The Bees Knees

For those who know her know - we all think Vérité is the Bees Knees!
Meaning she is pretty darn cool.
She also has knees - four of which are in need of replacement.

What is a knee?
A knee is a natural or cut, curved piece of wood. Ships knees are a common form of bracing in boat building.

A ship’s knee has two parts called the arm (shorter) and a body (longer). The outside surfaces come to a corner,  called the heel. The inside surface retains its natural shape and the curve is called the bosom. The thickness between the heel and bosom is the throat. The ends of the arm and body are the toes.
The names of ship’s knees are based on their position.

• Hanging knee, the arm is down;
• Standing~, the arm is up;
• Lodging~, the arm is sideways;
• Boson~ or lap~, (unclear);
• Quarter~, quarter sawn thus smaller but without the pith (center of the tree rings) so less prone to checking;
• Dagger~ In shipbuilding, typically a hanging knee set slightly off diagonally to clear an obstruction such as a gunport in a fighting ship. From "Building the Wooden Fighting Ship"

Due to tradition, ease of workability, strength and durability characteristics, some species of wood are particularly prized for making knees. Tamarack (also known as hackmatack) stumps are among the preferred softwood species for grown knees, while white oak, live oak and elm are preferred for hardwoods for bent knees due to their ease of steam bending.



Maria is holding one of the knees that will be used.

 

The sanding is done.

Next - the work of varnishing, cetoling, and painting.

This year a new set of oars will be made, along with those knees, and some stanchions,

and the list may grow because

Vérité is going to Denmark!

She and her crew (made up of East Coast and West Coast youth) will be

participating in the Atlantic Challenge!

Needless to say - the excitement is building!