arabella!
Drops that big shackle, "That would have hurt!" Bwhahahaha
How many HP was that tractor? Howd it handle moving the tree around? Also whatd you use as driveway padding? Thanks
The padding was some old foam we had laying around with some sacrificial lumber on top, seemed to work well enough.
Not sure on the HP. It could hardly drag the whole thing but with the bucket we could push/roll it easily enough.
How did you get the safety rope at the top of the tree? Hehe, I have no idea.
I see you must have climbed it before to actually trim saw it...
Curious why you don't use a foot loop on your ascender rig? It sure does make life easier.
Have you thought when you burn the slash, try to pop the seeds??
That was a beautiful f%#$ing drop on that tree
That'll get your blood pumpin' !
Hello from Portugal, I share the dream of making a wooden sailboat with you guys ... keep up the good work.
Sugestion: and if you split the weekly video in half? publishing half of each time on different days...
I prefer the longer format. More content. Less babble. Less time wasted to pleas for fundage.
It's a lovely dream to have! It's hard to tell the story in a short video, the spruce harvest feels better to us as one video than two for example.
Seems fairly unanimous that folks want us to go faster/show more progress and the only way for us to do that is to ask for donations so we can reach that goal.
We don't particularly like asking and would rather focus on the build but without donations have two options.
We either build but don't make video's or we build, do one video a month and it takes us 10 years. Asking for donations seems like the best option for everyone, if there is better option we are all ears! =)
Don't take my comment as criticism of your Patreon requests. I understand that, and I don't mind it.
My statement was meant to say that it wastes more time in the short format, since each video ends up with about the same amount of time sharing social media accounts and asking for patronage.
Did you peel the bark off? Once you get into the warm months, bark beetles will get under the bark unless you peel it. (By the way, I am in the logging business and a woodworker. I love guys who go from the woods to the workshop!)
Not yet, we decided to mill it up and use the clear butt to glue up the blank for the mast. It's too cold for the creepy crawlies right now anyway.
It's a lot of work harvesting ones own trees then building something from them but it's amazing to know which tree the board or beam you are working with came from. Few know the material they work with that intimately!
Awesome felling. So, are you going to truck the timber to a industrial lathe or will it be hand hewn? Either way would be awesome to see. I've never seen a 50 foot lathe in action. I've seen 35 foot but not 50. I'm sure one exists in the boat building areas on the upper East coast somewhere. Hand hewn with a chainsaw, broad-axe, and draw knife would be a lot of work, but would be awesome to witness as well. Again, nice job taking down that family heirloom. It will be cool to take a piece of family history around the world with you.
Merry Christmas guys.
Regardless of how we end up making the mast it will be all shaped by hand. Chainsaw, ax, adze, draw knife, hand plane... It might just be smoothing a birds mouth glue up or maybe the whole log. We have a lot of research and some decisions to make first.
Acorn To Arabella cool, I will be watching to see. I can't swing a build myself, so I have to live vicariously through you. If I can ever build my own, I'd have to launch it into the Ohio river then down to the Mississippi river and down and out into the Gulf and out into the ocean. Seeing as I am in central Kentucky, that would be my closest water access for such a craft. Thankfully, If I am ever able to build such a vessel, Jeff Boat isn't too far from me for local research. Thanks for sharing.