[Leo Sampson Goolden] is a boatbuilder and Sailor. He’s a prime example of a dwindling group of shipwrights who build sailing vessels the traditional way. In 2017, he was given the opportunity to buy Tally Ho, a Yacht built back in 1910. Once a proud ship, Tally Ho now sat as a shell under a shrink-wrap tarp. Her deck was rotted, her keel cracked. Any sane person would have moved on. Thankfully [Leo] is not quite sane, and began a quest to bring this history ship back to its former glory.
Tally Ho isn’t just an old boat. She is a 48-foot long gaff cutter yacht designed by the famous Albert Strange and built in Sussex, England. Tally Ho won the 1927 Fastnet Race (corrected time) when rough seas caused all but two boats to bow out.
To say [Leo] has his work cut out for him would be an understatement. Tally Ho lived a hard life, from racing to fishing. A complete restoration was needed. In fact, it would have been cheaper and easier to build a replica rather than restore the original. [Leo] wanted to save Tally Ho though, so he bought the boat for one dollar, and began to put all his time, effort, and funds into restoring her. This work includes carefully documenting each piece as it is removed.
Some of the tools and materials are traditional – such as chisels and red lead putty. But [Leo] is using power tools as well, including a custom-built chainsaw mount for shaping the keel. His videos are entertaining and illustrate many techniques of boat building. Wherever possible, [Leo] adds captions to explain the meanings of boat building terms, as well as explains the different terms used in England and the USA. In the latest video, you can watch along as [Leo] creates a Dutchman to fill in a knot in the keel. Can check that out in the video after the break.
Interested in more high water hijinks? Check out this awesome amphibious houseboat or this 70-foot metal sailboat being built in Oklahoma.
I wish Leo all the success in the world both personally and with this project, but the phrase “Tally Ho!!” makes this fox shudder. Ughh!!
Suggested reading: “Wooden Boats”, by Michael Ruhlman.
sometimes I wonder where in rebuilding a boat or a car or some other restoration. where does the line get crossed between a restoration or a replica.
Aaah “triggers broom” as we refer to it in the UK.
http://foolsandhorses.weebly.com/triggers-broom.html
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_of_Theseus
“Grandfather’s axe”
The handle has been replaced 3 times and the head twice, but it is still Grandfather’s axe!
If you want to see a true device of hackaday franken style you she watch the video of him down in Georgia milling the timbers for tally ho
That thing is terrifying.
“constructed from 5 forklifts, 9 semi trailers, sawmill parts, military Hobart welder, parking lot sweeper, fertilizer spreader and god knows what else”
The joy of restoring old boat can be only comparable with restoring old house. Ask Walter Fielding.
Or see for yourself:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdYPxFMhEkE
I restored an older, smaller fiberglass boat – that cured me. He’ll be at this for decades if it gets done at all.
He has been boat building for a while, so he knows exactly what he is in for. But yes, it will not be a quick project.
It has been said that one does not buy a sailboat because one loves to sail; one buys a sailboat because one’s life is in such a state that they want to spend the rest of their life cleaning and repairing a boat.
I watched the entire series so far last night, and while I know very little about boats other than a couple of silly sayings, I am completely enthralled. He’s not too far from me, so I may have to find an excuse to pay him a visit one day :)
First thing that came to my mind was at what point does it become more cost effective to build a new yacht from scratch. As a woodworker I would much rather build it myself than try to repair it.
I rebuilt a 1924 John Alden Malabar 30′ back in the 70′, it took me 3 years, I did it on the side of our house. She was originally a gaff rig, but I changed her to a Marconi rig.
I enjoyed watching your video’s and look forward to more; last one I watched was episode #34. I admire your patience and I have forwarded your website on to other sailing friends. Keep up the great work.
Regards,
Harry Deal
Vero Beach, FL