Dunderdale Pearl

Progress Report on Ralph Merrimans Pearl:

In the last few months when Ive talked with Ralph, hes had health problems distracting him from his Dunderdale Pearl project. So, a note from him the other day was a welcome sign that he might be feeling better.

He says:

"The bottom is now painted, up to the top strake. This will be a different color. The brass half-oval is installed, along with the Mylar flaps for the CB slot. Next is to glue the mahogany rub strip along the lower edge of the shear strake. This, along with the gunwales, will make the shear strake look much narrower."

"After that I will start installing bulkheads and the rest of the internal structure.Ill laminate my deck beams at the same time so they match the bulkheads".

 Ralphs customary fine detail

A search for Dunderdale Pearl, here on Doryman will yield the entire story.

Good job, Ralph! 

The round bottom lapstrake is a challenging boat to build.

Photos courtesy of Ralph Merriman, home boat builder extraordinaire.

Photos of this build-in-progress are kept in my Flickr archives.
Plans can be ordered through Tom Dunderdale.

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Dunderdale Pearl Fleckerl

Whether youve built one boat or many, the day their chrysalides shed is infectiously gay.
Ralph Merriman began his Dunderdale Pearl a handful of years ago, and with a couple health setbacks, finished her yesterday. He asked friends to help move the Pearl, Fleckerl from his patio shop, through the living room of his house to the driveway, where a new trailer waited.

Weve followed Ralphs build from the beginning. When asked how many boats hes built, hell modestly tell you he doesnt quite remember. I know for a fact hes built six skiff type boats and he suggests hes built another six kayaks. Prolific and precise, thats Ralph.

Ralph has already made Fleckerls masts, rudder and centerboard. The permanent lead ballast is cast. New fully battened sails lay in suspension. Hardware has been dry-fitted.







With the help of at least twelve volunteers, the Tom Dunderdale Pearl, Fleckerl emerges to the light of a wet Fall day into the element of its design.

Next installment will be a demonstration of Fleckerls wind and water waltz.









Initial Instructions from doryman on Vimeo.

Test Move from doryman on Vimeo.

On the Trailer in the Rain from doryman on Vimeo.

In case you dont know what a fleckerl is....

To be a devils advocate, I ran back and took a quick shot of Ralphs empty work space with the intention of catching him with nothing to do.

He headed me off with a photo of the same space the next morning with a strong-back set up for a new kayak.

Go, Ralph!








Congratulations on another fine boat build my friend.

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