EP11 shaping planks: : Building the schooner Malabar IV

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 18:52:28 +0000

An extended camera pan unveiling the hull of MALABAR IV opens this episode– it’s fantastic to note this project commenced one year ago! The team’s hard work and Ben Harris' courageous vision have produced a beautiful shape that is also a credit to American yacht designer John Alden's work.

As the video illustrates, this project is presented FOR SALE – now is the perfect opportunity for a buyer to design and build the interior and rig to their specifications. Download MALABAR IV’s specification PDF here: https://bit.ly/3XfvKnS

This episode focuses on planking; watch as Ben Harris begins shaping a plank to fit the hull of MALABAR IV. Starting with offering up a spiling batten below the plank above and marking the angle and position of the stem, then marking every station frame (which is every three foot throughout the hull) – transferring that information to a length of yellow cedar (in this case) where he then references a table of data which becomes crucial to the process of starting to shape the timber into a plank.

The table of data he references provides the width(s) of each plank at each station (station frames in the hull), data that needs to be marked onto the length of timber that will become a plank. With the data transferred, Ben then ‘springs’ a batten through those data points to provide a fair curve which can then be shaped. He then measures the bevel angle between the frame and the plank at each station - learn more about the bevel strip in the video.

With real-world stops-and-starts, including pauses for issues that crop up along the way, we hope this is both relaxing and an informative episode showing more of the process of traditional boatbuilding, and to see John Alden’s MALABAR IV - a 47-foot schooner - come to life.

Watch the series from the start here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wVce2sZ850&list=PLbpg0kknDEyV3GDh1A7402rNSwX-99ilZ

Backstory: In December 2024, traditional boat builder Ben Harris announced plans to build a John Alden-designed 47-foot schooner, which appears to be the largest traditionally-built wooden boat in the UK in recent times.

Shot and edited by Emily Harris / Classic Yacht TV
https://www.emilyharrisphotography.co.uk/
https://www.kreftfilms.com

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Apply to volunteer on the build of MALABAR IV via Ben Harris' website: https://bit.ly/MalabarIV-schooner-new-build