Brad Dimock's Blog (64)

Building the Rogue River Special--a class

Building the Rogue River Special

Hi all--

Cricket and I are teaching a class at the historic Lowell's Boat Shop in Amesbury, Massachusetts, birthplace of the dory, November 11-16. We'll be building Jerry Briggs's legendary Rogue River Special, and one lucky student will take it home for the cost of materials.…

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Added by Brad Dimock on August 22, 2023 at 2:07pm — No Comments

Building McKenzies in the Center of the Dory Universe

Hi all,

Cricket and I are excited to announce a course this November at Lowell's Boat Shop in Amesbury, Massachusetts, the oldest working boat shop in the country and the birthplace of the ocean dory. We'll be building one or two McKenzies depending on class size, over the course of two adjacent three-day weekends. If anyone here is wanting to build a drift boat but are feeling too timid or don't feel they have the requisite skills, this is a wonderful opportunity in a truly amazing…

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Added by Brad Dimock on April 6, 2022 at 12:04pm — No Comments

McKenzie Boat Class

I am excited to offer the McKenzie boat class again at WoodenBoat School in Maine this July. It's perfect for someone who really wants to build one but doesn't know how or where to start, or is intimidated by the array of skill sets necessary to do the job.

We will build the Hindman 16' Double-ender with transom.

We will start by lofting the boat from a table of offsets, correcting, customizing or idealizing as we go. We'll build all the frames, transom and a rolling-bevel…

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Added by Brad Dimock on February 7, 2020 at 9:40am — No Comments

Boatbuilding, oarmaking, bronzecastin: Classes

Most of you folks here aren't in the market for class, but for those of you that are, I just posted my winter offerings. If you want to build a boat, shape an oar, cast custom bronze boat hardware--but don't have the nerve to start out on your own, this might be just the ticket.…

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Added by Brad Dimock on December 11, 2017 at 10:09pm — No Comments

Six Briggs dories down the Rogue

We should probably be arrested for doing this but we did it:

http://fretwaterlines.blogspot.com/2016/08/rogue-waves-and-knavish-rocks.html

Added by Brad Dimock on August 23, 2016 at 11:15pm — 1 Comment

Flash build in Kiwiland a success

Andy Hutchinson and I just got back for a 3-week manic build of two dories in New Zealand. Here is the essence in a blog post:

Fretwater / High Desert flash-build…

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Added by Brad Dimock on November 30, 2014 at 12:02am — 2 Comments

New Zealand Briggs boats build

Andy Hutchinson and I are in Taihape, New Zealand, building a couple open Briggs dories for Whanganui River Dories. Here is Kate Thompson's video of us doing a 90-second freeform build.



http://.be/lXGfvmosjs8



We have one boat getting its gunwales on tomorrow, and the second about a day behind, about to get its outer chines. Port Orford Cedrar frames, Meranti paneling, steam-bent White Oak chines and gunwales. And all the gunwale blocks are Tasmanian Blackwood. They'll have… Continue

Added by Brad Dimock on November 13, 2014 at 12:20am — 2 Comments

Moe: another boat is born

I finished off the Nevills replica today. Big fun. Details on the blog.

Fretwaterlines

Five below zero in Arizona tonight. Brr.…

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Added by Brad Dimock on January 14, 2013 at 10:13pm — 2 Comments

River season draws to a close--finally

Howdy all,

I am trying to catch up with my boating blog after a ridiculous river season. I just put up some shots of our new aluminum/wood hybrid boat (what?!?!), the Betty Boop's return to Grand Canyon, and a few other shots from along the way.

AlumiWoodie

Betty…

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Added by Brad Dimock on November 2, 2012 at 9:30pm — 2 Comments

Julius cheats death again

In spite of a fair amount of lame oarsmanship by her captain, the Julius once again survived Grand Canyon upright. Roger Fletcher, Andy Hutchinson, Dan Dierker and other friends conspired to build her ten years ago, and this is her fourth trip through Grand Canyon. To date she has not been knocked over or ge-busted. Pretty cool little boat in spite of the damned eight-foot oars and short rowing compartment. Of particular horror is my truly lame run in Bedrock--I thought for sure we were…

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Added by Brad Dimock on May 3, 2012 at 2:57pm — 3 Comments

Aluminum Boat People

Another chapter of Martin Litton's early dory history manages to live on:

Moqui Steps…



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Added by Brad Dimock on April 11, 2012 at 9:22pm — 9 Comments

Building a McKenzie

Here is a video of us knocking together a McKenzie last Friday night. I wish the GoPro had not run out. This is a time-lapse of the first 80 minutes:

Building the Blacktail

Added by Brad Dimock on April 8, 2012 at 2:30pm — 5 Comments

Betty Boop back in the river--with her friend Julius and others

After a quarter century in the desert sun, rain and snow, the Betty Boop is back on the river. And after eight or so years including a few harsh winters, Julius is afloat again as well with a new floor and reconditioned decks. What fun--here is a post about their re-launch:

Betty and…

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Added by Brad Dimock on April 7, 2012 at 10:00pm — 2 Comments

Betty Boop on home stretch

Betty Boop and I rang in the new year with an evening visit from Audria and Laura, wherein we toasted, got roasted, and launched a flaming chinese hot air balloon that immediately got caught in a tree. We freed it in time for it still to fly high, with much shouting, screaming, a ladder, and a long…
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Added by Brad Dimock on January 1, 2012 at 10:00pm — 7 Comments

Back to the Boop

For those who want to watch me battling the rotted remains of the Betty Boop, the blog is going again. Big fun in the boatshop.

 

http://fretwaterlines.blogspot.com/

 …

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Added by Brad Dimock on November 17, 2011 at 6:10pm — 2 Comments

Punted

Well, I finished off the San Juan punt yesterday and sent it off to Utah with its new owner. As my friend Lora says, for such an ugly boat its really nice looking.

more at

www.fretwaterlines.blogspot.com…

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Added by Brad Dimock on November 4, 2011 at 4:00pm — 1 Comment

Some really rotten pictures.

I ripped open the Betty Boop / Great Thumb today to se just how bad our little rot problem is. I don't feel so good.

 

http://fretwaterlines.blogspot.com

Added by Brad Dimock on September 14, 2011 at 9:39pm — 1 Comment

Betty Boop

Here is a summary of the first incarnation of the Betty Boop

http://fretwaterlines.blogspot.com/

 

Boop Oop a Doop

Added by Brad Dimock on September 13, 2011 at 11:08pm — No Comments

A summer's worth of boats and other boaty things

I just updated my blog to include many boating adventures from the last four months. Some of you may enjoy the pictures:

fretwaterlines.blogspot.com

Added by Brad Dimock on September 12, 2011 at 1:16am — 4 Comments

Edith in Lava Falls

The last big one of the trip, Lava Falls. 16,000 cfs, running the left side run. The private group just behind us flipped five out of eight attempting the same run. Don't be too far right!

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JagH1FqPdU

 

There are a few more videos on my blog:

 …

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Added by Brad Dimock on May 4, 2011 at 9:06pm — No Comments

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