Plugging Shamrock

The wooden plugs used in the plugging of all Shamrock's various planks and boards fastenings holes, are produced from offcuts of planking and using a plug cutter of the correct size. The cutter is cut into the offcut multiple times and spaced to produce the maximum number of plugs. The bandsaw is then used to split out the plugs. If the offcut is of sufficient thickness both sides are cut before being split out. All plugs are dipped in glue before being lightly hammered into place with its grain in line with the plank grain. Once the glue has set any excess plug is pared off before being sanded flush with their respective plank. The number of plugs used to date is already running into the hundreds.

A tapered stick with a rag secured around the taper is used in the tarring of Shamrock's hull planks seams. The hot tar is picked up from the chip fryer with a turning motion ensuring an even spread on the stick then, with a turning and moving motion along the line of the seam, the tar is deposited into the seam. Two layers of tar are required with any excess scraped off once the tar has set. The caulking and tarring of Shamrock's starboard hull plank seams has been completed.

Shamrock shape has become more pleasing to the eye with the completion of her bulwark capping rails.