We have about 4000 of them to make by hand !!!!!!! In the related links column, click and see how they are made.
A treenail , also known as a trenail or trunnel, is a wooden peg that is used to fasten timbers in shipbuilding. We are going to use this ancient technology to fasten the planks and frames of the 'Grayhound'. Once the wooden dowel is cut to size and rounded it is hammered into the hole, the difference in moisture content between the dry treenail and the greener frame or plank causes the peg to swell and hold the timbers fast. We will also wedge both ends to create a splayed wooden rivet.
For generations shipbuilding used treenails as a standard way to bind the boat together, now it seems a method that is long out of fashion but in using them they have huge advantages.They do not give rise to " nail sickness" which is a term for decay accelerated and concentrated around metal fastenings. Also as the price of metal continues to rise finding a wooden alternative becomes a much more attractive option. The life expectancy for treenail fastenings is about 80 - 100 years if the vessel is cared for, as opposed to metal fastenings lasting 25 years. Having plenty of oak to work with we wanted to replicate this age old process in such a traditional vessel, and keep the skill alive.
YOU CAN BUY A TREENAIL FOR £5.00 AND WE WILL WRITE YOUR NAME ON IT BEFORE WE FASTEN IT INTO THE GRAYHOUND