Restoring a 100-Year-Old Sailing Dinghy. Ep. 3 Replacing Timbers & the Story of Mahogany

Episode 3 of our traditional wooden boat restoration sees us continue the painstaking restoration of a 100-year-old sailing dinghy designed by legendary British yacht designer and boatbuilder Morgan Giles.

In this episode, we rebuild the wooden centreplate casing and replace several damaged oak ribs, traditionally known as timbers. Using traditional boatbuilding methods, hand tools and time-honoured woodworking techniques, we carefully repair this beautiful clinker-built sailing dinghy and bring another part of her structure back to life.

We also explore the story behind one of boatbuilding’s most celebrated timbers: mahogany. Prized by boatbuilders, cabinetmakers and furniture makers for generations, this remarkable tropical hardwood also has a difficult history intertwined with slavery, colonialism and exploitation.

This series follows the complete restoration of a historic wooden sailing boat, from ageing timbers and clinker planking to the traditional craftsmanship required to make her seaworthy again.

If you enjoy wooden boatbuilding, traditional woodworking, sailing, maritime history, craftsmanship, hand tools, furniture making, classic boats, restoration projects and watching skilled things being made by hand, subscribe and follow the restoration.