Yes. A rich vein of gold has been found here. What an amazing mixture of medieval and modern tools, techniques and perhaps even lifestyle. I’ve only seen the first two episodes yet – had to stop to absorb. Never knew timber could be milled in that way – the early New Zealand pioneers used the relatively modern pitsaw for houses and boats, and they split timber only for post and rail fences. I always wondered how treenails were made. Yet no hesitation to pick up a chainsaw – or a power planer - where appropriate. (But the cordless drill driver with the square bit had yet to be invented!) And the formaldehyde glue – I remember that as a boy – could almost smell the acid again. The slightly sped-up video is a great technique too – the job hurries along at a speed that no little project of mine ever has, and it never gets boring. Highly recommended to everyone. Thanks, and to David too for the interesting comments about tools.

I can’t take credit for the find, I was tipped off by a friend (and occasional JRA member) who has found out that Wayland and Aruna lived in West Cork (where we both are) for a spell. That has me wondering if Wayland was a carpenter on Tim Severin’s Brendan boat, or at least influenced by that project. I’ll check that with my parents who were involved in building the Brendan boat too. I don’t have a copy of the Brendan Voyage to see if they are mentioned. 

Bonjour

A great find ! I've never heard about that riging.

Graham, you are right; it's the Tunnny rig.

That riging was developped specifically for the Taulua catamaran.

On the videos some ropes, inside the frames, can be seen when they are travelled to the boat.(video 4/5)

http://aladis.heoblog.com/public/tunny_rig.pdf

Amicalement

Eric

What a fascinating find, Jan! Some observations:

The hull shape and construction is pretty much the same as the larger curraghs, with their double gunwhale and tarred canvas skin.

He was wielding a drawknife and compass plane identical to the ones that came down to me from my great-grandfather. As it happens, I just listed the Stanley No 113 plane on eBay today, having no further use for it and nobody to pass it on to. Much sought after by collectors, I think.

All this was happening at exactly the same time as Pete and Annie Hill of this parish were building Badger - any contact or comparing of notes, I wonder?

If I'm hearing correctly, he calls the rig "Tuna rig". I know I've come across it before, but can't find it in any of my reference books, and can't remember where I saw it, and who originated it.