Boat building

We visited the Manta ship building yards. A dozen large fishing boats, both new and refits were on the beach - under construction. All the boats were wooden construction. A single, massive hardwood timber about 12 inches by 18 inches wass set on blocks as the keel. Ribs were naturally curved timbers that looked to be roughly 6x6's. The first picture shows a man in an orange jumpsuit standing on the keel hand chiseling a mortise and tendon fitting for a prow. In the second picture the timber for the prow is being cut with a chain saw to fit in the chisled hole. The third picture shows another boat with the prow fitted in.

The most prevelant tool used in boat building is a three foot chain saw. Axes, hammers, and chisels rounded out the tool set needed. The 2x6 planking that was the outer shell of the boat was sealed using a plant fiber, spun on site, into a rope-like chinking that was pounded between the planks. When launched, a new boat leaks all over until the water swells the wood to seal the hull. Launching a new boat is done with a huge bulldozer that simply pushes the boat back into the water. I was constantly wincing while watching men use the chainsaws in ways, that in America, would drive a Federal OSHA inspector into a frenzy and cause spasms of delight in a liability attorney.