Visit the Boathouse

Originally built somewhere along the American River coastline, it is thought that she was constructed from timber carried from the US on the sealers' mother ship Union possible with the addition of some locally sourced material..

December 2016 - the great day when the first frame was mounted. (l-r) Tony Klieve, Bob Imeson, Greg Roberts and David Churchill celebrate.

December 2016 - we need to build 14 frames to support the hull planks. This picture shows Independence when she only had 2 frames!

March 2017 - the RIG Team welcome visitors to the Boathouse to see our team in action and learn more about schooner and its history.

January 2018 - local resident Alan Thomas takes a well earned break during one of our build nights

May 2018 - in this view, you can clearly see how broad will be the finished vessel.

July 2018 - showing what the ribs look like before they are conjoined.

July 2018 - seven frames have now been erected with a number of others constructed but not yet in place as the table in the foreground is still being used for construction work.

November 2018 - all the ribs have now been constructed and as many as possible are in position. Soon, the lofting table will be removed so that the remaining ribs can be put in position.

The Lofting table - on which frames were built is gone so the remaining frames can be raised.

The final frame having been built the lofting table has been removed so that the frames can be positioned

Greg and Grant move a pre-prepared frame into position whilst Tony looks on.

November 2018 - all frames are now in place and the next job is to mount the keel.

March 2019. The keel will need to be inserted where it is to go a few times with shape adjustments being done between each try. This is the first try.

The keel being prepared - May 2019 - for insertion on the frames

.Keel and stem (the curved bit at the front) in place - July 2019