When one board had been shaped, it was used as a pattern for the other, which was thus cut to exactly the same size.  For the end pieces two strips, 4 inches wide and 2 feet 10-1/2 inches long, were sawed out of a 1-inch board.  Then for the bottom we procured a number of 3/4-inch boards, 12 feet long and 8 inches wide, which we cut into 3-foot lengths.  At Bill’s suggestion, before nailing the parts together, we secured some strips of flannel, which were saturated with paint, and laid between the seams so as to make the boat perfectly water-tight.  The side and end boards were then nailed together, with the strips of flannel between, the side boards overlapping the end boards, as shown in Fig. 59.  After planing down the end boards until their edges laid flush with the edges of the side pieces, the bottom boards were nailed on, strips of cloth being inserted between them, as well as along the edges of the side and end boards.  To brace the bottom a 3/4-inch board was placed at the center, inside the boat, and bent down against the floor, to which it was nailed with wire nails.  The nails were driven into the board from the outer side of the boat and were clinched inside.  Along the upper edges of the side boards two strips 2 inches wide and 1 inch thick were nailed.  Two notches were cut in the inner side of each strip before it was nailed on.  The notches were 1/2 inch deep, 1-1/2 inches wide, 3 inches apart and about 5-1/2 feet from the stern end.  When the strips were nailed in place these notches formed sockets to receive the row locks.  A strip was also nailed across the stern of the boat and formed with two central notches, to receive the row locks for a steering oar.  This strip, however, was 3 inches wide, and projected 1 inch above the end board, so as to lie flush with the deck boards, which were later applied.  Six thole pins, 1/2 inch thick, 4-1/2 inches long and 2 inches wide, were cut out of an oak board.  The lower end of each pin was reduced to a width of 1-1/2 inches for a length of 2 inches.  The thole pins were then fitted snugly in the notches.  Two cleats, nailed to the side boards inside, 7 inches below the upper edge, served to support a seat board 1 inch thick and 2 feet 10-1/2 inches long.  The aft edge of the seat was about 10 inches forward of the row locks.  The boat was completed by nailing on a couple of deck boards at each end.  The oars were made of 2-inch pine boards, 5 feet long and 5 inches wide.  They were blocked out at Mr. Schreiner’s sawmill and then shaped and smoothed down with a draw-knife and spoke-shaved.  They were 1-1/4 inches at the handle and 2 inches immediately below, tapering down to a diameter of 1-1/4 inches at the top of the blade.  The blades were 18 inches long, 5 inches wide, and planed down to a thickness of 1/4 inch along the edges.

[Illustration:  Fig. 62.  Thole Pin.]

[Illustration:  Fig. 63.  Nailing on the Decks.]

[Illustration:  Fig. 64.  The Oar.]