Unknown Boat Building Manual

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A project of Voluntsers

Boatbuilding

in Ash

Manual
._I

by Robert M. Steward

Published by:
International
Marine Publishing
21 Elm Street
Camden, Maine
04843

Company

USA

Available from:
same as above

Reproduced by

permission.

Reprodlrction of this microfiche document in any
form is subject to the same restrictions
as those
of the original document.

2n.d Edibbn

6v

International

Marine Publishing
~.11111,1,‘11.
.\ln,u,,04sIi

Company

FOREWORD
“’
Vlll
PREFACE
ix
PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION
xi
1 GENERAL
1
2 PLANS
10
3 TOOLS
15
4 WOOD
19
5 FIBERGLASS
AND OTHER
HULL MATERIALS
6 FASTENINGS
46
7 LINES AND LAYING DOWN
66
8 MOLDS, TEMPLATES,
AND THE BACKBONE
9 SETTING
IJP
108
10 FRAMING
117
11 PLANKING
130
12 DECK FRAMING
153
13 DECKING
161
14 DECK JOINERWORK
170
15 INTERIOR
JOINERWORK
182
16 MISCEELftNEOUS
DETAILS
192
17 SAF!?Y
STANDARDS
227
RECOMMENDED
READING
231
EQUIVALENTS
233
INDEX
236

35

88

l’h ligtlls otrt.11 showt*tl bright lalt* in lht* t~vt*ning 21 rht. ?i!i/zNItlJt) in IIiin1irlglc~l.
Nt-w York, anal r2b1il inrlc- 10 (tfj 50 aI :\r~c~t~ortIowri J1c.w in D;hricw. I havv tvijovtd ;L
tit’c~linic* intluc-ncxscl tjv I IIt. t;\tk of srnatt 1Jo;iIs 1tit-ir tlc3ign. I tIcA I)uittting. ;~rdl I ticbir
us(*. Most rcwarclill,~ of all ;Ispc’( lb. tx.1 tiat~s. arc ItIc* tc*:l(*:s lhdl ccbmc’ ;Itong
It.1 I (.I’!?
c*ulcJilin,g Itic- bJal you ti;lvt- Luitl

with your 0wI1 hdntls ;iI(’ inimt~dsurabtt-.
Hot, Stcwartt. tGng t~sc~t~ptionalt~ welt quatiiicd
t)v his tong c~sp~-rit*nix~ in r!ic “world
of small stiit~s.” ha5 l)roductd
;I cl~~ai-iy
writttbn It’s1 of nici-it and grrat worth. At’tt-r
vt*ilrs as an ;~ppr~-ntic~~- ht. work4
in scvc-rat small boat vards btaforc joining rhr highly
rcspecrerl office of naval architect
Philip 1.. Rho&s. where he spent manv I yrars
cn,
gagecl in dcsitirnrd at the war‘s t%ntI involving vat t.i
ax: Bob ac‘\elrtit (! :I lx)sition wirh a Wrs. Coast
firm as superint,.-dent
of vachr repair anti construction.
Somerime
ti;Icr tx returnd
IO I hc East Coast where a number of vac.hr designs werr proctucxd.
ranging from 22 LO
73 ft’et . which

required

his cxperirn&i

supervision

of loft in= anti cnnslruction.

l‘hc
vii

viii

f~Ol is
classic- work

co11t

drawings.

wit Ir I ht. cIt*sign rlntl prc),qrt*~~ 01 clulstantling

has bcbtbn ht*ar-iily

In
this larrsl tdition.
and presenr rrgularit~ris

char

t-rncd

Hoh has Inatlt~
antl sIandaids

I-cct*ivc-d from
riumt~rous
in atltliIion

Surt-Iv I his comprt~ht~nsive

rlicb rimt- iI w;ls first

revisions daring
IO nt-w
10 provicling more* of his

anti practical

marvrial.

SO ~~11

prcxn1td.

will provitlr~ ! ht- .rnialt~r- boatt~uilrlt~~ arid Itit+ f)roft3sional
with ;I worltl 01
v;Ilutd ant1 valid information.
Intlccd. scardv
a wt.t-k passe-s wht*n. in wriring It-IIt-1-s
I(J hoa huiltlvrs ail ovt’t I IIt* world. I (1~:no1 sii#gt-51 Hofr(hrr/ltl/~rg ,tlfltrrrfr/ as ;d sourt‘(- 01
knowlt~tigc,
,~011l1

.Alhill

?I .s.r\
t\nc

&

XI.E

tl~lr-tl~nvIl

Dalit~l. C:c~nnc~
ricur

II is indt*tvl

ditficull

IO rt-;ili/cs rli;tl

IO yc*;11-sli,1\,tb passtbd since

Inic~rnaiional

f’uhli5hing
(:~m1l1;11iv wt.111 i11ro Ou4int*bs nritl ;1c.tluirc*cl ltw cxqyighr
.ll,ctrrrtr/ II 11:*clM’~~ll:I Ir.rr,
I\' !Il:lI
!-I.:;;:.
!!E!
! !::*:x
h;1LT
!XX~I!
:ic‘i;
'Ul!
."I
I
i1ig llii~ tlt~ iidt.: Boris
f’hil Rhoclt5.

l.au(-1. L.tv~n;irtli.

OII(- of Ilit~ ,qwaItw

ihca sniall

;i~Iti mosi

iKl

ii1 Tc‘iir

I1r~;1ll1uildt~1’~ slaurit~li

vt*rs,iIili* 1i:i\~l

Marim,

IO flotr//~rrr;tlttr~
c .> rlihi

Ir-itv1tl.

;irIll

art hi1cv 14. li;rvc- l~oili +;tilrvl

ovt*r lilt- hoi izcjtr ~11tl dt(’ 111i55t*ill1v mdnv

irit-ncls.
111ort’ p(*iq)It~ 5im.t. Ilit- I;151 tvlili~,ti o! flflttr
so m;inv who h;ivt* rt-;icl ~1111
l~i*i~Il gri11ifVilIg
I0 mt 3

I v~*nl IO llavt* I1t7-Ii t,xl105tvI I0 Inilnv
;illii

hrr//tlt’t/,q .IltrtIrrfl/
It~;ll~Ilt~tl1’1~0111
111t’

10 us

il

Il;is

\ 1c)c)k. In .icltiilicm.

fhlfl I I/ lr;lr!il,,~

Mainc~. uws rhtk coml)l~tt~
ford.

Connc~~it~ut

~I‘hroqqhout

rhv Iwo vac~hr dt~sign sc~lioo~~ in IIitb I’ S. ~onlinuc~

Alfl t11111:a _ IVSC material.
l)ook.

, rtyrinrb

I his hook.

thtb Wtbstlawn

that

School

[ht. names

providtb

ijs advvrtising

svrvicrhs of valur
for the products

In adtlitic1ri 10 thia fI!lolo and illusrration
the following

Gtlugcwl
of

HIothcrs.

h11za.

Illl~..

drawings

that

I cannot
copy
fasrw

Inc

Srcmann

, for the ust‘ of photos

for ho~h phoros

close wiihout

ancl skrrc-ht-s;

thanking

her 5 percmr

in Brooklin.

of 1’ac-h1 DrsiRn.

Sram-

lo boatbuildrrs.
or sty-vice

offtvxvl.

Illill

c‘arr1

9~11h menRarhc-r.

of tht* s(1urcx.s. Conli~ct

I

lhtb firms

crvdiis

Plastics.

I did years ago for how-to-build

ior me with
rhan

sour(‘vs:

Insrirurcb.

ant1 aildrt~~sc~s of firms

iwlit~w lha~ Iht* rthacit-r will Iwrwfit fro1n my rt-srilrch
ctirc-crly iIlltl lt*ll tht’r11 wlI;ll you Ilt-tvt.
thank

Dvsign

of rhe hook.

vou will find

IOOIS a11t1111att.arials or firms
Zion is noI IO IW vonstrucd

while

portions

l’acht

given in the caarlit-r tditioll.
I wish 10
\1’il


BusiIit-ss

I Shoultl

IIlitl

\lillI

.i,gtt

IL,r-ih l..lu~-I -Ix-t~tldrrli

rty)t7Iivt~ly

M;tIl;tgc~I~

wriits sonll~ ,irIit.lt-s

Of

ill)OUt

IlIt*

fintb (,I(1

hoirl

dntl

ilit-

it/ltttlt*r

(~011slruc

:4\111lL

Irtlr*

Illil#il/iIl~‘,

lion

;tinlcVl

ill

IlIt-

amalt-uI’ ;tIl~l. Ilol!t~l‘uII,‘. of soIlIt’ VillUt’ I0 lhca l~r0ft~SSiC~IIitl. -1‘lris (It7 ision It~sulltvl ii: ;I
sturic5 of ‘LOc.oIIst~ciIlivt* Inorlllllv l)itxx3 I Il;tl Mx*rt*So \\~t~ll rtxx~ivt~tl Ill;11 I hty wt’rt- Illiltlt*
inlo

i:ook.

il

J‘ht-

rtw~f>litrIl

ol

Ihis,

~r~tl~(~*tl. I Ilt- l)o(bk $viIS l)uhlislIt~tl

IOO.

itl)Ioatl

was c~IiIhusi,isIic.

~llill

~)on

.itlt*l

iII L’I~t~I~t
II. l.t*1It51S 01 itl)l)IovitI

iI

w;h

in

wt*r(’ rtG\c~cl

from afar. On<* IhaI lingt.rs in IIIV mint1 was frton a l‘urkislt
naval oflicc,r who IIOI onI)
bouplIr Iht- I)ook. ~LII also l)uilI a I)oaI lrom III\’ plans. ‘l‘il~ll
ii#i3ill
Olin Sl~pht~IlS.
lolcl nit’ how I tic E‘rcnr.11 tbtiirion was of \alut* lo him on an ins
faIntd yacht ticsi,gncr.
slx‘t.Iion

writ) in I;:urol)t- ~vht*n Ihtb I)ook illusrrarions

lxYwc*t*n hiiI
lllr*

anti

Ill~:11t’lilr~

a l)uiltlt*r.

rtwartl

niubl,

.l‘hirigs

scrvtyl

IO brrak

like Ihis al-t- lit~drIt;-II.
hc

UIlfOrtLlllillt~l~.

a language-

harrit*I

htx~au~- in SO sm;tll

a ficltl

stxxmtlilrv.

As Iimt* wt*nI orl. I he numl~t*r of rqutxIs
for Ihtb hook showtd I haI a rt*\,i&m wab in
IlOW
\VI’ Il.lVC~fjo///1lf11’/f1it~,g .Mtrurrrl/.
qain
tiont- wirh Ilit- t~nIhu~i3sm of Boris

ortlt-I . Sll
ilb il

l)I.iIIIt’ movi~r. a II lioirgh llit7~~

hcbt-Ii Iimt*s, wlit-Ii Iht* midIiighI

IlilVt’

IOW. I IIiII I WiIS IIOI SO lIi\l’l)v wirh his l~rodtling
inc~lutlt~S

it

IIrIl(’ Ot

nt’w m;tIt~rialS

build
tion

The

thr &mrnts

Wt.11 a5 It~c~tiniilIIt5

iIS

Ihis or any orhrr
hope

.l‘ht> ‘II’W l)ook has t)(bcIl rcwriI~cn.
I 1lilVt’

1)icbt.d

lip

in

inrcrim.

ltltb

from

an unt!ersIanding
for many

is \erv
and

who orherwisc

11~ has Ihr ability
of boatbuilding

book can Itsac-h all Ihc-rt- is IO know about

for is I!) givt- somy guidancr

an urge IhaI usually

of a drram

Assuming

IhaI

br*st I can

a boat

MY of plans

Oltl.

I)UI
illltl

I haI Ilao* I)t~t*n accrptcd.

DO noI think
building.

lht’

oil was burniIi~y

rewarding.
experienced
could

lvith woodworking
set forth

I Irust

in this book.

Ihal I hi, book.

desiFarn a great

the kind

of boat

you want,
1

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GE.VER.41.
FLAT

5COWQE’t

BOTTOMS

DORY OP 5r(1i=F

ALGE

3

VEE.

AFL

i3OiTQt.l

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IcigurtbI-1. .St,t,t/fJ//s
ftl ttf/tl/t.//q/Il
fB//YlJlt’fl/
/lrl/ I’ rllrd rr~rrlrtttlrtltr~ftrtvi
trrlll.\
ner would
conform

build

have

you.

When

and

can be mastered

process

working

Bending

wood

forward
Figure

light

planks,

l-2 is a lines

ings and

templates
relative

that

will net

drawing

merits

on lofting,

designed

round-bottomed

of the

that

there

bend

for a small

for the various

will admit

parts

is not unduly

be a great

during

a discussion

on the boat

cold

construc-

boats,
and

The

of framing.

to round-bottomed

of v-bottomed

difficult

deal of fun.

such as the

must

be made

round.bottomed
which

hull.

is the making

Lines drawings
of full-size

are

hull draw-

parts.

hull

types

will never

boat,

along

to have them

Do not let this scare

of the hull.

in the chapter

everyone

the bending

is not restricted
certain

necessary

process.

In fact it can

further

or boiling

possible

the bevel

the bending

material.

detail

to fit the shape

in detail

in the hull:

in during

in more

of bottom

for them

right

a few attempts.

by steaming

discussed
The

after

as it is entirely

ends

bent

is twisted

with relatively

will be described

tion alone,
limber

frames

to the hull shape

especially

are

argued

far

be a v-bottomed
for a sailing

and
hull

wide,

but

as handsome

just

about

as a well-

craft.

Figures l-3 and l-4 show the essential
differences
between
the framing of flat, vee,
and round-bottomed
hulls. Although
the lower ends of the frames in the round-

ZliC ,

bottomed

boat

are shown

on the hull shape,
the deck

butted

to install

on the other

side.

them

against

the keel, it is sometimes

in one piece,

In contrast,

note

extending
the number

from

possible,

depending

the deck on one side to

of pieces

that

make

up a

~;lC.2'l~:R.4
I. :i

-FLAT

Bo-?Tm

ygE 4e--q-y.

Y.2’V’Y
__
.Figure

frame

I-3.

‘I‘\,/H~YI~(~ttr.\/r’r~~‘/tott

for a v-bottomed

bodt.

\(v‘ttotr\

SaA-‘-

~Irror~glr

On the other

hand,

1’

trr~tl

frames

/ht

Itottotttd

;dre spaced

ht~tt.\

farther

apart

in a round-bottomed
boat, so the frames are fewer in number.
Figure l-5 is a section through
a rather normal
sailboat
of the cruising
ocean

racing

type and

and-centerboard-type
recommended
helped

for

on a similat

not become

is :ypical
boats,

the

amateur’s

discouraged

and

is a lot of heavy

The

of the trames,

time needed

to build

of a flat sheet without

the rnaterial

board

or with

first

a hull

program.

wrinkling,

unless

of construction

is more

difficult

job than
*. and

that

surfaces,

either

he will

due to reverse

on a simpler

hull.

is such &at

it can

If a shape can be formed

it is said to be “developable.”

surfaces

he has

deadwood.

if the hull shape

such as plywood.

keel-

This type of boat is not

boatbuilding

is a tougher

out the backb,

material

The

at

or classic

keel or combination

draft.

of this kind

The framing

the planking

with developable

a computer

attempt

a hull can be reduced

pieces of.flat

deep

of shallow

enough

work getting

with large

ways of designing

very

when on his own.

in many

be covered

the so-called

being

job or has watched

(S) curves
there

of either

the latter

than

graphically

are cylindrical,

There

are

on the drawing
conical,

or a com-

bination
of both, and the designer must be content with the limitations
of these curves.
Figure l-6 shows the lines for a 52-foot hull that was designed
with the aid of a computer.

This

boat

was built

of large

fiberglass

sheets:

one

for each

side.

one for each

6

GENERAL

A.pC
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CgEkiTER63AE~
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Above:

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through

ty~G-d

1-4.
nrc-

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nnd

round-

hotton~d
II ~11s. Right:
Figure
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sclilhortt
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GENER.4L

R. M. %b’-‘A(LD

Fiqurc

l-6.

7

PPQfLE

:I 52./oat ,Jih~r,~lu.~~
conttnt~rctu~ Ir\hrrrg bout h 1111hm~r’l~ fiwP1i~p1 Oh

.\U)./flCl’.\.

half of the bottom,

one for the transom,

and

a number

of joined

strips

for the wide

chine surface on each stde. On the other hand. the v-bottomed
hull in Figure 1-7 cannot be built in this manner,
for there are concave sections in both the sides and bottom.

Flat sheets

cannot

Most of the figures
principal

hull

lines,

successfully

be bent

in two directions

at the same

in th’- chapter
have been labeled with the names of some of the
beginner
must become familiar
with this nomenclature.

and ti

For instance,
the top edge of the hull viewed in profile is the sheet-line.
line viewed in plan is the deck line. or deck at side. A chine is obviously
between

the side and

will be exp‘rained
draws

the lines

For hundreds
matters

time.

bottom

later.

of a v.bottomed

Since both

hull.

Other

while the same
the intersection

lines in the surface

sides of a boat are usually

the same,

of a hull

a designer

only

for one side of a hull.
of years,

are, different

now.

wood was the primary
As this is written,

material

boats

used for building

of fiberglass-reinforced

hulls,

but

resin

have

been manufactured
for 30 years, and now fiberglass
boats dominate
the standardized
boat market,
with hulls and other parts produced
in volume from expensive molds and
tooling.
However,

wood

wood in tht: United

is not dead.
States

Many

pleasure

and elsewhere.

and

Wood

commercial

is being

used

boats
in hulls

are still built
in the conven-

of

f~l~..~I:‘R.~~l.9
tional
and

manner,

covered

cold-molded

on the outside

and

saturated

that will be discussed
farther
The techniques
of wooden
tion

of tooling

in ihe better
molded

for fiberglass
quality

plastic

and

hulls

and

fiberglass
When

demand

the finish
achieved

and

boats

finishes
such

or a welded

of some

are extensively
Wood

parts.
to avoid

that

have

as for yachts

employed
antiseptic

the cold,
become

a logical

fabrics.

for building

hulls

in the construc-

is used for the interior

65 feet and

steel hull

with superstructure

builders.

But here again.

of the larger

in the quarters

joinerwork

apj?cyrance
extension

of the

of molded

because

it provides

a feeling

longer,

welded

built
wood

aluminum

of the light
is usually

of warmth

tha:

alloy is

chosen

for

can never

be

by thr sy Iittlctics.

it is possible
a .‘kit” boat.

to gain
There

cd by the builder
fiberglass

an introduction
are

usually with plywood
quire but reasonable
available
are full-size
“Hare”

boats

with synthetic

new scheme

cabins.
is small,

alloy construction
the choice

a relatively

on.
boatbuilding

fiberglass
“mica”

with resin and reinforced

with resin,

a number

to boatbuilding

by purchasing

of kits for vbottomed

motorboats

and assembling
and

sailboats,

planking.
Most of these are furnished
with beveled parts that recare to set up the frames accurately
to form the hull. Also
paper patterns
and templates
for parts, with all the wood provid-

from
hulls,

local stock.
mostly

Then

there

for powerboats,

are kits that supply fiberglass
hulls.
are also available.
Here is where an

amateur
must be careful
to be >:tre that guidance
is provided
or available
to locate
c’omptrnents
such as engincss and fuel and watc’r tanks. ‘l‘hr weights of such items must
be positioned
so the boat will trim and run properly and safely. Some of thrsc hulls can
should not bite off more than he can chew.
IIC cluite largca. and the atnateur
Making ;I kit boat does not give the same sense of accomplishment
as building
a boat.
from scratch, 1~111the scheme dons make sense for those with limitrd spare time ot for
those who want a particular
model of boar that is available
in kit form. Listings of kit
boat manufacturers

are found

CZuirfc. In addition,
Fi.thc~rmcln. See thr

a good number
Recommended

in boating

magazine

ads and in the RrW Owner;) Buym

of fiberglass
hull builders
advertise
Reading
at the end of this book.

in Nationcll

,

Chapter

2

A Set of plans

is needed

for a boarbuilding

project

unless you have decided

to build

a

kit boat. Seldom does one want to build just any boat
rather there is an urge to own a
certain
tvpe, either power or sail, and usually there is an idea about the size suitable
for the intended
spent

use. There

on the search

Knowledge
scanning
contacted

for a design

of arrangements

the design

are ample

for study

sections

mechanic

offer

more

scale than

they

firms

also offer

l&at

that

the boat

for various

ample

will meet

lengths

boating

These

magazines,

be

requirements.

can be obtained

and the naval

do-it-yourself

time should

your

of boats

magazines.

by the design,

of the monthly

and

by

small

drawings

architect

can

particularly

magazines

be

Molar

for the home

of power and sailboat
plans that have been run as
The pians they make avaiiable
arc to a iarger.

over the years.
those

in the original

spxialize

full-size

Owners

sure

for plans,

Some of the boating

for sale a choice
articies

of several

is offered

some

“how-to-buiid”
practical

to make
feasible

information.

& Snifing, and

sources

of the monthly

of what

for furttlrx

Boutz’ng

are several

in plans

patterns

Ruyws

Reading,
lists the names
sizes of boats, Another

Guide,

articles.

The same magazines

for the backyard

for hulls.
listed elsewhere

buildt=r,

in this book

nnd addresses of many naval architects
source is the various
class associations

and

under

carry

ads

in some cases
Recommended

who have plans for all
for small one-design

sailboats.
Regardless

of their

source,

try to determine

whether

the plans

that

interest

you are

sufficiently
detailed for you to completely
understand
the vessel’s construction.
It cannot be emphasized
too strongly
that good plans are well worth their price, because
, 7‘.. :r cost is but a fraction
of the total cost of the boat. The cost of the plans might be
considered
as insurance
that the finished boat wilt be a success. When designers do not
draw the profusion
of details that the novice builder
would like to have, this book
should

be very helpful

in filling

in snme

of the missing

information.

19%’

SLOOP

‘TRITON”

SAIL
PLAN
5CfiE ?h.:cc
DCSlQhED
FOR

==A

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RUDDER
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1948
ikut~
t$
lhl
publicalirm.
“llou~ fo Build” writes nrrd appeartd in rhc Fvhruary
Lnrgr-scale blwprit~h uvw off&-ed by The Rudderjor
ust ) by h o nl t>b uild t’ rs. Th e a rc
hot ~on;.cd fornl
nlnl;cs I i1i.q n rt4atirvly
simplr
boat lo build.
(The Rudder,
rt$rinled
ztvih pt~mi.~sion, )

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Figure

2-2.

_

rJii&m
L( SRV.RD

Nz*wz
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PLANS

14

I would

tures,

warn

or locations

formance,
before

making

of major

regulated
tion.

safety,

the

routine
Office

of the boat,

tion

such
and

is fairly

Inspection

details

building

construction

inspection
ried.

can result
against

without

If there

Guard.
without

simple

is to be started

quickly,

of the hull. The Coast

The

Consult

them,

per-

the designer

you will be better
from the drawings.

Guard.
the route,

In general,
and

it should

general

arrangement

six or more fare-paying
or, most likely, fishing.
be aware

that,

in the in-

of passenger-carrying

regulations

set of plans,
Guard

in unsatisfactory

departing

you should

equipment

if you take the time

the service,

is a complete

a craft,

at least obtaining

of the U. S. Coast

of superstruc-

for Hire

construction

by the U. S. Coast

heights

of seaworthiness.

and if he advises

Passengers

lines,

there is a great number
of boats built to carry
whether it be for sightseeing,
dinner and dancing,

not start
The

reduction

that will give you what you want

for Boats Carrying

of

in the hull

Such procedures

changes,

If you are contemplating

should

changes

weights.

any major

plans

Every year
passengers,
terest

making

at least, or even downright

off using

Plans

you against

are not unduly
approval
to consult

boats

strict,

is

but you

of the hull construcwith the closest Marine

an application

is made

for the

the number

of passengers

be submitted.

otherwise

if construc-

are necessary

and

drawings

has a book of regulations

to be caralso

that spells out the design

and equipment
They no longer

requirements
and lists the plans that must be submitted
for approval.
offer the book for free, but they can tell you the location of a govern-

ment

that

bookstore

stocks

the publication.

lf

yi;b

i

‘“c

3;d+

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-se -/
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f,

i

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n . . . .. e ..*

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~ONSTRU~ION
PLAN
a,,..,su-

Figure

2-3.

L

1
--_

j
-- /

.-

--‘-iq

’A
7

4LCTAT~

Gii&R
pf mol5L4T
6.4
,TCWbRD

Chamer

The selection of tools needed to build a boat depends
being undertaken,
It is best to start with a small craft

3

upon the type of project that is
to get the feel of the work-- the

difference
between bqatbuilding
and common
carpentry.
The construction
of a simple
plywood-planked
boat, either as a kit or one started from scratch,
calls for a minimum
of tools.
mer,

For such

hand

sufficient.

saws,
One

a boat,
planes,

item

the usual assortment
chisels, screwdrivers,

the amateur

may

of home workshop
a brace and bits,

not have when

starting

tools such as a hama hand drill, etc., is
a boat

is a number

of

clamps, either the “C” or bar type. It seems as though one never has enough of these;
they really :,re indispensable.
The one power tool that is well worth the money in labor
saving,

even for the simplest

of boats,

is a % R electric

drill.

Other hand tools, such as a drawknife,
spokeshave.
bullnose
plane, rabbet plane,
and round-bottom
plane are out of the ordinary
but very handy in the building
of
some boats. If not on hand, these can be added as the need develops.
Essential
framing

tools for layout

square,

a level.

rule or measuring

tape,

work,

and useful

dividers,

and

but it should

from

start to finish,

a carpenter’s
not

pencil

be a cloth

your own long bolts from rod stock, a few thread-cutting
needed.
Another
handy tool, one that a boatbuilder

tape

are a 24” carpenter’s

compass.
that

Also essential

stretches.

is a

For making

dies and a die holder will be
cannot
do without,
is an ad-

justable
sliding bevel such as Stanley Tools No. 25 or No. 18. Thi: is used for transferring bevels from drawings
to the lumber
and picking up bevels in many ways, as you
will learn.

Needless

A relatively

to say, both

new kind

up in boatbuilding

is the Stanley

blade.

There

which

holds the blade

a scraper-like

are two blade
holder

carpenter’s

of tool that

with

“Surform,”

holders

in a curve,
a short,

is often
that

vises will be used.

for some of the little jobs that come

featuring

a unique

can be used like regular

two file-like
curved

and machinist’s
useful

holders,
blade.

The

throwaway
wood planes,

one of which
holders

rasp-like

is round,

for curved

one of
and also

blades

are
15

16

7‘001.S

A

ADlUmABLE

0.

L\PPED

.k?Llobk5

C. %AI=‘EFDoT”

Figure

3-l.

particularly

;I tc,rcl bout t~ctilriirrg

tool.5 ltlrlt

good

The

in boat work.

D.

‘c-f CLAMP

E.

ADIU~-AI~LE

CHIP

blades

AUGER

BAL?

(lrv lrol cllzc~crqs/iJiltld

Surform

fiEVEL

ADZE

CLAMP

iI1 ttrc tlomiJ

cut wood,

plastic,

wortzstlo~.

and soft metals

such as lead.
It takes a lot of fastenings
twist drills.
latter

Thehc

kind

hardwood
useless.

even

though

or metal

In all but

to make

a boat sound;

come in two kinds,

the smaller

the drills
boats

car1 be bored

with ship augers

slow-turning

electric

and

there

drill you will need

steel and high speed. Be sure to get the
because drilling a series of holes in
expensive,

they are more

heats

so for the electric

carbon

the carbon

will be some

steel

holes

bits will burn

required

and

become

for long bolts.

These

with and without center lead screws. The latare preferred
because
they make it
ter, called “barefoot”
augers by boatbuilders.
If auger holes are made with power, a heavy duty,
easier to keep a hole on course.
technique

drill

is a must.

like to use a twist drill

long enough,

you must extend

it up, with the extension
motor

available

Some
rather

them

smaller

builders
than

by welding

than

and

you must

an auger.

If the standard

a rod onto

the drill diameter,

develop

your own

drills

are not

the drill shank and trueing
if necessary, to fit in the drill

chuck.

You will learn
The screws

must

that a great

many

all be sunk

into

woods or. with softwoods,
To reduce

the number

and counterbores

wood screws are used in modern
drilled

to prevent

of separate

on the market.

holes to enable

the wood from
drilling

operations,

them

splitting
there

boat construction.

to be driven

into

hard-

as the screws are driven.
are patented

countersinks

Both of these tools first drill a hole for the body of the

TOOLS
screw;

the countersink

screw,

while

gadgets

then

both

eliminating

have

an

much

of available

similar

or less the same job.

sheet

to the profile

name

have

for these

diameters
they

and

equal

a stop

drills

drills

and

of screws.
thus

pilot

They

are

of the

plug.

valuable

These

time-savers:

of working

Unfortunately,

twice

the range

expensive

construction

that

do

they were stamped

out of a steel

one for clearance

of the screw

of the screw at the root of the threads,

of the drill
bits,

can

expendable.

the head

be desired.
of more

two diameters,

to the diameter
screw

and

look as though

on the shank

is wood

lengths

are cheap

These

to take

for a wooden

on fastenings.

tools

of a screw and have

and one about
makes

of hole

as might

drilling

hole

of drills and the necessity

in the chapter

sizes is not as extensive

more

some

for depth
changing

are shown

the hole

a straight-sided

adjustment

are also some

shank,

up by shaping

drills

baclr-and-forth

on every hole. These
There

follows

the counterbore

17

to control

and

they

be burned

These

depth

are sold

when

and

of the hole.

One

in sizes for various

drilling

hardwoods,

bits are also shown

but

in the rhapter

on

fastenings.
Old-hand
especially
nail

boatbuilders
when

often grind

twist drills

a hole is to be made

fastening.

The

tapered

point

to a tapered

completely

does not

through

tear

point

similar

the wood

the wood

to a gimlet,

for a rivet or clout

as the drill

goes through.

One of the traditional
tools of the boatbuildpr
is the adze. I‘his tool is shaped
hoe and is still in use in yards that build vessels with heavy timbers.
Boatbuilders
ally use the lipped
of the blade.
skilled

adze,

The

workman,

foregoing,
chances

heavy

in the hands

the guidance

it will be apparerlt
mention

has

are good

that

your home

go ahead

and

start

one of the most useful
size. For straight
in a small

shop.

and,

edges at the ends

when

pieces

in the hands

of wood.

who

of a

The adze can

of the inexperienced,

of someone

so it is best to

has plenty

lumber

if the planking
and

hatch

because

ference

being

ury for small
quantities

in bearings

mozt

because

of adze

time

but small
labor-saving

now than
which

and

for cutting

decks.

and

should

curved

for cutouts

If
ex-

By far

be 12 or 14” in
will do most jobs
A portable

planking

for
out

of

depth

such as for pqrtlights

As in the case of the %-inch
Stick to a good grade
lines and better

thus in life expectancy.

screwdriver.
power

ever before.

arbor

the

really

the saw is set to cut out little more

have competitive

screws

and

of them.

tools aren’t

can be a labor-saver.

saw you can find.

and power,

hand

from the

need,

saw but does have some use, particularly

in plywood

is an electric

these

omitted

ever

with many

saw with tilting

also be used

makers

will

equipped

not essential,

for a table

saber

you

common

A saber saw is invaluable

openings

of anything
of the

while

It can

even repuLable
boats

is already

table

is not too thick

do not buy the cheapest

brand,

One

panels.

tools have been
that

is the bandsaw,

rircular

jointer,

saw is a poor substitute

thickness.

of most

anyway,

for boatbuilding

A 4.inch

some hand

workshop

boat

cuts an 8-inch

up plywood

the hull

that
made

as you go along.
workshop
are more

circular

the plank

been

your

cutting

drill,

L

when

but

pensive and can be bought
Power tools in the home

than

the grain

his belt.

As we progress.

not,

under

type with curled

across

tool for working

to the limbs

how to use one

under

is a smooth-cutting

is a wonderful

also be dangerous
learn

which

adze is used diagonally

like a
usu-

electric
in a good

lines.

Somewhat

but it is a tremendous

labor-saver

the difof a luxwhen

are to be driven.
tools

is the

sander,

and

it helps

in

prevent

boredom,

too.

planking

The

whether

is good

fiberglass.

for wood or fiberglass,
Again,

up joinerwork.
Another

power

labor-saver

during

plane,
This

is all that

familiarity

Sources

and

longer

one such

as the S-inch

a certain

up lead

about

ability

so don’t

a luxury,

of boats

used for smoothing

than

ballast

tools because,

down

sander

of

the best,

skimp.

but which

is an enormous

25 feet long,
plane

made

is an electric
by Skil. This

keels.

as mentioned

with woodworking

the seams

is about

is used by the pros for smoothing

in sanders,

be considered

is a lightweight

as cutting

the orbital

in the introduction,

tools has been

assumed.

for Tools

.4 few places
both

are mentioned

below

for woodworking

of course, Sears,
revised annually.
Brookstone

Company,
Wood
Wade

and

that

are

metaiworking.

known

for stocking

One of the largest

a good

selection

of

and best known

is,

but not everyone
knows that they put out a fine tool catalog that
order:
Here are some others know]! to me, listed in alphabetical

Craftsman
Garrett

is important

might

will be said

jobs

the belt sander

the construction

been

for such

For finishing,

and

quality

tool that

All you need

tool has even

tools,

disc sander

and for sanding

I27 Vose Farm

Service

Co.,

Road,

Peterborough,

New Hampshire

is

03458.

Co., 2727 South Mary Strcc:, Chicago,
Illinois 60608.
302 Fifth Avenue,
New York, New York 10001. (This

Inc.,

ca:alog
is so beautifully
illustrated
it should bc a collertor’s
item.)
W.1,. Fuller Inc., P.0. Bax 8767, Warwick,
R.I. 02888. (They sell the “barefoot”
wood auger hits shown in Figure :I- 1 .)
Wetzler Clamp Co., Inc.. 43-15 11th Street. Long island City, New York 11101. (A
manufacturer
of clamps only and will sell direct IO boatbuildcrs.)
313 Montvalc
Avenue,
Woburn,
Massachusetts
01801.
Woodcraft
Supply Corp.,
(Another

house with a nicely

ing.)
Woodworkrr’s
New Mexico

Supply,
X71 12.

illustrated

Inc.,

P.O.

catalog
Box

that

14117.

lowers one’s resistance
11200

Menaul

NE,

to purchasAlbuquerque,

Chapter

Wood

is ow of the c,asit>st materials

rtlmain:;

a favoritt*

marerials.

of

many

Not ail woods

out of which

proft5sionais.

nrr sui~nblr

the amateur

tIrspirt*

It is beyond

provt’n rlutahit*
st rengr h

the scope of this hook 10 morth rhan scrarch

wc~ocl, even when
our discussions

iimite(1

I0 rhe trees found

10 the small

numher

onr

the surface

in rhe llnited

01 commonly

a boat.

and ir

tht* grc-at growth
in synthctit
howcvcr.
so as we go along.

for bonthuiiding.

1tit-rt- will I)t%commt’n~s
OII IIKW kill& tl~a~ have
(ltXir;ll)lt’ qualities
sought
anal have I he necessary

can build

4

States

accepted

of I he most

on rhts subjrcr

dlone,

boatbuilding

of

so I will limit
woods

and

how the lumber is manufactusrri
rain woods from boatbuilding
dccavq

and

availabltordinary
that

shortness

lrom logs. A few reasons for the elimination
of cerare brittleness.
softness.
weakness.
susceptibility
to
of growth.
On the orher hand there are rime-tested
woods

that have lhe net.essary
iurnber~ard.
Fortunately

fully untlers:ands

Ihe builder
TV”““““.

Sawing

but rhese rypes can seldom be found in an
every area where boats are built has a yard

the nec~ls of the hoathuiider.

rile aid of such a supplier
‘l‘herc should

qualities.
aimosi

to obtain

ht. no compromise
is consideI~ecl.

the high

in the matter

the t-xtra ~0sI and

and the amateur

grade

lumber

of lumber
trouble

needed

quatiry.

of good

is advisrd

to seek

for long hull life.

for when the labor

material

of

is of little conse-

of Lumber

Grain

is formed

tation

has much

by the angle

orirntation

in boards

been

and

felled

of the annual

to do with the suitability
depends

trimmed.

upon

rings with the face of a hoard
of the lumber

how rhe lumber

it is easy for the lumberman

for use in boats.

is GUI from
to run

and its orienThe grain’s

logs. After a tree has
the log through

a saw
19

A.
Figure

PLAIN

e.

SAWN

QUARTER

SA’NM

4- 1.

and cut it into boards

as shown

in A of Figure

4- 1. -!-his is called

plain

sawing,

and all

but one or two of the boards sawn from the log in this manner
are called slash grain or
tlat grain.
A more expensive
and more wasteful
method
of cutting
up the log. B in
and the rrsultinp;
boards are known as rift, verFigure 4- I 1 is ralicd quarter
sawing.
tical.

or edge-grain

boards.

It can be seen from

Figure

4-2 that a few boards

from the

nlidtilc clt’ it plain-sawn
iog have rift grain just like quarter-sawn
lumber,
but the ma,joritv 01 tllr~ I)l;tin sawn boartls arta not tlf3ir;tblr
for I~OilI~~llildil~g, as will h showl~.

Seasoning
Wood

for ,tlmost

content

prewnt

,~ny purpose

or more

the weight

sorption

by the ceil walls

wood

has taken

at a11 must

of the log. I‘here
and

on as much

4-2.

time

or scbasoned to reduce
the content

are two ways that

absorption

into

SAWN

LOG7

thr moisture

may be as much

wood contains

the cell cavities

as the cells will hold,

F’LAlh;

Figure

be tlricd

when thr tree is cut , at which

as half

moisture,

themselves.

When

abthe

the wood is said to be at the fiber

il’OOU

saturation

point.

percent,

In this condition

and no shrinkage

process

ot reducing

hoatbuilding

the moisture

material,

level is wanted,

the moisture

takes placc un:il
content

to about

and this is when

wood

shrinks

further

content

of the wood averages

this percentage

15 percent,

the wood shrinks.

if more

is reduced.

moisture

about

Seasoning

an acceptable

After

it seasons

is removed

21

25

is the
level for

to whatever

and swells if more

moisture
is taken on. Shrinking
or swelling is greatest in a direction
parallel to the annual rings, thus slash-grain
boards cup more than rift-sawn ones and appear as shown
in Figure

4-YA dfter

reducing

thickness

seasoning.

than

Shrinkage

width,

of rift-sawn

producing

boards

lumber

with grrater

tlian flat-grain
ones (Figure 4 :!H), and t
. anrf th:, fac(* f)lics are all grade A veneers. while there is a choice
grade

A or gracfr

H backs.

i‘or(*s. tlot h gratltb

of either

Douglas

fir or fauan

detail,

although

there

is little

you can do ;tf,out what is produced

Kf*f);tir5 in ;I gratlc* A ~;I(x, art’ limitt~cl IO ninc* in ;I -I x K-foot panel.

masinlum

01’six vtbnecr f)atl.ht*s. I’ntchrs

4 x 8 pantbl.

for

B.

Cfertb is ;I I)it morr
todav.

~l‘hertb is also a choice

of

‘1‘1~ panel

it: a ~gratle I3 back are limited

cores art‘ of grade

B I~ougfas fir or fauan.

four (‘ori* gaf)s in any ply. with (‘ore gaps not to exceed

including

to eighteen

with no more

a
in a
than

‘$ “, and with none of t hesr gaps

suf~erimf)ost~d.
Marine

plywood

and A-B: rnaritle
A-A and

A-2.

panels
rotary

(An

art’ offered

lauan.

A-A panel

species; A-R ot- A-2 indicates
Champion
has a “marine
CrrZon

overlay

grades

in the following

types:

marine

fir. grades

A-A

means

A-A and A-2; and marinr
ribbon fauan. grades
both sides are of the same grade of the same

the back
Durapfy”

plv is of B or ;I? grade of the same species.)
panel with a paper like resin-impregnated

on the face and back.

This panel

is good

for bulkheads

and partitions

ll’OI)l)

[flat arp to br painlcd.
Duraply
ribbon

‘l‘hr fat-? VCnt’c’rs untft-r- the trvt-rlay arc* pdich-frcc

is also made
fauan

wiLlI a C:rvZon fact, (II? qratft* B fir and C1rofarv or
thv ventbcr ulltivr I~W C:rc%c,n <‘an I)c f)ouFlas fir, f,ur

hefortb.

rhr wild grain

fini5fl.
.f‘hr m:lrlrlcs ttbak f>an(*fs matfv
teak

vrnrer)

grain

fjfain-slicvcl

variarions

IIIt’

II.S

f~fvwooti.

will f)c visif)lr.

:lIlti

ChilIll~S~t~Il.

rt’rail

i,, rlol the

fly dtzrcclrtf

rflrough

a paint

1,,,‘I (rflib is [flick for a

I0 lotarv

cut
niatchcd
for color and
afic,:>rctf. <;r;l(fy A-.,j is used when

indications
grade

witfl a hi:;t!jry of making

1IOWt’Vl’I

her SillC~~comparlv.

usuaffy

al-v f;l ( 11 .f’fV) -fH s 9ti*
Murl’rrf~

I~fll~lrp

l.tll/illl

‘( (?I plv) .lH s !)(i ’
‘” (.:,.plv)

,lH s !Mi I

I”0 ’ I.14 ’
I”0
- + 1.14* 4

IL’(5.plv)

4x s 96 t

I”0 4 l,fd +

‘,( (7.f,fY) 48 s wi* ’
,Varirrc
I,, (3.[‘IV)

Kihtwll

I”0 i

f-14 ’

l.nucltr

4x x Lx*

,Zln rl’ti f* 1)~ rajdy

‘, (5.]‘I?)

-18 Y 96’

“,” (5.fjly)

48 x 96 * 120*

i-f-f* 16x* 192* !216* ‘L-10’

;Iv.lil;if)ft-

Iron1 (:h;imf)itrn

(iri-

‘SO

II 001)

Special
Both

Sizes of Plywood
(Ihampjon

Champion.
sviclttls

10

Ml”,

imum

iiar bar

l+;trt)or

I hI( kwss

start5

Exterior

Grade

in sites

p,snrl:;

t on4stc .a’
C1ti! ;i single

5alt.h. on tilt- ot ht.1 h,lnJ.
or i)allc-l5 ill an!

r,l H’,

malit.

other

than

stock.

of $,,“.
panels fr-on! ‘b ’ !o I IL’” thick in increments
(A friend of mine built several hundred
hard-chine

whmt* topsiti~* l,lanking

width

otfcrs

width,

with

panels

pant.1

on

each

in any length.

a maximum

length

side of about
with a maxof H1/2’. Panel

at ‘%“.

Plvwood

1\23Ilv 1)uiltlt-1.5. ills lucling
rllar-int-

Salts\ 0ftc.r 10

mentions
for instance.
and ll*ngths ot Sti

,~ss;iulf h),irs
s(i feet.)

anti

me. have SIICc~ssfully

usrd

grath~.

hut LI huffi< icllt nurnhc*l c~f failures.
rt-c~orclt~d. Bwaus~ of this. the use ot c,xrt-r.ior grade

exterior

grade

plywood

sue_h as delamination,
is not recommended

instead

of

have been
unless

one is

~lh\ol~/(,l~ c,t,rfo/n that the panels ar,- made with truly waterproof
glue, that all voids
arc pluggc~l hv the- bui!dcr IO prevent the entrance
of water, and that the weaker conSIIEC tion

iniltbrc.llt

III I hc lesser number

of plies is suitable

for the job.

All in all, con-

>,idc-ring rho tr~~mt~ndous amount
ot troub!e
that could be caused by failure of this
~I~~JVO()(~lnatc~rial. thta hc,.~thuiltlt~r is ativisc:l against
gambling
his labor against the
\,l\‘in,g

iI1 lllq\t(-l-i.il ~051 ,gainerl

Cutting
IhIt.

IO

gra(lt-

Plywood
[Iit*

hitIt* w ht.11

Figure

i)v 1tI(. us(’ ot f.xtcricn

rtiili
4;lwtYl

4-4.

\t-nt’t-t\

,

,~nct

th,l:

Ilidkt’

utl .I

I).41~c~i

~~lvwo~~tl rt-ntl5 to 5)llinter

t‘i1 i\ 0111’ 01 ~IIc*WI~I~I itI ttii\

011 its undcr-

it3l)t*(‘t. :I 1)iec.e of solid

lumber

1l’f~Ol~

c!amped
always

on the

Lightweight
there

of the panel

by a fine-toothed

portable

are blades

panels
held

underside

be made

circular

with

fine

are best smoothed
at an angle

Bending

will eliminate

crosscut

saws are handy

teeth

made

when

for just

with a low angle,

to the edge

rather

this

splintering.

saw with the face-side

than

much

sharp

block

parallel

up.

is to be cut.

and

The

plane

should

of the plywood

plywood

this purpose.

Cuts

31

edges

of plywood

set for a fine cut and

to it.

Plywood

Plywood can be bent to curvature
either dry or after it has been steamed.
If the latter
method is used, the panel must be dried before another
part can be laminated
IO it.
Sometimes

it is advantageous

to dry-bend

thickness.
‘The following
chart
panel wi!l take. Pant-l thickness

two panels

eat-h of half the desired

is a guide (not the gospel) to how much
and bending
radii are in inches.
,J cr0.n
Cirnitr

60
72

of laminated
often

!Jfi

3fi

solid

of the availability

wood

allows curved

means that large parts
ha~ltlI(*d. Ct)llI-rnol~lin~

7”
Wi

I92

144

“40

parts

144

or plywood

of watt-t-proof

to be made

particularly

that

laminated

beams.

Laminations

are tnuch
laminating

an assembly

that

solid

would

in hoat
at room

with minimum

construction
temperature.

waste of material

and

ICS:; likely

thr

material,

cheap

tluc to

hut the parts

are

wood asst~mblies of parallel
grain construi~tion.
“ross grain in them if sawn from solid stock.

to check

does not increase

solid pieces jointed
in the conventic,nal
Builders with an interest in laminating
parts that otherwise
either strengthwise

trot necfxsarily

ilrt'

have

and

split

the strength

such as the stem showr, in A of Figure

for laminating
to a lamination,

cure

can be made of small pieces of wood readily obtained
and easiiv
antI str,il) l)lanking
as tit*sc~riI)t~(l latc*r art- t)ottl form5 01 \v(N,;I

sue-h as deck
although

he used

l.kIil

adhesives

parts
laminating
and so arc ho;low spars. Laminated
thtb time that must be taken to prt*pare the form and
strong,

a dry

(0”)

24

<;lut~cl parts
Lamination

(;rclill

‘4

Wood

hc-cause

(W)

‘2
I I,
‘I!
”

Laminating

bend

P~~mllt~l to

I,‘,I

1’:
‘,
”
II

finished

manner.
become

than
of the

non-laminated
wood

4-4 is greater
quite

ingenious

would be tedious to make
or from the standpoint

itself.
than

parts.

a1111

the strength

if it were made

at conr,oc.ting

or that wouid
of durability.

of
ot

forms

be inferior

‘3
. 9L

11’001)

Fi,gure

4-4B shows the lamination

if sawn from
series

one piece of wood.

of cleats

clamped.
Another

is fastened

of a tiller.

The shape

in place

type of form

to secure

is shown

in C. and

$,” thick,

like this would

the form
it can

which

stock or plywood.

Fir plywood

ably from

if you ask for it, can he bent

Harbor

A part

is laid out on a hoard

have cross grain

or on the floor,

to which

the lamination

he used for laminating

is available
quite

to laminate

will be

either

ftom Champion

sharply

and a

solid

and probsuch parts

as

deckhouse
roof corners. rockpit coaming
corners.
and the like. D is a sketch of a form
used to ,gluc up right- and left-hand
parts with twist, such as the bulwark
rails at the
bow of a boat
No matter

how the form

is constructed.

there

in all forms:

the form must

be covered

with waxed

glued

10 tlte part

I’hrrt~

being

of the lamination

thirt encrugh

to take the required

shape

have

time

in place

Wttt-tt

luml~c~

Icngtl1s

holding

I,umber

Scarphing

(‘a11

them

is nc)t ol~tainal~lt~

wood
just

IN* jcbinc*tl with gluecl

f~ant~l this way taktx
01 two sc,trf)tis.

01w

buitcling

firm

4X706,

is incleed

photograph.
ltlt~

the
I)y

magarines

such

ltlic*rs. M. 1..

that

they must
thin,

be

you will

to clamping.

lengths

shorter

with a ratio of Ic~t1gth-t(~~thickt~c~ss of 8 or

with a rig as shown

in Figure 4-h. and a similar
. scarl)t1ing
a wide ply-

Ilowevet

espec-ially

a toot caiteci

Brothers.

for the jot; at hand,

if you tta.le to set up the rig for

the “Scarffer”

Inc.,

706

slartin

to the amateur

and

profession,tl

put out by the boat -

Street,

L&1!; City.
alike.

Michigan

As shown

in the

is an attachment
for a portable
circular
saw.
it is said to cut a clean sc-arph with a single pass

has been

finding

Companv.
of the needs

I~oatlmilding
catering

f’-/:\/lf~~~tWIl.

l-hey

white oak.

has

(long

Plains.

teak.

Hart-a

and cypress,

\Vctod & Supply
ad mentions

before

there

Rome

of hr?at builders.

C.;cnuc.

as well as plywood.
Company.
mail

Tampa.

been

39 West

cnder.
Florida

10603,

was such a thing
Sitka spruce,

Another

supplier

19th Street,

In the Snutheast,
33601.

reduced

in boating
of these sup-

New York

have always had a stock of fir. mahogany.

1001 I. Harra‘s
301 North

wood

to b0irtlruilderS
and others. One

White

Avenue,

for as long as I c-an remember

is John

York

,~fl~r’(J~I(L/

258 Ferris

Co111panv.

plywood!).

red cedar.

good

of supplirrs

‘1s i2’c~JtlcQrtRf>cit,

advertising

New

of

~Cl~~t~itist~lll~~IltS

COIK~CJI~

in the Northeast

Lumber

prcrblem

IlIt*

as uutvrproof

aware

strips except

with a routet-.

-4 1;. the “Scarffer”
of good quality.

for Roatbuilding

I~ortun;1tc~lv.

Lumt:rr

prior

a lot of f)atience.

01 interest

Figure

son1cwI1;tt

York.

becoming

saw.

Sources

U’estcrn

be remembered
it from

If they are not sufficiently

llat -scarphs

Iry hand

Consc~quentlv

of Gclugecul

Llsc-ci with a saw blade
of

easily.

in long enough

tbc*cfc~\,&t~ctto cl0 t tits plaiting

(‘a11

that must

to prevent

and Plywood

IO to I Bciat-cls can be tapered
rig

paper

laminated.

is no rule for the thickness

a hard

is one thing

New
Logan

has alwhys been

II’OOD

Figure

4-5.

Huilhs
1att.r)

33

WINI wish to l)uil(t

art’ fortunatt~
c.rclar.

Wettbrn

rt4

nit-ranti.

whit~h is similar

witlrh~ and Irnghs

iI colti-molded

to havt~ a supplier
vtBrric;il grain

Douglas

to I’hili;~pine

t)y I’ht~ Dr;In

for

Lompnv.

woodcn

hull

‘In” vt’nrer
fir.

mahoganv.

vt=rtical

(mart*

;tt,out

stc)rk,

eirhtbr

grain

Silka

.I’his marcrial

Figure

4-6.
the

jiirm,
joints

by

The

grain

spruct~.

is scockrd

P.O. .Box -126. Grt*shatn.

out

this method
vertical

or red
in good

Ort-gon

Scarljfer,

97030.

put

Gougc~or~ Brothers

vs~mplifie.~
in plywood

cu/ting
sheets.

scarph

34

lI:OOL)

Prevention

of Wood Decay

The first step in the prevention
boats,

and it should

rot, Decay
present

be remembered

is caused

For the fungi

by fungi

to grow,

. The

moisture

75-90 degrees

of decay
that

certain
content

is to select

that the heartwood
feed on the cellulose

conditions
must

a,-td wood that

Wood

that

that have proven

durable

in

of a log is the most resistant

to

between

of moisture,

be on the order

F., and the air stagnant.

the lack of moisture,

woods

the cell walls of wood.

temperature,

and

of 25-30 percent,
is always

is continuously

air must

be

the temperature

dry does not rot because

wet does not rot because

of

there is no

air present.
There

will be more

cabin.

where

watet

for the fungi

to grow.

In addition

to the

against

leaks that

fungi

and

reduce

on

natural

the importance
and

marine

borers.

These

ftt~,rted, All 01 I hesc art* ~tld under
It-oni sulrlrliers.

of these

the experience

as the best,
1 hdrc

for fnotection

against

like,

being

in preventing

decay

mot-t
various

dipped

woods

and

temperature

the

precautions

can be used that

cheap,

easy

are toxic to

IO apply,

and

they

pieces.
in

a

such
container

I am

Although

naphthanate;

~rluCl;inl

then

to recommend

I have talked

portit up TBI‘C)

as the most effeclivr

dnd wood-tit~stroyitig

borers

miirilw

was copper

recently
‘I‘B’I‘O (trihutyl
tin oxide)
names bv marine paint manufacturers

of boatbuildt~rs

are easy to apply

smaller-

anal

are

c losr.lv ehdtirittt-d

‘l‘hesc~ preset-vatives
brusheci

of some
chemicals

preparations

along,anci

art* rc~aclilv dvailaltlc}),IIK-~!.

resistance

leaks in deck and

for the right

of drcav.

l~~~t~tit~~t~loro~~ht~t~~~l
c ame

Ic’ht

to avoid

just waiting

bv the builder,

vears dn old standby

many

of building

he trapped,

decay

can he taken

the chances

I;or

later

can enter

bv brushing

apand

any one

with and

photos

of

preservative

fungi.

or dipping.

as planking
butt blocks,
of the preparation.

short

the larger

parts

deck beams,

being

and the

Scantling
‘The ciimensions
itibtanct’.

a list

thickness,

keel

beams

of the hull

timbers

of scantlings
depth

and

etc. ‘l’he actual

in wooden

includes
width,

dimensions

the

stem

boatbuilding
sire

width.

may be given

and
and

are called

spacing

scantlings.

For

of frames,
planking
stringers,
deck

sizes of clamps,

as the “siding,”

generally

the smaller

dimension,

and the “molding.”
usually a vertical dimension.
As an example
of this,
referring
to Figure 12-l A, a deckbeam
would be sided I t, ” and molded 2 th “, while a
clamp would he sided 1 t*j ” and molded 4 “. The dimensions
of frames are an exception to the above.
ship dimension
the builder

because

the fore-and-aft

is the molded

quickly

becomes

size. The
adjusted

dimension
terminology

is the siding,
is peculiar

and

the athwart-

to boatbuilding.

and

to its usage.

It has been noted that quite a few designers,
apparently
tiring over the years of hand
lettering
the words “sided” and “molded’* on their drawings.
simply abbreviate
these
words

to S and

M. This could

be very confusing

to the first-tirr,er.

but now you know.

Chapter

Wood

has bt-cn tht- traditional

the- relative

ease with

upon the skill and ingenuity
somel imt-s in combination

Wood

and

When

the type of wood

covering
should

preferably

planking,

it can

of the builtlrr.
with wood,

or

hull

with

and

be of a stable

plywood.

type,

Normal

and

worms

is mt*chanically

the hull is suitable.
weight

and borers.

that can be brought
covering

in the design,
anyway.
The fabric
resin

gain
The

can

planking

from

hulls

fastened

of

depending

to be considered,

by itself

is usually
be either

and

polyester

diagonal

with

moisture

are those who do

but the covering

weight

but

or epoxy.

prevents

advantage,

is made

The

latter

the attack

for it reduces

and when it is planned

weight

of

the worries

‘l-he weight

in size to compensate

polypropylene

rot, minimizes

against

cleaning.

of the boat,

can be reduced

cloth.

planking

there

protects

out for bottom

but very fast boats the added

fiberglass

hull

or triple

shrinks

However,

adds strength,

is a great

to the overall

structures

In anything

and

to rt=commend

The

doub!e

with fiberglass,

of water,

on by delays in hauling

the wooden

is much
cloth.

to the hull.

absorption

latter

such

swells

to crack.

t hp use of covering

does not add much

of the covering.

The

so because

However,

materials

such as strip planking,

carve1

quite

and

it remains

there

or other

cause the covering

to cover old carvel-planked

thick

is suitable,

fiberglass

not hesitate

leaks

and

by the beginmar.

tht-rt* are other

construction

resin

and this might

When

for boatbuilding

be worked

Fiberglass

the wood

changes,

material

which

5

of the
for

for the weight

does not count for much
and

is more

Dyne1 are also used.
expensive

and

more

35

3G E-IHER~~l.ASSA ND O’l‘Ilk:R lI1 ‘I.I. .21.47‘k.RI:II..5
time-consuming

to use, due to slower

cure

at room

temperatures,

but its adhesion

to

wood is superior.
Covering
covering
when

is also recommended

of joints

in cabin

the joined

sanded

edges

are oitcn

tit-al cabin

and

covered

such as at the chines

made

wtth

figurr

there

who clabbles

are certain

with

prt-cautions

boats

because
ho011

that

must

tionetl

be hauled

must

years I~rlentler

bvnt ht*tic. fahric,s.

St I-WI , New Kochelle.

Molded

Fiberglass

.l‘htb shiny,

Inc.

selt*c.tion

When
stick

prcduwtl

fiberglass

anti

Epoxy resin is

the heads

of fastenings,

and smoothing

gouges

use

and can be sanded
like Cabosil

propor.

IO the

11twIs

of the home

.~nd c-poxy resins,
Kt*Vlilr.

boat’

fiberglass

and

ilIlt
glassing
IOOIS. ‘l‘llr
ot lIefender
is 255 Main

for every blemish

hulls

with glass cloth

will IJC reproducx~tl

is finished

as desired.

glass cloth

and

sometimes
vertically,

steel.

a release

is made

usualiy

and

made

from

resin and is worked

when

is applied

mat and polyesret-

If a particular

the mold

are

a female

plug 1)~ made,
just as though
you were
or l~lywood. whichever is suitable
for tht-

resin

rigid molt1 has been made.
Rather than
hold the mold’s shape, the shell is rt-inforr-ed 011
wood

the old finish

covering.

.L material

‘l’he address

hull

to split

the female
so that

mold

the female

at-y laid up successively

to a very
is made.
will not
until

a

relv entirelv
upon shell thickness
to
the
outside with a nerwork of rough

s1r011g.

withdrawn

be

for in-

Hulls

‘l’ht- plug is tlwn covered

it. I’hen

must

hull,

cover,

and

New \I’ork I OH01

commerciallv

t IIt- plug
to

ovet

has catered

WJO~.

for (.ovt-ring

‘l‘his rc-quit-es that a wooden
male
IJuiltIing iI wooctI~11
hull, using stripplanking
hull shape.

All old finish

put under

and

ot p0)vestc.t

1110Itl.

snloot II I‘iIlish.

to cover old wood,

is very fast drying

s11c.h as ~J(~lv~)ro~)vl~~rit~;lIlII

(~iltalo~ alho Itas instruc~tions

want

cracks

cloth

putty.

lntiusrries.

they c’arry a large

which

of t*l)oxy resin
of

by one layer of

resin.

weeks before

For filling

putlv.

or makts ;I mixture
produce
lhe consistency

and

olht-r

body

USC’.

to

huildt~r

,turomot~ile

added

In the case of a plywood
and

of strain

used to cover ver-

foot for IO-ounce

polyester

be used

11o1

to the builder
joints can be

Lil areas

is often

for I dood job.

be dry.

out of the water

OI old, oil IJZW fillers

For many

cloth

or later

be taken

must

they will he sot’tent~d by the resin.

attc*r

doubled

per square

and the wood allowed to dry for several
1-t-commrnded
for old wood.

(41 her il polyester

finish.

cloth.

Ten-ounce

will sooner

the boat

wood

d paint

cioth. both including

stance,

New

under

of 2.25 ounces

off the wood. and the wood

stripped,
stronglv

tops, and the like, and the

To give you an idea of the weight

cltxaned

must

cabin

leaks is a genuine
boon
than varnished.
Taped

fiberglass

boats.

a minimum

and doul~k t tlis for 20.ounce
Anyone

invisible

%O-ounce

of v-bottomed

sides of plywood.

such covering,

decks.

etc.,

to prevent
is to be painted
rather

work

to feather

Huils

for plywood

sides.

shape

is such

that

it cannot

be

on the centerline.

Some builders
decrease the time needed to build stiffness into the mold by using
sandwic h construct ion. After 1.I ” or so of fibrIglab% hd> brrn laid up against the plug,
they use a core materiai
such as end-grain
balsa, followed
by more fiberglass.
The
mold

stiffness

is thus

increased

e-reatlv

bv soreadine

the

rrlass skins

aoart.

the core

FIBERG1..-1SS.-IIV-IIOTHER Hl’1.1. M.-ITERIA LS
material

acting

flanges.
When
plug,

in much

the female

it is polished

ing up a hull.
beam

working

up the fiberglass

size, this minimizes
laying

the hull will be made

and

up and
resin

or steel,

resin.

as those laminated

The

the hull

than

is anything

downhand.

by hand

and

the
from

larger

spend

actually
The more

the job will he. This

up the laminates

the

for Iay-

can be rolled

the work mostly

makes

of fiberglass

high g!oss finish

When

the

from

in diameter

must

with roller and brush. When hulls are produced
glass fibers can br applied with specialized
spray
strong

larger

of time the builders

the less disiasieful

by laying

removed

IL is then ready

each end so the mold

the amount

you can stay out of the sticky
that

near

that separates

has been

are repaired.

disc of wood

to the mold

in the hull while

of a hull

and any blemishes

a partial

is added
laying

as the web of an I-beam

for the production

Sometimes

side to side while
dinghy

mold

and waxed

of the boat,

than

the same manner

37

presumes

applying

the resin

in large quantity.
resin and chopped
equipment,
but these hulls are not as

cloth.

on the outside

of molded

hulls or other

simiiariy

cortttructed

parts of the boat results from first spraying
a gel coat of resin on the surface of the
mold. The gel coat can be of any color desired.
and contrasting
stripes at the waterline
and

other

accent

stripes

can

After the gel coat has been
wovtw roving and choppt*d
llow

does one make

not available?
ble,

thrrc

has been

Watching

as well when

you know

what

it is all about.

applied,
the hull is laid up with fiberglass
fabrics known as
strand mat until the nectassary thickness
hrl+ been reached.

a mold

and lay up a fiberglass

others

ale htroks that
the bible

be sprayed

do these

things

are

iLfnr/rrc* Dc~.\/~I~Mnuul,

One book,

for many I years. and now there are
other
hooks on tIrt* market
writrcbn with the bt*ginnt’t. in mind.
l‘h~ laminate
(It*t;tilitlg the* c.omposit ion of rho tiberglass
hull laminate.
such
sc~hcvllll~* int;)rmation

industry

anal tvpe of glass reinforcement,

as thcb wc$$ir
lined

boat

instructions

is the best way, but if this is not possi-

spell out the techniques.

of the tiberglass

hull if detailed

in rhr Plans

own ith*as about

of the boar.
laminatc~s.

nunlbcr

.Is experience

of lavers,

is Rained.

etc.

should be out
mav develop his

the builder

is nt~eded for rht, first artcmpt at [his type of

l)ut guiclancth

bc~athuiltling.

“One-Off”

Fiberglass

It was inevitable
tiberglass
mold.

hull

that

huildt-rs

without

having

Setkmann

only devised

Hulls

Plastics,

a method

Inc.,

would

come

tn spend
P. 0.

along

the

time

Box 13704,

but also invented

and

and
and

figure
money

patented

C-Flex

The
molds
the

open-weave

construction
and sometimes

hull

“planking”

must

is fairly

stiffener!

be built

will not

fiberglass

method
upside

sag between

a female

L,ouisiana
“planking.”

a

70185,
which

not
con-

alternating
with bundles of
by a webbing
of two layers

cloth.
simple.

A hull

with longitudinal
down.

a way to build

to construct

NVW Orleans.

sists of parallel rods made of fiberglass-reinforced
polyester
continuous
roving, with each “plank” being held together
of Itghtweight,

out

The

thetn.

molds
the

form

is framed

strips

let into

must

be spaced

spacing

varying

with

the molds.
with

so that

sectional
Obviously
the C-Flex

the weight

of the

38

FIRERGL.I~SS.-INU OTIIER III’LL M.47’1:RI:Il.S

Figure

5-l.

:I roll

cl/ (:-It1 1’1
: / )r~itrg

(lwrrrg

hdti

ill plw

hy I’(.(’ ptlk\I

lurrl

dower.

.Volr*

(iT(’ cYrrc~/rlIIy

tlttrt

/rrltt(~d

tlrc

icvtltI~s

rrgr1rrr,\t

OII(’

hiti

rior4fu

wrlr’vi~

ri,rr,tll,‘,.

C-Flex. The C-FIvu.
molrts and c,c,nforms

which bends lonthe

is then cc~vrred wit)1 the specified

thickness

5-a).
to ensure

a complete
bond between
the core
in the bond will hasten delamination
of the

Interruptions
is loaded

part of the hull.

the core. some of thcb burden
reason

wit11 screws

to deflect

When

there

of the laminate

clesi,gner must carefully

use in boat Ilulls. Obviously.
a material
does not absorb water is desirable.

that

between

is a good

strength
investigate

bond

fails upon

supports
between

this will

the skins and

the core itself. For this

the available

resists crumbling

and

upon

core materials
impact

and

for
that

40

FIBERGLASS A Nil OTIIER IiULL M.-l TERIALS

Figure

5-2.

‘X‘ht, tnult’ ~101rf for on

Airex-corrd,
Note>

X6jiwt

how

clo.st*lv

pouw~‘rhoclt.
.spncd

thrb rib-

h(l trtl.5 (1 r(‘.

FOAM\ //

I
(
i
i
t
I
i
:
?
/
h
i

Figure

5-3.

FIRERCL:lSS .1h’D OTIIER HC’1.L MATERIAIS
/-OUTER

Some
iiircu

C,~n;td;r

o!‘ the most
(closed-cell
by l’clrin,

(end-gr;

partly

polyvinyl

%oley

in balsa
:ale.

St..

chloride),

Grapevine.

wood),

manufactured

Texas

manufactured

New Jersey

and

by American

7605 1.

by Baltek

Corp.,

10 Fairway

07647.

go into all the construction
details, but suffice it to say that while the hull is
down the nutside fiberglass skin should be smoothed
to the extent desired

it is still possible

construction,

the, core

C)verturning
before

cell foam,

Box 195. North

I cannot
still upside
while

cores are:

Corp. I 204 NoJ:~.

Cotttourkorr

FIBERGLASS

100 perrcnt
polyvinyl
chloride
l’oam), marketed
in the U.S.
Inc., 12.5 Sht2ridan ‘I’crracr,
Ridgewood,
New .Jrrsey 07450.

h’lrgt~c~~ll (closed
Klegrcell
Court,

popular

41

to work downhand,

If you wish more

manufacturers

supply

you with it.

procedure

because

a cored

the inner

hull

fiberglass

can

is a trying
skin is added

to the laminate

One method used by several builders of hulls
5-5. This involves the use of a holding cradle
the hull as it is overturned

and which

information
the shell

on sandwich
is quite

to complete

limber

the sandwich.

with Airex foam cores is shown in Figure
fitted to the upside-down
hull to support

the hull sits in while the construction

of the boat

is completed.
Although

the aforesaid

used for additional
be produced

before

hulls.

is a “one-off”

method

It is a matter

of economics

a female

the production
of single-skin
hull. Thr laminate
is simply

mold

is justified.

fiberglass
changed

of hull construction,
Female

to calculate
molds

that

the mold can be
how many

hulls can

have been

hulls can also be used for molding
to include
a core.

built

for

a sandwich

42

I~‘IHER(~I.:I!iS.dh’l) 07’111:R 111‘1.1. .11.-l7‘1.111:1
1.S

CARPET

STR\fS

GLA4$Ep

-R’

f=\=e-

HULL

Figure

5-5.

Steel
When

you stop to think

pensive

when

worked

to almost

about

rornl~ar~*d

it, steel is a remarkable

with

any shape

other
desired.

welding makes it a suitabltx material
fashioned
riveted construction.
One
rosion

by sea water.

protect

steel

advantage

Fortunately.

against

corrosion,

of steel construction

metals,

hut

material.

with

‘I’he relative

ease

Steel is not a material

the coatings
aluminum

for the average

1 can remember

must

the hull plating,

and both builders

the hulls

would

about

very inrxit can

pieces

be

by electric

coatings

maintained.

as well) is that inner

to
An
bot-

the hull for one side, enabling

by any means.

auxiliary

improved

be tcrnstantly

construction

beginner

two good-sized

who had not built a boat before. However,
the necessary equipment.
The worst fault
did it again

equipment,

of joining

have brought

tom integral
fuc*l and water tanks ran be built in, using
larger capacities
to be carried than in wooden hulls.
for too long

it is strong,

proper

for small craft with a saving in weight over olddisadvantage
of steel is its low resistanre
to cor-

the years
(and

and

sailboats

but without

reflecting

of steel built

by people

they did have metalworking
experience
and
of these boats was the humps and hollows in

said that

they had gained

experience

so that if they

not be so rough.

Rough plating
of steel hulls is often disguised
by skillful application
of trowel cement, probably
because it is cheaper
to do this than to expend the labor needed to
smooth

the plating

by heating

and

quenching.

The

roughness

of the plating

is caused

l~~lHt:K~~I..-l.sS
.l.VI) 1)771t~;KII1 ‘1.1. .ll:I 7‘l~:HI:~l.S -IS
by stresses ser up when
sequence

of welding

Even though
of higtler

so that

A few of the many

yacht

aluminum

for- boalhuilding.

huildrrs.

In general
.i‘his permits

crew

terms.

can

of achieving

long;

Iht* fitt’r (haI

technicians

be built

lighter

have invented
today

rhan

new alloys

ever before.

notably
alloy 5086 in rhe United States. are
alloys are relatively high in strcngl h and corrosion

welded.

transports

and

A fair amount

platform

alloys of aluminum
speed

of rhis meral

of more

operators

weight

or an increase
Besides

are using

large fleet of

over rhar of steel.

in speed.

ils light

weight.

aluminum

or the possi-

aluminum

cannot

lasts

but speak

well

Iongeviry.

huitttt7h

of pleasure

t~1a~5 in atltlition

boats

either

1~-;111svi‘rst~or tongil utlinal
Atulliinulil

Ijuilti

only in dluminum

IO Ihost- 01 otht-1 nlart-ria1.s.

and runabouts
of aluminum
are made
I)rotluct- 2 large part or ;1n enrirt- hdlf
Lramiiig

t~c~nstrut~tion

Small

bv stretch-ft.rming
p&t*

0~1

of

is used

sheets
of

01it-

~TWial.

ant1 c.ovt*red wirh

is nio~t- t,sl)t*nsivt-

than

or have a line of

craft

5ut.h as dinghies

over malts molds I0
Orht-rwise.
regular
i1S in

plaling

sleel COII-

steel t~~ns~~ut~~ion. for no1

onlv tlot~s IlIt* atunlinunl
ilst4t CXN more pt.r INNI~~I than ~~t.t~l, rl~e ,tt.(u;tl welding
I’O~I~ IIIOII-. ‘i‘his mortb than m,lkt-s up for the fact rhar rhe wt+.$lt of aluminum
volved

by

vessels.

construt.tion

deadweight

is consumed

the increasingly

supply

reduce

with less horsepower.

commercial

for irs anlicif)a’t-d

~rrircrio~i.

The

alloys,
These

the carrying

bililv

;rluniinuni

and one plate 10 another.

but bv far rhe most of it is used IO build

oil field

Several

research

steel hulls

and can be satisfactorilv

oftshore

to the frames

in this respect.

Alloys

satisfacror-y
resistance

the plating

steel is an old material,

strength

Aluminum

welding

is of importance

in a particular

project

will always

be less than

the weight

also
in-

of the steel required.

Manv builders
of steel boars have converted
10 aluminum
construction
with little
need to change cquipmenr
rsce11~ for welding,
but like steel. it is not a nlaterial
for the
bt*ginnt~r. 011~ very imptlfi~~rtn~ problem
area encc,un~rrtd
with aluminum
construction
is galvanit
found
when
be

t,c)rl.osion.

in sut.11 fitrings
the aluminum

and specitit.ations
of the aluminum

hetwern

as sea cocks,
hull is exposed

and

~~JtY’tWltVi.

‘I‘his oct’urs

the aluminum

prt)pt-llers,

shafts,

to stray electrical

hull
rutitlcrs,

currcrfts

the methods

for doing

for the boat.

If you lack this information,

manufacturers

can

so are preferably

be consulred

and

dissimilar

metals

etc..

anti also occurs
in anchorages.
This can

all spt~lleti OUI in the plans
the marine

departments

for help.

Welding ant1 the preparation
of the finished surface are also areas that require care.
Welding
aluminum
is quite different
than welding steel. It is imperative
that weld
areas

be absolutely

tion about welding.
comes IO painting
coating

aluminum

hull rakes
aluminum
should

clean

if good welds are to be made.

If you are in need of informa-

the aluminum
manufacturers
can provide
assistance.
When it
the surface,
rhe marine
paint makers
have special systems for
and instructions
for cleaning
it before coating.
The highest quality

a lot of labor:
a really smooth
yacht finish on the topsiJes of a welded
yacht hull requires
fairing of the surface with fairing
compounds.
which

stay in place

for quite

a while.

J-1 t~‘Il~t*~t~(~I.‘-Iss
.-I,YI) C)7/lt-X III .1.1. N.-t 7‘1:K1.41..~
Ferrocement
Every now and
ment.

then

Essentially.

terlaced

with

embedded
taken

there

wirr,

with

struction

1967-68

tion of ferrocement

turning

to be any mention

earlier

enthusiasts

Exotic

Hull

construction,

lower

weights

this

art’s

is bound

liglttw4ght

fishing

timc*s stronger

magazine

and

there

at all, an indication

of matt+als

than

and

wood

to continup.

and

five times

F2sotic, materials
as compared

that

were a number
A decade

the method

recently

wltirh

of designers

later there

does

is not as easy as the

havca also found

their

plywood

as a bulkhead

made

such exotic

c.onsidrration.

there

I~latt~riiIlS rquirc-

has

wood

been

made

are other

factors

staving

and

are
made

in strength

or decorative

surpassed

panels.

by at least

two other

of both these materials
come with
aircraft.
One type of core is end-

of a DuPont

to consider.

techniques

glass fabrics
Kevlar fabric,
material.

step forward

material

matet ials can work out well, esperially

spccializrd

strengths

Years ago, the in:roduc-

was a giant

of vertical

material

boatbuilding

tllan is steel.
high.strrngth

way into bulkheads.

bulkheads

grain balsa and the other is a honeycomb
which is used in helicopter
bladrs.
Although

that have higher

plastic, and development
in
form, has been used in super-

the standard

i.. stiffer for its weight
is another
lightwri
SCREW

F 1

LAG
OVAL

FLAT HEAD SClBti
AUP

cent

of the diameter

HEAP
SCREd

PLAWX

Figure

at the root of the screw

threads

The lead hole drill sizes in the table
the threaded

frame,

Id

FVAME
at= MOC’ERhJ
PROFbR-rIO~S

softwoods.
because

SCIZEW

part

of a screw

but it is best to check

wood to be used.

used

the table

Most builders

in hardwoods

are a guide

70 percent

for hardwood,

for fastening

sizes by driving

and

planking

in

such as oak,

is sunk

a few screws

6-3.

into

in samples

use just one drill for screws in mahogany

the

of the

or white cedar

planking
and oak frames and rhib is satisfactory
if the plank does not split in way of
the unthreaded
screw shank. If splitting does occur, you should drill through the plank
with a body drill that is slightly under the actual screw diameter.
The sizes for these
are also shown in Figure 6-2. It is recommended
that either laundry
soap or beeswax
be rubbed

in the threads

a lubricant

and

rt-duces

In thr best yacht
and plugged
of screws
putty

the driving

practice

(Figure

in thinner

over to make

of screws, especially

planks

are set slightly
invisible

was used for this purpose,

one of the many

polyester

pliers

sell plugs

of mahogany,

press

and

your

The

depth

thickness.
recommended

for wood

with

the grain

parallel

mer.

If hit too hard,

the surface.

material

hull.

with

is better.

or you can

while the heads
the heads

For many

like Duratite

compounds

or oak,

scraps
for the

are dipped

below

but modern
teak,

own from

This acts as

and over are counterbored

wood as the planking,

on the finished

auto body putty

of counter-bore

The plugs

into hardwood.

the screw holes in 5/H”planking

6-3) with plugs of the same

the fasicnings

make

when driving

labor.

buy

“Wood

Marine
a plug

puttied

years white

lead

Dough”

hardware
cutter

or
sup-

for a drill

of wood.
plugs

in thick

should

paint,

that

is to have a natural

to that

of the planking,

the plug may be crushed

be about

waterproof
finish),

one-third

glue.

of the plank

or varnish

(the latter

set in the counterbored

and lightly

tapped

and it may swell later,

home

holes

with a ham-

possibly

breaking

51

F:l S7‘I*:l~VIN(;.s

Figure

the paint
harden.

film or at least
then

cut

6-4

presenting

the plugs

flush

an unsightly
with

flush off the plug with one cut of the chisel.

the lend hole.

l‘hesr

l‘htw

lrv the c~outttcrsink

be done

can

arc patented

for the screw

and

the bond

a sharp

a day or so to

chisel.

Do not try to

take light cuts to determine
of the plank

run of
and

have

for the plug with a bit and then boring
with separate

countersinks

head

Give

below the surface

by counterboring

operations

hint- lht~ opt7ations.

with

Rather,

the grain: then you will not chip off the plug
to start all ovt’r again.
Holes tot- screws are started

look.

the surface

bits or with bits that com-

that

patented

drill

the lead hole followed

ccmnterbores

that

drill

the lead

followed by the hole for the plug. (See Figure 6-3.) ‘I’he latter is used most tm-ause
unnt’twwry
to c.ountcrsink
for a flat-head
screw that is to have a plug over it.
Plugs

can

ticularlv
either

sorncrimcs

near

the strakrs’

hy carefully

reducing

become
ends.

staggering

the gauge

crowded
where

where

the plank

the holes

of the screw just

planking
wid:h

if the width

enough

strakes

is least.

are narrow,

par-

This can be overcome

of the frame

to use a plug

it is

will permit

it or by

of the next smaller

size.

Hardware
stores stock several types of wood screw pilot bits made for use in $!t 0 electric hand drills and made for screws up to about 2” Number
12. The two shown in
Figure

6-4 are suitable

for drilling

first a lead hole for the threaded
In most cases

with a countersink.

wootl~ so the lrit shown
For

years

IIMII~

ample,

W.L.

Fuller,

of which

are only used

panels

that

other

Inc.,

with finishing

located

washers

should

screws,

a hole for the shank,

be driven

below

Street,

Warwick,

7 Cypress

drilling
finishing

the surface
Rhode

of the
Island

round-head

screws are used in boats,

but,

for securing

rigging

masts,

fastening

a tang is made

will not permit

in light joinerwork

are removed
items

for flat-head

then

countersinks,
counterbores.
plug cutters,
and taper-point
industry.
Ordinarily
these items are difficult to find locally.

they are the logical

screws
and

the screw

arc only a few places where

the thin metal

countersinking

of the screw,

on the left is best.

02HHH. has been supplying
drills to the hoarbuilding
l‘hcre

and

part

from
behind
so that

time

where

to time

joinerwork.
the screw

tangs

fastenings

for access

to wooden

a countersunk
must

holes do not become

since

Oval-head

show and for securing

to such

In these places

hole.

for ex-

things

oval-head

as steering

gear

screws are used

too worn from

repeated

use.
Stainless

steel screws labelled

18-8 have become

easily available

in the standard

con-

ia
t~‘.-lS7‘F.~I.v~;S

figurations

of flat,

sold for less than

silicon

ing joinerwork,
experience

round,

and oval head
bronze

with them.

Stainless

are basically

sheet-metal

are threaded

for the entire

for bearing

Lag

therefore

they should

to use them
but can

length

that

type screws

until

for fasten-

1 have greater

are also easy to find.

be used in fiberglass

of the shank,

these will be

be considered

below the waterline

steel “tapping”

fasteners

It is possible

parts.

These

Normally

so they are best in tension

they

rather

than

loads.

Screws

I.ag screws,
can

screws;

but I am reluctant

wood screws.

5.5

sometimes

be turned

threads

callecl lag bolts.

in with

in the wood

a wrench.

until

lags are only used where
diarnt~tcr
in

Hanger

the holding

should

~galvariiztd

brass.

of the screw

for the length
and

wood

that
the

lost, therefore

A hole of the same

of the unthreaded

as for a regular

silicon

is gradually

or practical.

head

can wear

of a lag screw

are not possible

be sized the same
it-on,

tightening

power

through-bolts

as the lag screw is bored

for the thread
nlatlt*

are large wood screws with a square

Periodic

shank
screw.

and the hole

Lag screws

are

bronze.

Rolts

‘I’hese are ldg screws
‘I‘hev art‘ used

having

principally

the upper

or head

for fastening

propeller

end of the shank
shaft

stuffing

threatled

for a nut.

boxes and stern

bear.

ings and for holding
tlown engines to beds. Bv bat king off the hanger holt nut, these
fat- repair or rt~plactmenr
without
disturbing
the screw in the
parts mav ire rtmoved
wood.

IIanger

lrolts are turned

the end of the threads
ma&

of brass

Copper

Wire

Copper

nails

used

almost

planking
both

anti silicon

either

to a nut run down

on the threads.

They

are made

in the form

exclusively

as rivets

the planking

and

of common

for fastening

in lapstrake

frames

are light

wire
frames

construction,
in size. The

nails

with flat heads.

to floors,
and

stringers

planking

hole for the nail shouid

are

to frames,
where

be drilled

without it being so small that the parts split or the nail bends while
Drive the nail all the way in to draw the parts together;
then the

be backed

up against

They

to frames

up with an iron

while

a copper

burr

is driven

over the point

the nail. A burr is simply a washer and it is important
that it be a driving
,iail or else it will dance all over the place when the rivet is being formed.
driven

to

are usually

bronrc*.

laps to one another

must

applied

lot krd together

Nails

as small as possible
it is being dt-iven.
head

in witlt a wrench

or to two nuts

the wood with a set. which

is nothing

but a length

of

fit over the
The burr is

of steel rod with a

hole in the end slightly larger than the diameter
of the nail. With nippers, cut off the
point of the nail so that a length equal to one to one and a half times the diameter
of
the nail is left for riveting.
the riveting

with many

Again

with the head of the nail backed

up with the iron,

light blows with the peen end of a machinist’s

hammer.

do

Heavy

‘I,
56

E;4S7XNINC5

1 r\lO@-FERFZous

bi ,4 IL ~IZTE~

. roq”
. 134”

Figure

blows will bend
resulting
together.

6-5.

the nail inside

in a weak,

200

the wood.

loose fastening.

A bent

Light

blows

rivet

tends

form

to straighten

the head

and

under
draw

stress,

the wood

Copper rivets are excellent
for fastening
planking
when

for light work but are rather soft. Screws should be used
the size of the frame will permit them to be completely

sunk.

Nails

than

Wood

Screws.

are

also thinner
See Figure

screws

for the same

6-5 for sizes of copper

wire

job,
nails.

a point

discussed

under

u
Al

MOhlEL
ANCHORFAST
NAIL

tztf2zY
‘?.I0
Poltrr
-2

&HIsEL
POINT
GAL’s! BOAT NAIL

Galvanized

Boat

As mentioned
prcred
shank

rhcm.

and cithrr

pointed

rhesc

Thr

are clinched

nail

is driven

against

with

clinch

without

used

in heavier

are cheap

nails

a blunt

nails are driven

and

PItiT

Fi.gure 6-6.

BOA-I- hIAlL

Nails

before,

from

BLUNT

GAL\/

or a chisel
the frame

frames

and

and

across

the nail
are buried

In frames
project

the grain.

A nail

of acceptable

for plugs,

with a nail set and an attempt

the coating

Threaded

the heads

1 t/i R thick,

splitting

within

of either

the

frame.

the frame,
quality

a set shaped

to fit over the entire

new type of fastening

for a boat

is a nail with a unique

the
will

nails

Whether

are

or not

be driven

be made

of zinc by using

chisel-

the frames

Blunt-pointed

type nail must
must

be ex-

rectangular

‘/j H to :!i” through

or the zinc coating.
entirely

life can

head,

To prevent

the surface
ting

too much
button

up to about

about

the holes are countcrbored
of the planking

not

a peculiar

with the grain.

edge

either

have

point.

so that the points

the chisel

cracking

fastenings

are forged,

below

to prevent

cut-

head of the natl.

Nails

A relatively

the nail is driven,

the grooves

wedges

the shank

that grip

on the shank

shape

to resist withdrawal.

the wood fibers
(See Figure

annular

thread.

into countless

6-6.)

It is claimed

takes 65 percent more force to pull this threaded
nail than an unclinched
boat nail, 31 percent more than a clinched
boat nail, and 3 percent more

AS

minute
that

it

galvanized
than a wood

screw. As these nails are avail ble in non-ferrous
material,
the objection
to nails
because of corrosion
has been overcome.
Some boatbuilders
have used these nails for
their
one

planking,
quarter.

and figures

show that some yards

have reduced

their

planking

labor

by

58

I;,4 SI‘ENINGS

Figure

6-i’.

There
abroad.
rolled

are quite
Tests

a few kinds

have shown

on the nail

Massachusetts

tional

Co. and

Nickel
nails

can

is used only

when

be identified

is not used

it is recommended

The

Monel

to bending

nails

when

Anchorfast

name

that

are stiffer

materials
second
than

form
nails,

Anchorfast

the threaded

by an anchor

nails of other

on the market,

of the thread

make
The

also makes

bronze.

that

02324.

drpendent

tant

nails

the importance

by the people

Bridgewater.
chorfast

of threzded

and

some made

one of the best is

Independent
is owned

nails

stamped

including

are made

on the head

be limited

the silicon

bronze,

to those
making

Inc.,

Interna-

of Monel.

An-

of the nail.

In-

and calls them Stronghold,
choice

Nail

by the

but if Monel
made

them

of silicon
more

resis-

driven.

For fastening
planking,
nails should
be the same diameter
as the screws they
replace,
or else more of them should be used. Pilot holes a!. recommended
by the
manufacturer
should be drilled for all but the smallest sizes. The pilot hole size recommended
is 50-70 percent of the nail diameter,
depending
upon the hardness
of the
wood, and about 80 percent
of the nail length.

FASTENINGS

F&we

In Figure
nails

usually

59

6-8.

6-5 are shown
found

the sizes of Monel

in the stocks of distributors.

nail and screw gauges as a guide
Figure 6-8 nail sizes for various
sizes, of course.
case.

must

Anchorfast
Figure

for those wishing
types of planking

be used with discretion,

and Stronghold
S-7 is a comparison

silicon

of standard

to substitute
nails for screws,
and decking
are tabulated.

as they do not necessarily

bronze

apply

and in
These
to every

60

FA .STEKIh'(;S

Figure
Unusual
Otller

Nail

than

6-9.

Fasteners

the copper

wire nails

othtxr copper

nails

unusual

is rlie squart-cuI

nails

that

struction
for fastening
ing the laps of clinker
the layers

have

of double

nails

are used only

iron

held

the point

work

to know
liails

ltw

against

planking

where

of rhe nail

fasreners

ing and

with softwoocl

iron

are two

can

Iw

used

in light con-

nail

frames.

some builders
and

are glued

rogether

When

the iron

the

a heavy

is held propIt takes team-

is flush wirh the wood.

will be driven.

and

ttr-ive the nails against

by a helper.

90 degrees

is more

is turned

without

rcliahlr

franles

but once the routine

is established,

forming

is held against

head

is flush

much

longer

ing fastened

a clcnc-hrd

the length
together.

This

When

the man
all takes

of the trail should
Figure

when

clout

nails

are used

but

as

plank-

used with hardwoods,

whrn

a

nail.

the point

a hook.

the hook and

with the wood.

rhe wood

a snug hole as described

through,

it into

into

‘l‘his works all right in the laps of softwood

like those of canoes.

first drill

AS rhe nail is driven
and

back

adhesives.

than

For clench-nailing,
the point

‘l‘hcst*

of planking

of the planking
turns

the next

primary

nails.

there

art’ c~lf:;ichetl at a fast rate.

‘l‘he point

rivet

nail.

between

the layers

a good bond.

[he inside

of the nail

“clour”

t-arlier.

‘l‘he most common of thcsc

lo thin, flat frames such as seen in canoes, for fastenup to about 1, ” in thit.kness. and for “quilt” fastening

where

ensure

as mentioned

in boatbui!cting.

coppt.1

di.tgonal
ICI

ust (1 ds rivers.

a pIact

planking
planking

In the case of the latter.

erly,

CIt~rr~~Irirrg 11 c t~f)/o~r clr~trt IIC,II

is turned
th-

be compared

6-Y shows the elements

is about

completes

practice

for riveting

over by holding

point

outside

earlier

and some trials

the wood the

the nail until
to determine

to rhe thickness
of the clenching

wire

arl iron against

to enter

driving

copper

the
how

of the parts beprocess

and the

F,4 .S7‘f-;/YlNGS

3/4%
(by
I

‘/4” -KJ 3v
(by

Figure

nail

available

lengths

s-k?xr2”
LorcrG
2,2-4,
llq”)
Lot-lb

3

“roves”

power

C‘UI copper

of a square

‘I‘remonl

which

have

ml* thick

hh

+icK

\hi;trk Ooml rrtlr%S

\i/tiilrt

Nail

Co..

Massat~husc~~~s 0257 1 antI 1)uck ~l‘rap Woodworking.
colnvillt~. Maim- 04X49.
‘I’rtmonr is also a tiistril)utor
for ~rirditi0Ilal
square
sllaf>t* and tlishetl

2.7

‘I49

C-10. 7‘rtrfilt~orrfrl

from

+

61

the same

nail is a great

21
Kl;I)
boat

Wareham,
Road.
LinI
head

nails with a distinctive

funcrion

deal more

Elm
Street.
::P, Cannan

as our “burrs.”
than

a round

The

holding

wirr nail,

but the

traditional
use of square nails i\ as rivets. As with copper wire nail rivets. a snug hole
should be drilled and ht~ading should he done with light blows of the peen hammer.
for when the dished side is toward the wood, ir serves 10 ten‘I’he di:hetl rove is unique.
sion 111~rivt.1. ‘l’hc heads
planking.

~hrrefore

Miscellaneous

1 1 ” in diametrr.

tap drills.

t-tc.; then,

are made with flat.
and stainless sterl.
Staples,
pieces

for many
pensive

applied

of wood
other

in Figure
must

6- 10 should

be suitably

hc countt~rsunk

into the

shaped.

tyl)es ot fasrencrs

made of prol)t-r
as through-fastt,ners

i1IY

through

iron

Fasteners

Thert~ are ‘1 few other
I hey
useful

of nails shown

111~ hutking

that have some uses in hoat construction
when
materials.
Machine
screws are bolts and are
non-corrosive
for light work. Usual sizes arr from Numbt-r 6 (a fat 5/n”) up

Figure

6- 11 is a rahle showing

will he times
round,

with hand,

when

1aminatir.g.

such jobs.

steel, otherwise

when

vou will find

and oval heads.
elecrri,.

bronze

or Monel

this very handy.

and in brass.

or air-operated

positioning

If the staples

hole sizes for clearance

fiberglass

chrome-plated
guns,

brass,

screws
bronze,

woven materials,

later.

musl

ultimate

The

Machine

can he used IO hold thin

or other

are to be removed
be used.

and for

and

they can he of inexstaple

that

I have

62

F/l S-I’ENINGS

BODY

$ -I-A9

DRILL-5

MACHINE

tb.

sCfEb&T

r&i

6

4

72

.ry3

@oLTS

TAf
DlzlLL

-M?EAD~
pf3z INCH

DIAM.

SIZE

@R USa ~TYWDARP

b40. 30

“‘ZEt-

do- 20

32

t&u2

1 .a6

250

‘14”

%3”
II211

I &I. i3 I
F

2

2(/64”

0 u ’ yzff

QR ‘3/g,”
5/1df 23/64’

16
13

.500

do-

7

Jo.

10

-375

G-1 1.

seen is a rather
with

32
20

.3125

5hkl if

Figure

1

an air

staples

have

the edges

long Monel

gun.

been

and

wire staple

with coated

ttlc’ staple head will sink below
used to fasten plywood decking

many

otht1-r similar

plywood

legs that

defy withdrawal.

Driven

the surface of fir plywood.
These
that is glued to beams and around

parts.

Stapling
is the fastest method
of
securing
parts and is quite satisfactory
when used in conjunction
with an adhesive.
For many years rivc.ting remained
a method of fastening
used only by professional

UNLX!L? HEY PtJD
D UNDiS
AU

MACHINE

BOLT

(HEY!

HEAd

MACHIClE

l3OL-r

(FLAT

HtAC’)

CLINCH

04?

5)QUARE

HANr3EE

IdeAD

-LT

WAE.Uf3-E

Figure 6-12.
111011Iv usd
huilrting.

Bolts
in

corn-6ouI

-

F.4SI‘E:NINGS 63

Figure 6-13. ‘l‘ht~ fmrut~ o/ II /into nusiliu,y
Iiorltd iI1 Ilrts tvxt.
metalworking

shops.

now be done by
opc.rated riveters.
serted

but due to the invention

back-up.
holding

together

rivets.

minor

riveting

Most hardware
stores carry these
amatfaur.
.I’his kind of fastening
is a one-man
job, because
hole

and

srcur-cd

f’op rivets arc- estensivcly
application

of “pop”

rivets

thfh

unto ;I drilletl

typical

yclt~ht, illu.,trctlirg /At*u.w.~o/ bolts mt’n-

hull.

the samt

employed

is in securing
the deck,

from

and

rub rail.

extrusion
and the rivets
are of a 4milar
water, and generally
for fastening
thin

allov.
parts,

and

hand-

pop rivets are in-

side without

in production

a molded

jobs can

tht- need

fiberglass

for any

boatbuilding.

d~~ck tha:

fi:s ratures

compound

is IJnipoxy

epoxy

down
glue.

to use

There

are

to prevent

have several

of resin-to-hardener

to

it does not run

On the other hand, there
for use as is. Arcon E- 152 and Arcon

or diagonally

is a 1: 1 ratio

and

it does

to tell you about.

for strip

epoxy

with

to thicken

that are thick enough

Tech

strong,
if used thick

to ensure

the makers

thev will he glad

spreadable
T-88

be used

For instance.

available

is extremely

it is gap-filling

it

such adare other
E-154 are

use. Chem

that could
to 35°F.

not be
Another

~‘:I.ST~:.‘L’I.L;(;S

Caution

to Epoxy

Users

So much

is written

about

principaily

as an adhesive,
must
hardeners,

especically

and breathing
manufacturers’
I have

and

the material

it would

be remiss

be used with caution.

is so valuable
not

Avoid

to warn

contact

to boatbuilders,
that

epoxy

resins,

with unprotected

skin

who were unhappy,

so beware!

for Adhesives

Most general

and marine

Waterproof

Glue

type plastic

laminatts

quarts

resins

that

the fumes released by epoxies as they cure. These words are to reinforce
directions
that are often taken lightly. I have never had a problem,
but

seen others

Sources

epoxy

65

hardware

stores

as well as the various

are handled

carry

brands

to wood and metal.
by Harbor

Sales

Co.,

Elmer’s

Plastic

of contact

The

Resin

cement

Elmer’s

glues

1401 Russell

Glue and Elmer’s

for sticking

in quantities

Street,

Formicalarger

Baltimore.

than

Maryland

21230.
Acrolire

is a (:iba-Geigy

Specialty

CI,.,

P.0.

(‘astern

L1.S.

from

product

Box 424.

distributrci

Fullerton,

Woodcraft

Supply

in the> lJ.S.

California

by Aircraft

92632.

Corp..

313

and

Montvalr

Spruce

is available
Ave.,

and
in the

Woburn,

Massac~huscc IS 0 I HOI
Following
mm1

arc* the* names

anti

addrf~ssrs

of thy

firms

produ(.ing

the

epoxies

Industrial

Park.

iont~tl:

Arcon I+ I52 and Arcon E-15-1. Allied
East W~~ymouth.
M;tssachust*tts
02 189.
(:he~rn-Tech

‘1’-H8, Chem-Tech

Inc.,

Resin
Nj9

Corp.,
I~ancl~r

Wcymouth
Road,

Chagrin

Falls,

Ohio

44U22.
Wrsr
Michigan

I05

fyxy

Ilnipoxv
33561,

atlhcsivc,

Chugwn

Brothers.

Inc..

706

Martin

900 Fourth

Street,

Strecr.

Bay

City,

-18706.
’

glue.

Kristal

Kraft,

Inc..

Palmetto,

Florida

Chapter

7

‘1‘0 properly

build

must

be (11awn

countless

“how

a boat

from

full sire.
IO build”

l)lans,

‘l’his fact
articles.

sional

boatbuilders.

but otIlcrs

has been
but

pit-tic)11 of a boat that instructions
drscription
of thr work involved.
once the
paratively

the hull lines

and

repeated

the job

to thr

point

is so important

of monotony

IO the successful

find

it IO be fascinating

work.

Either

way, it is true that

be assured that the combuilding
is time well spent

and will never be rqretted.
The full-size drawings
from which molds
are made are especially valuable
when more than one boat is to be built
plans,

or for the construction

OIW must
“laitl

ctown”

shipyard
loft,

lofting.
trussed.

trace

thr history

down,”

floor was painted

of the floor there
served
Hull
The

to discover

floor-. ‘I’ht- full-si?tof a floor above

wt‘rc taken

where

the hull must

drawing

conform

board.

the work,

flat white

or light gray,
fixed batten

sometimes
having

so to speak,

in a

hence

the terms

“mold-

thr mold loft was preferably
and there were windows

to provide
maximum
light. The wooden
sacred so somt~ vards prohibited
the wraring

was a permanently

hull lines are

of some sort, thus it was a

drawings,

off.” ‘I‘hr roof above
to obstruct

why tht- full-size

a workshop

off the full-size

and “taking

so t herr were no columnss

sides and o\~tAratl
smooth. sufficiently
The

of shipbuilding

always consisted

or templates

” “laying

class boat

and templates
from the same

tolerances.

on the ” trrold loft”

almost

Molds

of a one-design

close dimensional

in
com-

in boatbuilding
would br incomplete
without
a
Thp job is distasteful
to some, even among profes.

plans are on hand one becomes
impatient,
but
few hours used to properly
prepare for the actual

to reasonably

plan

part of the construction

floor

was

of hard-soled

dull black,
an absolute

on all

level

and

shoes.

and on one edge
straight

edge that

as a baseline.
Lines

work of enlarging

the plans

from

the scale of the blueprints

to full size is termed

I.lh’ES

mold

lofting,

for it is from

hull and various
lines

that

Figure

reading

sections

as seen

the waterline

the deck line,

from

from.

He also needs
that

for the shape

interesting,

and

characterize
the profile

from

a hull.
(the

and

are obvious,

the shape of the boat
between

conveniently

buttocks.

establish

around

hulls

are the sheerline

of the bottom

for the builder
the three

the architect

and

ends
and

points

Altholtgh

to construct

lines.

simply

or

is viewed),

of the hull as seen from above.

between

these lines,

from

with the first three

These

outline

to aid the

because

prowling

most of you are familiar

of the

the different

be understood,

of the lines

they are not sufficient

are important,

the hull shape

waterlines,

really

the side,

the job more

magazines

in boatyards

are made

should

Some

a gull’s eye view of the outline

lines

on planes

plan

prepared.

that

molds

as seen from the side at the same time the sheerline

these
define

that

to make

lines

of yachting

or stored

by the designer

of deck

above

Of course,

7-1 has been

construction

lines drawn

drawings

the architect’s

the desibm

under

parts.

constitute

beginner

edge

other

these

67

:IND L-I k.I.VIi 110 Wh’

To provide

a hull
points

to

cuts the hull into pieces

for dimensions.

These

planes

are called

and diagonals.

If a hull could be lifted straight up out of the water without the resulting hole filling
in with water, the shape of the edge of the hole would be the same as the shape of the
boat at the surface

of the water.

it is one of the most important
architect

then

convenient
want

divides

spaces,

load waterline.

the depth

Then

are vertical

and

conveniently

centerline.

Finally,

the

diagonals,

because

they

points

having

it has been
points

outlines

or shapes
and

established
the many
shape

above

of the hull,

CI(‘~OSSthe hull have been
formed

by vertical

diagonal

fore-and-aft

wherever

a section

points

of the hull

of intersection

these

actually
drawn

planes

lines

no usable
planes

sections.

for the builder

called
planes.

dimensioned
of the hull,

and

for the purpose
are established

the fore-and-aft

intersecting

to the

are

vertical

signifirant

points

for the
to the

side of thr

these

and

the length

to intersect

are called

and

are drawn

one of the fore-and-aft

it is possible

as the architect

drawn

as many

the
into

parallel

to each

horizontal

lines running

that

located

outboard

are

and

subdivision

the load waterline

buttocks,

to provide

transverse

intersects

beiow

evenly
to the

lines are fore-and-aft
mentioned

the load waterline

For further

horizontal
planes which,
because
they are parallel

planes

diagonal

are located
as is possible.

on the surface

planes

dnd

called

spaced

of inclined

are drawn

for the boatbuilder

vertical
tical,

edges

planes

like the others,

All of the aforesaid
although

of the huil above

there

of the boat

‘l‘hese planes,

this line is called

by the designer.

and draws the edges of additional
better, are also called waterlines

of something

centerline

On the boat,
lines drawn

of
until

lines.

The

the horizontal,

A point
lines,

on the

verhull

and by means

to make molds

is
of

for the exact

has it designed.

Sections may be compared
to slices of bread. Just as is the case with the sections on a
shapely boat, the slices through
an old-fashioned
rye loaf are all different,
for the
.
.
shape is ever-changing
from end to end. A vessel’s shapr. :hen, LQIl
c-- be transm:tted
:nto
three-dimensional
form by making full-size templates
of the sections. When these are
set up at each section’s respective station the same as called for in the lines drawing,
vessel’s shape in skeletal form has been established.
The vessel’s shape is represented
this manner

just

as a loaf of bread

would

keeping the spacing
of the remaining
slices
Figure 7-1 has been included
to pictorially

be if every

other

the same.
show waterline.

slice was removed,
buttock,

diagonal,

a
in

while
and

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69

LINES AND L.-IYING DOWN
sectional

planes

the various
body

plan

diagonal,

a solid block

The shapes

it may

be seen

or waterline

Figure
necessary

are

shown

dimensions

these lines,

any specific
dicated,

how

a point

all the

lines

Note

that

spacing

board,

lines.

Because

tion,

that

and

a table

of the nature

is, on the body

Sometimes

of diagonals,

in Figure

7-1, and

foregoing

together

with

their

the

to build

a boat

have

worked

out for

and

not been

buttocks,

dimensions

For laying

a buttock,

plane.

do not attempt

of waterlines,

of dimensions

on

and on the

hull shown

in the

of the stem,

areas,

wherever

sectional

(Incidentally,

for illustration

as well as offsets for the profile

the stern

is created

for the same

mentioned

were sawn into pieces

by the shaded

on the hull

them.

as they are purely

of a hull

are shown

by an athwartship

lines drawing

to reproduce

purpose.)

half model

of the planes

is intersected

7-2 is the architect’s

on this plan
from

as though

planes.

and stations

are in-

for the profile

angle

out all the fore-and-aft

location

of

curved

can only be indicated

in sec-

plan.

it is possible

to define

the shape

of a hull

without

the use of diagonals,

such as in Figure l-7. In the case of a really simple hull with straight-line
sections (see
Figure 7-3), the sheer, deck line, chine, and/or
profile provide a sufficient
number
of
points
lines,

from

which

buttocks.

to make

and

the frames

diagonals,

or molds.

This

as will be explained

eliminates

a little

the need

further

ior water-

on.

Abbreviations
Before

we go any

reader

it should

furtlirr,

hulls have abbreviations

for words

to be familiar

bc pointed

out that

sets of lines

plans

for

and it is a help for the

with them.

Centerline

C.L.

Waterline

W.L.

Buttock
Diagonal

Butt. or butt’k
Diag.

Baseline

B.L.

Station
Frame

Sta.

Deck

Dk.

Fr.

Length

over all

Length

of load

L.O.A.
L.W.L.

waterline

Section

Sect.

Displacement

Displ.
fl

Pounds
Longitudinal
Center

many

used thus far in this chapter,

center

C.B.

of buoyancy

or L.C.B.

C.G.

of gravity

Offsets
An offset is simply
straight

another

line of reference

in the case of the plan

name

for a dimension,

such as a baseline
view of the lines.

and

they are always

for the elevation
Dimensions

drawing

are tabulated

taken

from

or the centerline
because

it is obvi-

a

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LINES AND LAYING DOWN

-

FLAT tkTTOM

L.JEc-

loor

---VEE 6OTTOM LINES

Figure
ously impossible
To eliminate

71

7-3. Slrai~tll-sectrhncd

boats ham> simple

PLIH

lines.

to write them all on a lines plan and not have them become confused.

a multitude

of fractional

to write offsets in feet-inches-eighths
five and three-eighths

inches.

dimensions,
of inches.

it has been made general practice

For example,

2-5-3

means two feet,

(You will find that you will read them automatically

once you have tried a few.) Some architects
lines and offsets and read some dimensions

pride themselves
to one-sixteenth

on the accuracy

of their

of an inch; this is shown in

the offset table by a plus sign or lV$after the “eighth” numeral.

thus we get 2-5-3+

or

One of these days metric offset tables will make life a lot simpler than strug-

2-5-31/j.

gling with feet, inches,

and all those 64 fractions

The use of the offset table will be explained

of an inch.

further along,

but at this time it would

be well to note that the lines for a vessel’s hull are almost always drawn to the outside
surface

of the ht.&. Consequently

fiberglass

skin, or aluminum

when molds are made,

of the wood or

must be deducted

from the molds edges.

The lines for metal ships or large wooden vessels with built-up

sawn frames are drawn

to the inside of the plating
deducting

the thickness

or steel p!ating

the thickness

or planking

in order

from the full-size drawing of every frame,

drawn when sawn or metal frames are employed,
before
The

to save the mold

loftsman

from

all of which must be

for each frame is individually

shaped

installation.
hull lines discussed

waterlines,

buttocks,

above are for a round-bottomed

and diagonals

involved

depending

upon

boat,

the number

of

the size of the boat.

Other hull types have fewer lines. Figure 7-Y shows an ordinary flat-bottomed
rowboat
having but four fore-and-aft
lines, namely, the deck and sheer, and two views of the

72

LJNES A ND LA YING DOWN

chine,

which is the corner at the intersection

the lines for a v-bottomed
of a bottom

profile.

were curved.
established

of the side and bottom.

boat having lines similar

The sections of this particular

to a flattie except for the addition
boat consist of straight

other points would be needed to draw the sections,
by waterlines,

buttocks,

Also shown are
lines. If they

and these would be

and diagonals.

The Mold Loft
Although

we have said that the builder’s

thing is to find a place to do the job.

first step is lofting the hull, in reality the first

At a minimum,

or more feet longer than the boat in one direction,
to the dist-rnce from the baseline
there is one,
equipped

plus some space

boatyards

the space should be at least four
while in the other it must be equal

to the highest point of the sheer, or top of cabin if

on all sides for working

use a level wooden floor maintained

around

sanded smooth and coated with flat light gray or white paint.
an amateur
level space,

the drawing.

Well-

for just this purpose that is
It is too much to ask that

have such facilities at his disposal, so the next best alternative would be a
such as a floor or platform, where paper or plywood may be used to lay

down the lines.
A few years PRO while visiting boatyards I noticed lofting being done on a very
heavy, light bplge paper that was also being used for patterns for one-off parts. This
material

was 200.pound

“Alexandritr”

template

paper,

12 square feet per pound. In

each case it was purchased

from a paper goods supply house in a nearby city. The in.
formation about the paper is given here, but the amateur builder will probably not be
able to cope with the cost of this 72” wide material. Each roll is said to weigh between
500 and 6Otl pounds -- a lifetime

supply indeed.

The drawing supply people make a buff detail paper of acceptable
quality,
available up to 48 ” and 54” in width, in rolls of 10. 20. and 50 yards and priced
reasonably.
Some of the paper-faced
building panels are also all right, and SO is
plywood, as mentioned above, in standard-size panels that may be arranged edge to
if several pieces are used to
edge to make any size desired. Whatever the material,
make up the required size, the pieces must be secured against movement.

Lofting

Tools

The tools for lofting are few and simple.
are used, sharpened
Colored
different

To draw sharp lines, flat carpenter’s

pencils

to a chisel point so a thin line may be drawn for a long distance.

pencils may also be used to advantage
types of lines. For measuring,

to make it easier to distinguish

a steel tape is ideal for long lengths,

between
but an or-

dinary folding six-foot rule will do, and the rule can also be used to lay off many short
dimensions. A large carpenter’s square, either as manufactured
or homemade out of
:‘/H
” or % ” wood, is needed for drawing lines perpendicular
to other lines, such as for
station

lines in relation

with a regular

to the base and waterlines. You may also erect perpendiculars
or improvised beam compass, as will be shown later. The adjustable

bevel shown in Figure 3-1 will be found handy,

as will a straightedge

six or eight feet

long, which you can make yourself from a piece of thin wood. For marking

the really

LINES AND LA YING DOWN
long, straight

base and waterlines,

you should use either a mason’s chalk line, pencil-

ing the line on the floor before the chalk rubs off, or a length
line stretched
intervals

tightly between

73

two nails,

marking

of about three feet, to be connected

of light, strong fishing

in points directly

under the cord at

later with a straightedge.

Battens
Fair curves have no bumps and are pleasing
set of battens,

which

are nothing

more

white pine or other such wood. These
than the line to be drawn.

to the eye. To draw them, you must have a

than straight,

When the available

tens can be made up of two pieces connected
making

a tapered

square-edged

pieces of clear

should be at least two feet longer at each end

glue splice of about

stock isn’t long enough for the job, batin the middle,

18” to 2’ in length.

pieced if you make sure there is a fair overlap
For best results, you should use as stiff a batten

where the curve is least, by
Or the line itself may be

over the length of a couple of stations.
as will go through

all the points on the

curve, for a stiff batten will tend to fair itself unless unduly forced, whereas a supple
batten can be passed through all the points and not lie fair. It is difficult to say just
what size battens should be used, as the correct

size depends so much on the length of

the lint and the character of the curve.
A batten 14 ” to $1 ” thick by 1 th ” to 2” wide used on the flat is suggested
relatively

easy curves like the sheerline.

the battens at the ends somewhat,

For certain

for

curves it may be necessary to taper

with ail the taper cut on one edge. For curves in the

plan view, also known as the half-breadth

plan, something like I$$” x 1 Mor th ” x 1 t,4 ”
used on the flat, possibly tapered at the ends, or :?t ” square and untapered might be
tried.

Like a lot of boatbuilding

selection

of batten

operations,

accumulated

experience

sizes. If you have a table saw, start by making

heavy side until you get the hang of it, ripping

the strips narrower

will aid in the

the battens on the
as needed.

Curves

such as sections. the stem profile. and similar shapes will be drawn with shorter battens, probably ‘j/H”and 14 ” square, and inasmuch as these curves sometimes have
harder bends in the middle than at the ends, such as around the turn of the bilge, they
may have to be tapered

in the middle in order to make a fair curve that touches all the

points.
A batten is held in place wiih finishing
it. Not necessary

nails driven on both sides of it, not through

but very desirable

by any means,

from

the standpoint

of readily

sighting the shape of a batten when sprung to a curve, is a coat of flat black paint. The
contrast

of the dark batten

against the light-colored

floor or paper will help detect a

line that is not fair.

The Grid
By examining
waterlines,

the table of offsets,

buttocks,

lines and are measured
the straight

diagonals,

Figure

sheer,

7-2. it will be seen that dimensions

for the

and profile curves are laid out on the station

above the baseline

and out from the centerline.

lines that must be laid down in the beginning.

Therefore,

it is

This group of lines, called

the grid, is shown in Figure 7-4. You will note in Figure 7-5 that the grid is set up in a

MAUI.!

A SCRtES

lfJ?tCTLY

OF

Pear J-r5

b4VER

CURL7

11ol-n srR.ocl5

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A STPAIGHT

“;LO,‘“L”
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4

T

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LINE-

.-,
AIL

--

VJlTb-4 5HARP

POdT

--

-BEAM
I

cdcq

FLOOR,
JfRCTCntV
bCTwee~
t-JAILS

COMF’ASS

-

SHCCR

K-f-l

*Al-&~

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t

.
a

e 1

jZIXj ‘;I\

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;iL,F

i ,,,,,,,,
/,,“‘I[;;
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-THE

Figure 7-4. The grid for full-sized
out on a suita ble.floor.

(

I

._
t

.
BA5E BA7-t-d
(OPTlOtiAL)

“GRID”-

hull lines is comprised

of straight lines and is laid

0

.

/T

met6.w mctt

FOE

CLAEWy

THE

HAL/E

DIAGo~IALS

hJOl-

BEt?!d

AtiD

BUlTOC<

I

5HOWd

L HALF BUEAOTH
OF 5l-EM
FACE

Figure 7-5. The lofied hull lines are arranged d$ferently,from
plan in order to save space on the mold lqft floor.

those on an architect Ys

76

LINES AND LA YING DOWN

compressed

form relative

to the paper

plans:

the half-breadth

over the profile drawing to save space and to minimize

plan is superimposed

the distances one must crawl on

hands and knees when laying the lines down. (Some professionals
crawling

around

swivel casters.)
the baseline

the loft floor by building
Thus the grid is started

for the profile

save themselves from

a dolly of padded plywood mounted

by drawing a straight

view and the centerline

on low

line that doubles both as

for the half-breadth

plan.

The

spacing of the stations is laid off along this line and the stations are drawn in perpendicular

to it.

The perpendiculars
beam compass,

may be drawn either

or an improvised

has been used as a practical

with a set of trammel

a regular

one, and is done as follows. Mark a point A (Station

example

in Figure 7-4);

a center., strike an arc B equidistant
From the intersection

2

then using the compass with A as

to each side of point A. Lengthen

compass and, using each of the points B as a center,
the baseline.

points,

the arm of the

strike two intersecting

C draw a straight

arcs above

line through A on the base. The

line CA is perpendicular
to the base. This method can be used at each station, or it
can be used at only one, with the resulting right angle used to build a large square for
drawing

in the remainder

The spacing

of the stations

of the straight

waterlines

plan and they are drawn in parallel

perpendicular
in profile

to the baseline.

waterline

for reference,

waterline,

except at the ends of the boat. Therefore,

the two end stations

With

lines

the exception

of the load

to draw the profile

view of the

mark off the waterline

spacing on

it is not usually necessary

and again one or two stations

to the base.

is taken from the architect’s

from the ends and draw them in

with a straightedge.
As mentioned above, the offsets for the curves are dimensioned as heights above the
baseline or distances out from the centerline as the case may be. Some of the dimensions will be long enough

that you will not be able to tell readily whether

the end of

your rule is exactly on the line or not. To be sure of this and to save time, some
builders nail a batten against the under side of the baseline as shown in Figure 7-4.
The end of the rule can then be butted against it when making measurements.

lnstead

of a batten, a nail may be driven at each intersection of a station with the base. You
will find either way to be very helpful and, to say the least, easier on the knees.

Sheerline

and Deck line

Either the sheerline

or the deck line will be the first curved line to be drawn and faired.

For the sake of argument
7-2, shows is dimensioned

we will select the sheerline,
above the baseline.

reads 2-11-O for the height of the sheer:

Starting

which the table of offsets, Figure
at the bow, Station

0, the table

so with the rule against the nail or batten

measure up two feet, eleven inches above the base on Station 0 and make a mark.
Move the rule over to Station 1. read 2-7-2 from the table and make a mark 2’7%”
above the base. The process is repeated similarly at all of the stations.
With all the points marked, it is time to select a batten with which to draw the
sheerline,

placing

it so that it extends beyond the length of the boat at each end. With

one edge of the batten against the sheer point on a station
boat we are using as an example,
the batten

at Station

amidships,

Station

drive nails to hold the batten in place.

2, then at Station

4, alternating

3 of the

Now fasten

towards the ends of the boat un-

LINES AND LA YING DOWN
til the batten is sprung to and fastened
ject beyond the boat,
After the batten

at all the points. The batten’s

should be sprung

to extend

is secured for the entire

to the unfairness

and note the result.

ends, which pro-

the curve fairly and then nailed.

length,

are any unfair or lumpy spots in the curve.

77

sight along it to see whether there

If so, pull the nails at the stations adjacent

If the batten

moves very far from one of the

points and still does not appear to be fair. pull other nails and make adjustments,

giv-

ing here and taking there until the resulting

line is pleasing to the eye. You may expect

points to be out of line occasionally

the architect

scale

compared

because

to the full-size job;

thus errors

However,

it must be remembered

to obtain

a sweet and true curve without

The deck line is faired
measured

Profile

has drawn the lines to a small

are bound

to creep

that the batten should be shifted

into the work.

as little as possible

hard spots.

in the same manner

after it has been laid down from offsets

out from the centerline.

and Rabbet

After the deck line has been drawn in and faired, you can continue working on the
profile plan, drawing and fairing the profile (bottom of keel), the stem, and the rabbet. The rabbet line is normally

found in traditional

wooden construction,

although

it

may or may not exist in other types of wooden hull construction,
or in fiberglass or
metal hulls. For these latter hulls, a similar line may be referred to by some other
name. In any rasc, the lines plan will make all this clear.
The profile and rabbet must be faired in so that they will meet the relatively
curves of the stem and stem rabbet.

way 1.0 ensure that the two sets of curves will meet fairly is to extend
profile

forward beyond

quick

INith these bow curves not yet drawn in, the best

the point of tangency

note that this has been done in Figure

the rabbet

with the stem and its rabbet.

and

You will

7-5.

The stem profile and the stem rabbet are drawn with a thin batten, as mentioned
previously. When points for the stem curves have been marked in from the dimensions
on the lines plans, a nail is driven at each spot, the batten is bent against the nails, and
other nails are driven on the opposite side of the batten
If your particular

plans give a half-siding

to hold it in place.

for the rabbet,

this should be drawn in

next before going on to the body plan.

Body Plan Sections
It is strongly recommended

that the body plan be drawn on a separate

portable

board.

Such a board is easy to move around to suit making molds, and it avoids confusion of
lines on the floor. Referring to the body plan for the lines in Figure 7.2, you can see
that the board or paper

used for the sections

must be somewhat

wider than the boat

and at least as high as the distance from the baseline to the sheer at Station 0, the bow.
Begin by drawing the baseline; then draw the centerline perpendicular
to the base.
The waterlines are drawn in parallel to the base, the buttocks parallel to the centerline
and the diagonals

exactly

as dimensioned

on the lines plan.

Needless

to say, trouble

78

LINES AND LA YING DOWN

will result if the waterlines

and the buttocks of the body plan are not spaced exactly the

same as they were laid out on the half-breadth
Cut some narrow strips of straight
transferring

and profile plans.

wood anywhere

to the body plan the deck half-breadths

from ‘/,b”to ‘/B”thick for use in
and the sheer and rabbet heights

from the already faired lines on the floor. Butt the end of a strip against the baseline
and mark

the half-breadths

and heights on the stick,

with a symbol and the station number.
or battens

and one is shown in the picking
on the centerline.

point and draw in the width of the rabbet.
and with the pick-up
width corresponding

stick against

points;

the sheer height/deck

Draw short horizontal
Draw horizontal

batten,

centerline

lines at each rabbet
mark the deck

of sheer and deck draw a

Each section now has two definite

width intersection,

and the intersection
Nail a batten

mark points for all the waterline

table and label each one. For instance,

of the rabbet

against one side of the
with its end against

half-breadths

lay the rule on waterline

and from the offset table under Station

from the offset

2A to the right of the

1 mark off l-l-2,

put a little circle

around it with a 1 next to it to show it is a point on the section at Station
1.9- 1 for Statinn

done, go on to the buttocks.

Place the rule on Buttock

end of the rule at the base and mark all the heights for Buttock
Follow with Buttock

II. Then

at the centerline

Move the batten
and diagonal

1; then mark

2, and so on. Do the same with the offsets for the other waterlines.

With the waterlines

again

7-5.

lines at each sheer height

on the body plan and with the rule laid on a waterline

the centerline

4 in Figure

of the body plan,

number.

height and width.
Now to fill in some of the points in between.
centerline

at Station

At each intersection

small cross and label it with the station

each one

of your body plan, mark the heights

the centerline

to each station.

identifying

sticks are called pick-up sticks

up position

With the end of the pick-up stick at the baseline
of the sheer and rabbet

carefully

These measuring

lay the rule along the diagonal

and lay off all the diagonal

to the left side of the centerline

offsets for the sections

I with the

I from the offset table.
with the end of the rule

offsets along the diagonal

and lay out all the waterline,

lines.

buttock,

in the stern half of the boat. Needless to say, all

the layout and transfer of measurements
should be done with utmost care and accuracy. In the end, the time spent to this end will speed the job to completion faster
than if the work is done in a slipshod manner.

Rdy

Plan

Battens

Nails are driven
around

at all the reference

the nails of each section,

the sheer

point

and beyond

marks on each

using a batten

the rabbet

section.

Then

a batten

is bent

long enough to extend 6” or so above

at the centerline,

as shown in Figure

7-6.

Holding the sheer and rabbet points as definitely fixed by the previous fairing of these
lines, examine the batten carefully and shift it, if necessary, to get a smooth, true
curve. Before doing any shifting, remember that points established by lines crossing
other lines at right angles,

or nearly so, are more accurate

crossings at acute angles. When two lines intersect
precisely

at which spot on a line the crossing occurs;

architect,
tersections.

working from his small-scale
(See Figure 7-7.)

drawing,

than those established

at an acute angle it is difficult
consequently

by

to tell

it is possible for the

to misread offsets taken from such in-

With this fact in mind,

it is readily seen that for the flat

LINES AND LA YING DOWN

79

3A

Figure 7-6. Tfz~ body P/UHis best drawn on a portable
lCrct>called a .\criuc board.

part of the bottom

sections,

give the most unreliable

the best points are given by the buttocks.

points for the same parts of the sections,

hand, they are the best for the topside sections.
in the architect’s
diagonal,

may appear

may be ignored,

Faking

scaling

sur-

technique.

The waterlines
but on the other

Points may also be out due to mistakes

As a result, all the points on one line, such as a

to be out by the same amount.

the other points being

In such a situation

these points

held if they give a fair section or line.

Diagonals

Fair the diagonals

first, because they are laid out to cross the majority

of the sections at

a good angle. Lay a pick-up batten along a diagonal in the body plan, mark and identify all the points where it crosses the sections; then move the batten to the halfbreadth

plan

and

mark

each

diagonal

half-breadth

on its proper

Figure 7-7.

station.

The

80

LINES AND LA YING DOWN

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Figure 7-8. Four steps in finding
o/the? stern.

ofa

the correct ending

diagonal that crosses the face

diagonai is then faired, again proceeding as described for the sheerline. If the batten
will not go through all the points and at the same time produce a fair line, the usual
adjustments
must be made. Bearing in mind not to make more changes than are
necessary,

the sections on the body plan are then corrected

Long

Line

When

fairing

accordingly.

Endings

The location
the profile

the long fore-and-aft
of waterline

endings

lines, it is necessary
is fairly simple.

to terminate

Considering

of the stem has been faired and drawn permanently.

the stem profile

with one of the waterlines

is a definite

them correctly.

the bow in Figure 7-5,
Each intersection

of

point in the profile plan, and

the corresponding
point in the half-breadth
plan is found simply by projecting the intersection in the profile down to the line ~spresenting the half siding of the stem face in
the half-breadth

plan as shown in A in Figure 7-5. The aft endings are done exactly

the same way, as indicated
this particular
other waterlines
Buttock

at B in the stern end of the same figure. It is obvious that in

design only the L.W.L.
cross the section

ends within the boat at the stern, because the

at Station

endings are also quite simple.

6.

A short length of a buttock

is drawn in plan

to cross the deck line, and then the point of crossing

is projected

tersection

in the profile view as shown at C

with the sheer is the ending of the buttock

in Figure 7-5. When drawing the waterlines

and buttocks,

those on stations are established

wherever a waterline

7-5 illustrates

of the L.W.L.

Buttock

how the crossing

II in plan gives another

fairing points in addition to

and a buttock cross. D in Figure

and Buttock

point on the L.W.L.

to the sheer. The in-

II in profile projected

to

in plan.

The determination
of a diagonal ending at the stem is somewhat more difficult to
understand;
therefore the steps taken are shown in Figure 7-8, which should be selfexplanatory.

81

LINES AND LAYING DOWN

The preceding explanation
of lofting a round-bottomed
boat is modified for other
types such as v- and arc-bottomed
hulls; generally speaking, the latter types are easier
to loft. However,
in common,

all boats except double-enders

and that is the development

have one additional

of the transom

lofting problem

or stern board.

Projected Transom
After the sections have been faired satisfactorily,

it is time to consider the development

of the true shape of the transom or stern board of the boat. Sometimes,
plumb verticai,

in which case the section

shape of the transom.

More often,

shape does not appear

in the body plan.

need not be reproduced
view of the transom,

drawn at the transom

the transom

is raked,

the transom is

station is actually

the

with the result that its true

This view is meaningless

to the builder

and

full size on the mold loft floor. The same is true of the plan

although

it may be useful for obtaining

transom

bevels.

The only way that a true view, and thus a pattern, of a raked transom can be gotten
is if its shape is projected square off its centerline in the profi!e view.

Flat Transom
Development

Development
of the shape of thr transom

there is nothing
of the simplest

type, and its transom

rake of the transom
transom

is not necessary

puzzling

shapts development

in profile has, of course,

given on the architect’s
developed

is sometimes

to the builder,

really mysterious about the work. The 12’ rowboat

lines plan.

For

is shown in Figure 7-9. The

been previously

c35c

but

has a flat transom

of illustration,

drawn from dimensions
the centerline

for the

has bren drawn at the stern end of the lines in Figure 7-9, but this

and it may be located

on a separate

board or piece of paper.

The transom is just thr same as any section, except that it is located at an angle with
the baseline instead of perperldicular
to it. Points on the transom are taken from the
waterlines and buttocks the same as ordinary sections: it is merely a matter of picking
up the waterline

half-breadths

thcqm to the development
If you have space
Figurr

and buttock

for the transom

7-9, thr dcvelopmrnt

remember

throughout

Therefore,
centerline

at the end of your lines, as shown in

as indicated

in the diagram.

plan elsewhere.

the development,

but due to the profile angle of the transom,

drawn across

In Figure 7-9 the centerline

the transom

for the transom

and tt,en the intersections

grid

is obviously

across the centerline

and rabbet intersecti(Jns

with the transom’s

are spaced 5 ”

the distance
greater

togetht.

be-

than

5”.

measured along

the

grid has been drawn parallel

of waterlines

in profile are projected
for this rowboat,

if you

point to

or you may end up with a stern board that

when laying out the grid, the spacing must be carefully
of the transom.

of the transom,

However,

there is one important

On the profile drawing of the lines the waterlines

apart above the L. W.L..
tween the waterlines

drawing

is exactly

must locate the grid for the transom
will not fit as it should.

heights at the right places and transferring

drawing.

to the rake

and the sheer with the transom
with projections

face. With a flat transom,

you can lay off the spacing of rhe buttocks

of the buttock
as in the design

the same as they are on the

.,

82

LINES AND LAYING DOWN

Figure 7-9. Ikwloprnent
body and the half-breadth
rcnterline.

plans,

and draw them in the grid parallel

Two points, P, are established

on the transom

tocks thus drawn cross the lines projected
width of the rabbet,
Now project

to locate

another

the intersections

file down to the centerline

o/ a Jlat transom.

development

from the buttocks

point,

where the butLay off d, the

R.

of the waterlines

of the half-breadth

in profile.

to the transom

and buttocks

with the transom

plan. The waterline

half-breadths

proa, b,

and c are picked up with a batten and laid off as points A, B. and C on the
corresponding lines in the grid. With all the points spotted, draw in the transom with a
batten

the same as you did the regular

sections.

If you must draw the transom on a separate sheet, very carefully pick up the spacing
of the intersections
along the profile of the transom on a batten, as shown in Figure
.

7-9, and complete

location

Curved

Development

Transom

A curved transom
the development

on either a sailboat

above.

or powerboat

is very handsome,

and although

is more involved than for the flat type, the extra work is worthwhile

when the transom’s
curved transom

of points as described

finished appearance

is not generally

necessary

above this range the curved transom
must on a hut1 with an overhanging
develop,

due to the combination

transom

in profile.

is considered.

viewpoint,

a

on small craft up to 20 or 25 feet overall, but

becomes a necessity,
counter

sltirn. This

for good looks is an absolute
type is the most difficult

to

of the radius to which it is built and the angle of the

The planks forming

with a radius perpendicular

From the aesthetic

such a transom

are bent to the arc of a circle

to the after side of the transom

as seen in profile.

A pat-

--

- --

--

--.-.

-----

Li

I

-.-

2% AND L.-l YING DO Wh’

tern for the shape must be made, and this is accomplished

as thougtl G rvlinder

83

:~~~-~:Y

cut and rolled out flat.
A transom

proportioned

as shown in Figure

7-10 is developed

tocks, because they cross the edges of the transom
the waterlines,

and thus are the most accurate.

clo-Fly as needed
7-10

has been

are an infinite

to hc!c, you make proper

purposely

but ordinarily,

between

those shown on the lines plan.

Before the transom
usually to a staticn

extra buttocks
is attempted,

beyord

chitect

designs to a vertical

desired

angle in profile

and they may be spaced as

for parts

buttocks

for development

The stern in Figure

to develrp

the transom

of the tramt.m

station

ac-

must be added

the hull lines have been completely

the transom.

with but-

lines plan are not the only ones it is
number,

templates

drawn with enough

curately,

with but-

By this time you are familiar

tocks and must realize that those on the architect’s
possible to have on a hull. There

principally

more nearly at right angles than do

faired full size,

To be sure of the shape of his hull, the ar-

at the extreme

stern and then cuts it off at the

and in a radius in the plan view as mentioned

above.

There are undoubtedly many methods of transom development in use and sworn to
by their advocates. However, the system illustrated here will at least help the reader
understand

the principle.

the profile and half-breadth
plans of
7-1C have been drawn separated and the transom radius made

the stern in Figure
smalier

To avoid confusion,

than usual to clarify the drawing.

to another.

After following

Dashed lines show the projection

the development

of the flat transom

of the buttocks in Figure 7-10 is obvious, with the exception

of one view

in Figure 7-9. the use

of their spacing in the grid

for the expansion.
Extend the after side of the transom in profile up clear of other drawings,
7-lOA, and draw a centerline perpendicular
to it. Tangent to the intersection,

Figure
swing

an arc of radius as shown on the plans. This is the curve to which the transom planking
will be bent when it is built.
same as in the half-breadth

Draw the buttocks
plan. Project

down to cross the corresponding
the expanded
measured

transom,

around

measurements

buttocks

Figure 7-lOB,

the arc instead

to the centerline,

spaced the

of the burtocks with the arc

in the profile view. Now prepare the grid for

spacing

the buttocks

out from the centerline

of as laid out in the half-breadth

give the true distances

som is rolled out flat. Project

parallel

the intersections

between

the buttocks

the buttocks

plan.

when the cylindrical

as

These
tran-

in profile to the grid to obtain points on the

edge of the transom as was done in the flat transom, Figure 7-9. For clarity only one
buttock, Buttock II, has been used as an example in Figure 7-10.
In order to find the point where the transom
line is drawn in the auxiliary
in this view, select convenient
above the centerline

the auxiliary

ferred

at the sheerline.

points (P) along the projection’s

with the sheer parallel

to the stations

the deck

To draw the deck line
centerline;

square them

and then square

to cross the deck line in

plan. The widths of the deck at these points are lifted, transf+=rr?d tn

projection,

at the deck is located
breadth

terminates

shown in Figure 7-10A.

and also down to cross the sheer on the profile:

the points of intersectior?
the half-breadth

projection

and a batten

of the point is measured
to the grid.

is run rhrough them. The corner of the transom

where the deck line intersects
from the centerline

the arc of the transom.
around

The half-

the arc and duly trans-

RADl U5 OF
TRA?450M -

CE~NTWZ AINC

.

--

’

-

\

yy~~,gNSO~

,L E!%PANoeo

Figure 7-10. Steps in the development

of a curved transom.

LINES

7-l 1. The complete

Figure

Powerboat
Sailboat

devehpment

.J?.‘D L.4 S1.1;G Ml IZ’N

85

of the curved transom started in Figure 7- 10.

Transoms
transoms

often

have considerable

rake,

as shown in Figures

7-10 and 7-11,

but there is usually little angle to those on modem power cruisers. A small amount of
rake may be neglected in the development
of the transom, and the radius can be
drawn directly

on the half-breadth

plan,

as will be explained.

The powerboat

stem

shown in Figure 7-12 is not typical of many present day boats in that the topside sections do not tumble home. This avoids having waterlines that pile up on top of one
another and makes the transom development easier to understand.
Draw the profile
profile
Holding
jected

angle of the transom

view of a waterline
the specified

or buttock

radius constant

points on the centeriine

the half-breadth
buttocks

intersections

throughout,

(using the C.L.

crosses the 1;~~ on the half-breadth
profile

and project

every intersection

up to the centeriine

of it with the

in the half-breadth

swing an arc from each of tht pro-

as center for the radius) until th: arc

plan corresponding

to the line in profile.

with the arcs back down to the corresponding

and then across to the grid, Figure
on the grid are spaced as measured

plan.

7-12A.

Of course it is important

around

the arc, Figure

7-12B.

ProyWc:
lines in
that the

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LINES

AND

1 1 YING

DOWN

87

The development is the shape of the outside edge of the transom planking, but
allowance must be made for the bevel on the edges, which causes the transom to be
on the inside than on the outside face.

larger

planking

thickness must be deducted

Computer-Aided

before

When making
the allowance

the transom

for beveling

frame,

:he

can be made.

Lines Fairing

The purpose of much of the work described
architect’s

lines drawing.

drawing,

due to mistakes

manship.

It may not pay an amateur

in this chapter

is to correct

Errors creep in due to the necessity of making
made in reading

the offsets,

to depart

and because

from the time-tested

errors in the
a small-scale

of sloppy draftsmethods of lofting

ani, mold-making,
hull

but the professional should certainly investigate services that fair
Such computers
fair the lines from the table of offsets.
lines by computer.

resulting

in corrected

offsets reading to one-sixteenth

of an inch or one hundredth

foot. (It is easy to lay out offsets in feet and decimals
foot folding

rule.)

A logica!

extension

with an ordinary

of computer-aided

lines fairing

of a

surveyor’s sixis the full size

drawing of the body plan, and this is discussed in the next chapter.
I have used firms supplying computer-guided
lofting for hulls up to 78 feet in length.
25 Hallett Hill Road, Weston,
Such lofting is available
from Justin E. Ketwin,
Massachusetts

02193;

Bristolcomp,

Street,

Rhode

Island 02809;

Bristol,

#3, Baldwinsville,

New York

13027.

c/o Halsey

C.

and Hullforms,

Herreshoff,
Inc.,

Inc.,

3667 Woodland

18 Burnside
Drive,

RD

Chapter

8

S, TEMPLATES,
AND THE BACKBONE

Upon completion

of the full size drawings of the lines for the hull. the builder is at last

ready to start cutting wood, be it for frames for a sawn-frame
round-bottomed

hull or a male plug for a fiberglass

Molds are made from the body plan, and because
made from lower grade lumber

boat or for molds for a

or cold-molded

wooden hull.

they are only temporary,

they are

than that used for the boat parts. Any lumber except

hardwood is suitable, the thickness of the molds varying with the size of the boat. A
rough guide is XV for boats to 16’ , % ” for 16 to 24 ’ , and 1 rror 1 ‘igNfor Z&footers. As
you will see further

along,

the molds are set up on the backbone

and strips of wood called ribbands
cept that ribbands

are bent around

the molds similar to planking,

have spaces between them. The frames for a round-bottomed

are bent to shape against the ribbands.

There

is gained

that setting

exboat

are two schools of thought as to whether

the frames should be bent inside or outside of the ribbands,
experience

or keel of the boat,

up the frame

but it will be observed as

for the boat is simplified

when the

frames are bent inside the ribbands.

When a number

advantageous

mold, in which case the frames are bent outside

to make a permanent

and the mold is removed

for further

The lines for the 12-footer
the outside of planking
the frames

use when the hull has been planked.

in Figure 7.2, like those for all small boats, are drawn to

and the full-size lines are lofted accordingly.

are bent inside the ribbands,

the thickness

of boats are to be built alike it is

of the planking

For setups where

the molds for the sections are made only after

has been deducted.

Similarly,

frames

for v-bottomed

boats are made only after the thickness of planking has been deducted.
It should be obvious after you have studied construction
that to make a mold for a
round-bottomed
bined

thickness

boat with the frames bent on the outside of the ribbands,
of planking,

framing,

and ribbands

must be deducted

the com-

from the sec-

tions that are drawn to the outside of the planking.
For methods
88

other than conventional

wooden construction,

the ways of getting the

MOLDS, TEMPLATES, AND THE RACfiLDNE

89

MAW
THICdNES5
OF
PlAhi~lbJB
AT
C?EQUEtdT ItdTERL’ALS

RAOlYS=
OF

THIC~(NE
l=LANC(\NG

-BOD)/ PLANFigure 8-l. Plajrking thickucss can 6~ deducted
by sin~ply drawing a
parullel wction insido the IWP sections by thr amou,tt o/‘ planking thickncss. Howtqler, this is not a zltq accurate method.

deductions

depend

upon the peculiarities

of each construction

plug that will be used to form a female mold for a fiberglass
the plug planking
jig-

or covering

need be deducted.

call it what you will) for a so-called

in the chapter

on Fiberglass

the outer fiberglass
thickness.

one-off

fiberglass

of the hull planking

sandwich

the deduction

plus the core material

To make a male mold for a cold-molded

to the total thickness
ribbands.

hull, only the thickness of

To make a male mold (or plug or

and Other Hull Materials,

skin thickness

type. To make a male

thickness

hull as described
must be equal to
plus the ribband

hull, the deduction

plus the thickness

must be equal

of the mold planking

or

Countless boats have been built from molds where planking thickness was deducted
by simply drawing lines inside the sections by the amount of the planking thickness.
However, this method is only acceptable
when the planking is thin. Let me try to
simplify
planking

this. If a hole was drilled
was measured

through

the planking,

in the hole, the planking

and the thickness

wouid measure

correctly

of the

only q the

90

‘JO LDS. TEMF’LA TES, .4ND THE l-3.4CKROh’E

AEC’

Figure 8-2.

CL

,P:-h

.-_

4-n’
L

hole were at right angles (n,.-TmaI) to the surface o/‘the it&i. (See Figure 8-2.) By the
a truly accurate deduction when the hole
itselj lies in the same athwartships plane as the stations. Thus, in a shapely hull, the

same token, such a h,ole would only represent
deductions

would be fairly accurate

proximately

parallel

amidships,

to the hull’s centerline,

toward the centerline as one progresses
become increasingly inaccurate.
IJnless the planking
deduct

planking

absolutely
diagonals

snore accurately.

but as the waterlines

waterlines

run

break away

ap-

sharply

would

To make the thickness deduction
even to the extent

almost

of adding

to those shown on the lines plan, but this chore is not necessary in

most cases. Rather than use this procedure,
parallel

view

to the ends of the hull, the deductions

it should be done on the diagonals,

in addition

pian

is thin, it is best to take a little more time and make an effort to

thickness

correct,

where the

to the waterlines

at each station layoff the planking thickness

in the p!an view of the lines, then pick up this thickness along

the station line and transfer it to the body plan, laying it off normal to the section.
Figure 8-3.) When this has been done at each waterline,

(See

take a batten and draw through

all the points to get tire inside of planking. Once you have done this for a few points the
work will go quite rapidly.
When all the sections have been redrawn to the inside of planking, the molds for a
round-bottomed

boat can be made.

Figure 8-4 shows typical mold construction

and

Figure 8-l shows how the shape of the section is transferred to the mold stock by pressing the lumber down against closely spaced tacks with their heads laid on the line to be
reproduced.

Turn

the wood over, use a batten

to connect

the marks made by the tack

heads, then work the board to the line. Do this for each station.
It is not practical to use boards wide enough to get out an entire half mold all in one
piece. Therefore,

the mold is made in asmany parts asnecessary,

and laidout in anycon-

venient manner to suit the lumber stock. Just remember that the mold must not be too
flimsy. Normally the mold should be extended a half foot or so above the sheerline,
but if it is planned to build the boat upside down-a
logical method for small
craft-the
molds should be extended to a straight baseline above the sheer that
represents

the building

is made parailel

floor.

Depending

to the waterline

on the size of the boat, the inverted

baseline

and at a height so the greater part of the hull may be

planked

from a normal standing position.
Lay the mold parts on the sections of the body plan while carefully

fastening

them

!vlOl. DS, 7‘~.~:clPI..~l7‘i-.~~:‘.‘i.
.-l.VI) -i‘llif R.-lCKi~O.l’E

yP,Aw.r

-T

r;.:

Figure 8-6.
rc~nficienc~
fessionals
the time
perience
it more

if the full-six

drawing

IS accrlrc!ta and complete.

However,

even some pro-

leave the rabbet ,just a little shallow and complete
it when fitting ribbands
at
the boat is set up. In many cases this is because they have learned
from exthat

their

rabhet

is not as accurate

as it might

be. Here is how you can make

acc’trate.

In the beginning
vals throughout

of Chapter
r!re length

7 it was stated

of the boat

that

to define

vertical

the shape

sections

are drawn

of the hull,

at intcr-

but it should

be

realized that sections can be drawn through the hull at any angle, not only at the verthe horizontal
planes of the waterlines,
or the
tical planes of the stations and buttocks,
often does this while drawing
the construction
plan to
diagonal
planes. The designer
get the true,
drawn

accurate

normal

sizes of parts

to the part

are the most

such as the stem

is full accuracy

out-of-normal

at the bow,

assured.
it certainly

assembly:
only when a section is
Since the waterlines
and buttocks
pays to draw

auxiliary

sections

at

right angles through
the strm of the boat in order to more accurately
cut the rabbet.
The less dubbing
that the amateur
must face after he sets up the boat, the better off
he will be.
For the same

reason

face,

so.

or nearly

bevels

should

be taken

off lines that are normal

to the hull sur-

Figure 8-6 has been prepared
to show how easy it is to draw sections through
the
stem. The sections should be spaced at intervals
close enough so that there is no question about
having enough
of the plotted
points
for the rabbet,
bearding
fines (see Figure 8-5) to ensure a fair line. To save time
tions should
than

be drawn

separately

right

as was done

on the lines profile,
for clarity

as in Section

in Section

A-A.

back rabbet,
and
and effort, the sec-

B-B of Figure

8-6, rather

MOLDS,

TEMPL 4TES, AND THE BACKBONE

95

W.L.n

L@&WE*IDICULA(ZS To
INTW~ECTIO~~

C.!m. 9,

DUAWJ -IiWJ

OF BuTrocK

4‘ PJAT’=LINEC

C&‘SnP
@lr’ -j-HE C.L. OF THE.
5=3-lO~.
LAY OFF ON -rwz QERPEwIcuLALJ
-WE HALF
~%EAD*!:
3~ me
ku~-rERLlrJEr
t: WnocrCC
cZ$O5<-.
EFAMPLE:
BUTT. 1 AVOVE-

8-7. !G~lt~~~ 111 1 ‘. 1~grid for dmwing

Figure

First

a centerline

enough
draw

buttocks
a fair

waterlines

place,

For

see Figure

face

of the stem,

on /he prqfi[~

long

enough

to cross

to give a number
of points so a batten can be set up to
the centerline
for Section
A-A intersects
two

Then

perpendiculars

intersections

of how these

to the

in p/arc

instance,

a huttork.

and buttock

lustration

normal

and waterlines

section.

and

waterline

is drawn

stern sections

and

perpendiculars

8-7.) Next

TO this centerline

at the joints
can

the half-breadths

be laid

in the stem
off when

at these points

are drawn
assembly.

the section

at the

(For an ilis drawn

of intersection

in

are picked

up as in the plan view and laid off on the perpendiculars
10 establish
the points for the
section to the outside of planking.
After the section line has been drawn, the thickness
of planking
is set off, and
bearding
line.
Instead
method
profile

of making
shown

templates

by Figure

as illustrated

this sets up the points
for the

8-5, make

by Figure

8-6.

them

rabbet

for the rabbet,
from

for the more

the

back

rabbet,

half-breadth

accurate

sections

and the

plan

in the

drawn

on the

96

MOLDS,

Y‘EMPLATES,

AND

THE

BACh’RONE

REVEL

AT

DE&
rT===+

4=-n

I

ITAMES AFT OF STAT-Id5
-

CFRAME?: FC+?‘DOF STATIO~JS

i-lAiF

I’LAbJ

0READTH

AT CHINE

BE\;Ei

=F
0Ei’EL

AT

KEEL

h

-_
.i-u

BOTTOM

FRAME

I

FPAME

Figure 8-8.

4 (~~%ING AFT)

Stopwaters
Softwood

dowels

from leaking

called

into

stopwaters

are fitted

the hull along

the joints.

it is imperative

that

full effectiveness:

in joints

in the backbone

The location

they

be placed

to prevent

of stopwaters
wherever

the rabbet

joint in the backbone.
Any durable
softwood such as white pine or cedar
there are so few of them that they can be whittled out of scrap.

V-Bottomed
Temporary

molds

are

not

bottomed

hulls.

of the structure.

Figure

l-3 and

Instead,

.

necessary

the body

are beveled

(See A of Figure

for

plan

Typical

l-4 in Chapter

tom and side pieces
the frames.

fcr

crosses

a

will do, and

Frames

nent

part

water

is important

1, but

the

is used to make

v- and

Figure

of v-bottomed

frames

arc-bottomed

these sectional

so the planking
8-8 and

construction

that become
frames

views do not reveal

will bear
8-10.)

hull
against

In many

and

the entire

arc-

a perma-

are shown
that

thickness

cases the bevel

in

the botof

is not the

MOl.DS,

same

at the sheer

of boat

hulls.

the amount

of bevel.

approximately
bevel needed.
and

as it is at the chine.

The character,

be measured
plan

and

as indicated-

If the frames
the same,
from

have some

sections
frames

the

curve,

Bevels

for the notches
are run

chine

To determine

but this is the nature
etc., determines

bevel

bevels

with

chines,

chine

points

in the half-breadth
The bevels
above

from

the

buttocks

are fitted are taken
battens
for fairing

by planing

however

(and

this is very important

previously

discussed.

--...

4

-..

&-

by the method

shown

off
the

the frames.

in the larger hulls with a good number
of frames)
the bevels
much
like the deduction
for planking
normal
to the surface,

~-

are just

in the profile.

time saving
measured

This can be done

are

and keel respectively.

as described

and clamps
At that time,

are made

accuracy,

8-8. the bevels can

between the deck and chine are taken.
dnd those for the bottom
frames at

taken

is set up.

adjustments
more

and between

at major

are

the keel,

the boat

at deck and chine

plan,

the keel

in Figure

and keel in the profile.

at points

half-breadth
and

when

in and

bevels

at chine

the bevels

in which

later

like that shown

deck and chine

in the

between
or cut

work,

97

be beveled.

but those for the side frames

the waterlines

similarly

for more

BACKBONE

of the deck line and chine,

the side frame

line between

points

frames

must

with straight

those for the bottom

cut in a straight

makes

THE

B-B in Figure 8-8, where the deck line and chine are
it can be seen that there is practically
no
to the centerline,
as the deck and chine curve in toward the centerline,
forward

aft of B-B, the frames
boat

This

or curvature,

AND

At Section

parallel
f-fowever,

For a simple

TEMPLATES.

in Figure

to

should be
thickness

8-9. The square

.~

Id” ,,irrd

Figure

8-9.

98

MOLDS.

TEMP1.A

.4 ND

TES.

T1i

'E

BACKBOh'E

‘\I j
I

ef11

-DE

/
-2%
L
RE\JEL
BOAED

Figure 8-9(a)

can be made
ten,
then

up by the builder

the bevels
marked

should

and applied

be marked

on the actual

right

frame

as shown

on the body

material

so that

proper bevel. The bevels should be taken along
mal as possible to all the frames crossed.

to measure
plan
it can

diagonals

the bevels.

in degrees
be sawn

Once got-

for reference
to shape

and

with the

laid out to be as close to nor-

Bevel Board
Instead

of using

yourself

a simple

3 I,$ rr wide
bevel

along

read

it off.

and

a protractor
bevel board
mark

to measure
as shown

off angles

from

the left edge of the bevel

a bevel

in Figure

each
8-9(a).

zero to about
board

until

time

you take

one off, make

Use a piece of plyood

30 degrees.

Slide

about

the adjustable

it lines up with one of the angles

and

as
When a bevel is marked
on a piece of stock t o be sawn, it must be designated
either under or standing,
marking
the piece UB or SB. This is most important,
and
after

you have

ruined

a few pieces,

you will understand

the principle.

MOLDS,

Lofting

hull lines with
dealt

defining

the aid of a computer

with enlarging

the shape

otherwise.
are

a male

hulls frames

by computer

pays off if your
sections

1oc::tion

complete

If lofting

tion

project

bevels

given

is used,

from

will be furnished,

The

There’s

mold

partitions

for round-bottomed

at uniform

dividing

intervals.

the cabin

Many of the larger
can supply

material,
shell

boats

are built

full-size

you

how the

An explana-

as many

bevels as you

too many
spacing

the

bevels

than

for v-bottomed

of joiner

bulkheads,

arc not located

those

in the same place

of welded

drawings
should

steel or aluminum

alloy framing,

For this type of construction

from

which

be ordered

to cut the frames

with the deduction

with a

the computer

to shape

from

for the thickness

flat

of the

plating.

Transom

and Transom

As will bc seen later,

Bevels

the station

the boat can be set up. The molds
ment

but

bulkhead
drawings
are desired,
these, too, can be supand once again you should ask for the edge bevels.

of the same marerial.

so the drawings

times

the location

is avoided,

drawings.

but better

etc.,

at any

to you. Therefore,

and the frame

accommodations,

as molds or frames. If full-size
plied by the computer
service,
skin or shell plating

hulls

Sometimes

plotter

you understand

to the section

compurer.

for

of the hull.

that

two or three

that

that

is where fairing

or unequally)

in the yard

Be certain

with probably

no stopping

the outside

will not be available

be applied

Here

equally

or

hulls molds
and

A computer-guided

either

of the lofting

people.

fiberglass,

frames

the boat.

the expense.
from

or frames

should

along
just

spacing

is usually

most

metal,

the

chapter,

of the set of lines

it be wood,

to build

justifies

the computer

by the computer

really need.
too few!

service

99

in the previous

to shape

the hull (spaced

with deductions

for the edges of the molds

hulls

BACKBONE

that for round-bottomed

on which

on which

through

by computer

order

bevels

THE

scale drawing

whether

it was explained

framework

are needed

can draw full-size
desired,

of the hull,

in this chapter

to make

v-bottomed

bevels

.4MD

was mentioned

to full size the designer’s

of the outside

Earlier

needed

must

TES.

by Computer

Fairing
which

TEMP1.A

of the transom

shape

molds,

the stem,

and the transom

and the stem have been

has been

illustrated.

are needed

explained

You also need

before

and the develop-

the bevels on the tran-

som edges. Remember
that the developed
shape of the transom
is to the outside of the
planking,
and depending
upon the type of construction,
it may or may not represent
the actual

size of the finished

transom.

The

simplest

method

is to let the side planking

overlap the transom
and to then cut it flush with the after side. In this case the plank
thickness is subtracted
from the edges of the transom.
The best practice,
however, is to
make

the transom

to the outside

of planking

and

rabbet

Both methods
are shown in Figure 8-10.
Figure 8-10A shows that the inside of the transom
at the top edge where the shape depends
upon
boat narrows
from amidships
to the transom.
v-bottomed

boat,

the edges

of the transom

must

the edge

is larger

thaii

the construction
Consequently,
be beveled

f-rr the planking.
the outside,

except

detnirr; because the
like the frames of a

to allow

the planks

to lie

100

MOLDS,

TEMPLATES,

AND

THE

BACKBONE

NC BE .‘E (ILcoeeECT:

RE .‘ELE3
-i%.ri70K

ETABBE?FD
fLAh.JSOM

A.

/X-T-

Figure i3-10.

flat. The bevels
waterlines

are taken

from

the full-size

in the half-breadth

plan

But once again

and

profile

drawing.

curate

it should

way to take the beve!s off, because

the hull by the method

shown

Small
doweled

are generally
glued. The

boat transoms
and waterproof

planks

can

marine
Larger

plywood,
transoms,

be properly

hull planking

lines as shown

in Figure

fastened

- those for the sides from the

those for the bottom
be remembered
it has not been

from the buttocks

in the

that this is not the most acdone normal

to the surface

of

8-9.

made
boards

of wide boards whose edges are splined or
should be sufficiently
thick so that the hull
can also be made of
to the edge. Such transoms

with cheek pieces around
the edges to take the plank fastenings.
like that shown in Figure 8-lOC, are made the same thickness as the

or thicker

and have a frame

share of the p!‘~k fastenings.
There
where a wood or metal knee connects
sake of appearance,

the seams

the seams

backed

are usually

or cheek

pieces

on the inside

edges to take a

is usually a vertical
member
on the centerline,
the transom
to the keel or horn timber.
For the

of transom

with battens.

planks
Wide

are not caulked.
transoms

If single

planked,

also have a series of vertical

FLAT
TeAd5OM
________
I___
L-

PM

B0l-K

5KlFF

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i rtiee~s~~

\

EWTTOM
PLAN<:lNG 1

A

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FXluhJD &TTTOtvl !ZUK’BOA~
OR SAlLlhlC
DlUGHb’

TeA&.OM

TWO-PIECE
PARBETEP
PLAIJlC tit&

ARC

5-rTtM
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PLANK

lCEEL

SCM

BOTTOM

8’
,

CErJTER0OAKb
Ti?UNK

N

LOGS

UT

Figure 8-l 1. Tyjical

stiffeners outboard
engine stringers.

of the centerline.

Most transoms

do not have enough

cold.

In transoms

that

wet rags or steamed

These
radius

RA00ET

small

keels.

are sometimes

spaced

to prevent

the planks

do not have a lot of radius,

so they will bend

boat

to the transom

the planks

to take the ends of
from

can be soaked

being

bent

with hot,

frame.

Keel and Deadwood
There

are quite

the preference

a number

of keel construction

of the architect,

and sometimes

The

types most likely

to be encountered

and

8-12.

to say.

Needless

for

methods,

varying

with the custom

with the type of boat,
of a particular

locality.

by the amateur
are illustrated
in Figures 8-l 1
only sound
timber
should go into the
longevity,

POWER
WOOD

BOAT
SHAFT

WITH
LOG

dMCI
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r Bea”LL
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.--k-’
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Eau.C,Tld brarcjs to thcJ mftcsrs ofthc buildi?zg nlld the strongbd
(Roscw/dd).
Below. Figure 9-8. Thh
nlold cross s/~uIls on t bra cent c~rliw q f‘ the hr.
molds aw stackrd h
nlold i.s /wing sat up cind rclwfilllvchrckcd
,fk itlig” nl(‘rlt. 0th
thr backgrou~ld.

,,Jw”,~“<

‘/,

II

II

I

SETTING

Figure 9-9. A v-bottomed
hull completeiy
set up with snwn~fram~
and ready for double-dia~gonul
planking.
(Courtesy of Hz&ins
Yacht
Corp.)
-

lj

116

SETTING

UP

1%” x 2” spaced
molds

before

The

about

getting

differences

9-6 and

in ribband

9-7. Figure

has already

been

sizes between

Figure

sizes for the boats

have relatively

light frames.

should

ribbands

fastening

various

hull

in the two pictures

The ribbands

be located

should

where

and close spacing

the middle

first and,

mold with screws having
be removed

be tried

around

the

types can be seen in Figures
heavy

cruising

for a racing
indicates

sloop.

auxiliary

that the racing

be in single

lengths

that

A comparison
sloop will

if possible,

other-

be spliced as shown in Figures 9-3 and 9-6. This type of splice tends to
flat spots in the ribbands,
but as a further
precaution
against hard

the splices

Husky

definitely

for a moderately

9-7 shows the setup

of the ribband

spots,

should

for all the ribbands.

9-6 shows the hull

framed;

wise they should
eliminate
unfair

A sample

a foot apart.
out the stock

easily

working

washers

as the planking

bends

in the ribbands

will contribute

under

toward

toward

the ends,

their heads.

securing

Put them on by

the ribbands

Screws will permit

to each

the ribbands

to

top ribbands
should go on first. fitted
parallel
to the sheer and a few inches above it. The rest of them should be run in fair
lines similar to strakes of planking
and as illustrated
in Figure 9-6. The ribbands
are
spaced

closer

frames

will be fairly

where

the frames

is fitted.

are easiest.

a fair boat.

The

will be bent

to the sharpest

curves

than

where

the

flat.

Careful mold loft work and setting up will make running
ribbands
an easy job and
will eliminate
the task of trimming
and shimming
molds to get the ribbands
co touch
all molds
bands,

and

on the inside
Running
dition

still remain

fair.

it will pay to check
of the ribbands

the ribbands
usually

the shape

V-Bottomed
It should

If considerable

the sections

to see if it touches

is the last job before

is the cause

trouble

by bending

of excited

all of them

framing

anticipation

is encountered

a batten

fairing

into position
while bent

is started,

the rib-

like a frame

in a fair curve.

and the hull in this con-

on the part

of the builder,

for now

of the hull may be appreciated.

Hulls
be understood

without

mention

that

hulls

other

Than the round-bottomed

type must be set up, aligned,
and made rigid with the same care. There is no point in
doing an accurate
job of laying down and mold making
unless the setting up and the
following

work

follow the same

standard.

Chapter

10

FRAMING

There

are

two

basic

systems

for

framing

a

hull,

Transverse
framing
is the most common
and being
have become known as “ribs.” Transverse
frames
are either
pieces

bent

from

one piece,

as in Figures

bent on top of each other,

from

boards

usually

and made

have

up of two layers

the bent

non-existent,

sawn from

frames,

as islands

ble sawn according

to both

10-l.)

for v-bottomed

Sawn

frames

and l-4. Some designers
their v-bottomed
hulls.
For the longitudinal
the

hull,

but

longitudinals
quite

are

craft

likely to be built

undertaking
certain

before

V-Bottom
The

a craft

lofting

you refer

in wood,

is limited

starting

that

kinds

bent
of more

he is aware

of crooks.

of sawn

transverse

is

(See Figure
frames

for

Fore-and-aft

This system

for metal
suitable

framing,

l-3

are used to shape

system.

and sawn v-bottom

complex

hulls

frames

in Figures

and bent

frames

strength.

but is well suited

of what

to moderate
for bent

are shown

in the transverse

frames

sawn”

are sawn from crooks or douhulls

framing

such frames
wooden hulls

or “double

Small

material

to the two types of framing

by the amateurwith other

than

up the necessary

for construction

construction.
In this book discussion

in general,

apart

longitudinal.

from two or more

of wood,

and the supply

arc-bottomed

use a combination

system

farther

are used to build

complicated

and

and

laminated

joints.

where

the frames

the size of the boat

framing

l-5,
crooks

in places

in the Bahamas,

and builders

spaced

l-4 and
natural

with staggered

although

such

transverse

oriented
athwartships.
for round-bottomed

can get

boats of welded
for the size of
frames.

the builder

Before

should

be

is involved.

Frames
and construction
to Figures

l-3

and

of frames
l-4 and

for a v-bottomed
the explanation

boat

should

in Chapter

be understood
8. The

frames

if
are
117

118

FRAMING
SAWN FPAME

-(A&XT 50%
REtiT

CEAdlEbZ THAti
Fb?AME)

Figure 10-l. Sawn and double-sawer
round-bottomed
are not easy. fir the amateur
lo construct.
made
bear

from

the full-size

properly.

The

sections

process

and must

of picking

be beveled

up bevels

frames

on the edges so the planking

is explained

in preceding

will

chapters.

Bent Frames
The

bending

peace

of frames

of mind

dispel

this fear.

small

boat

for a round-bottomed

as he contemplates
For this reason,

having

light

boat

seems

the construction
it is recommended

frames

in order

to gain

to disturb

of such
that

a hull,

the novice

experience

the amateur’s

but a trial
start

should

with a fairly

and overcome

the mental

block that is the principal
obstacle
to frame bending.
We all know that any piece of
dry wood may be picked from the lumber
pile and sprung to a curve of large radius,
but for bending
the tight curves found in frames, the wood must be both wet and hot.
The material
most commonly
used for bent frames in the United States is white oak,
because

of its durability

abroad.

Although

as low as 12 percent
that

the amateur

heats

rapidly,

quired

and

strength,

responsible
is suitable
needs

only

elm

wood,
heat

is used

have proven

for bending

use unseasoned
and

while

agencies

that

if handled

because

to bend

extensively
properly,

it is usually

rather

than

in Canada

oak with a moisture

and

content

it is recommended

free from surface

the addition

checks,

of moisture

re-

by dry wood.

The

frame

achieved

stock

should

by splitting

be as straight-grained

a plank

with the grain

as possible

and then

sawing

and

this is sometimes

out the frames

parallel

to

the split edges. The stock should be about a foot or so longer than the finished length
of the frame.
It is best to bend the framing
stock on the flat of the grain (Figures 6-3
and

lo-2),

for not only will it bend

when

plank

boats

call for a flat frame

standpoint
when

turned

are driven

of theory,
to bend

the frame,

on its other

edge

crossways

this way but
it is then

is relatively

strength
great.

if it does not readily

Speciftcations

on the flat.

is to make

aft and in practice

bend

However,

to split
for some
from

the

member
and thus does its job best
If this were carried too far it would

so a good compromise
as it is fore and

the wood’s tendency

minimized.

as 1 R x 1% rr bent

is a transverse

dimension

it is just as strong

easier

through

size such

a frame

its athwartships

be impossible
Then

fastenings

in the direction

the frame

square.

it may be quickly
first attempted.

/

, 4)

_

I‘

I

119

FRAMING

RIGHT

WRONG

Figure

10-2. Frames

should

be bent

on the J2at o/ the

grain.

Steaming

Arrangements

You may have seen the steam box at a local boatyard
in action. However, the source of
steam does not have to be elaborate
when only one boat is to be built. It may be
generated
rigged

in an old hot water

boiler

so a wood fire may be built

of water

must

the water

be ample

from

under

for the period

a house,

a large

it and the steam
of time

kettle,

or any similar

piped

you plan

device

to the box. The supply

to work.

Watch

this point,

for

goes fast.

The steam
necessary,

box is wooden.

and

possible

that

large

made

enough

the garboard

as steam

for a half
and

tight as possible

dozen

frames

one or two other

and

planks

by caulking

with cotton

some

to spare.

room

will need

steaming

if

It is

to bend

them in place, so make the box large enough
for this job. There must be a door at one
end, opposite to the end with the steam supply pipe, and the cracks are packed with
rags to prevent
steam from leaking out. Needless to say, the box should be located
close to the boat,

because

bending

calls

for fast work

before

the frames

become

too

cool. Handle the frames with cot ton work gloves. A rough rule for steaming is one hour
A few trials will have to be made to get the hang of it.
per inch of frame thickness.
Light
length
end.

frames

are

sometimes

of pipe set at an angle
This scheme

unduly

drying

and the upper
steaming

Frames

well because,

the frames.

Strings

supple

in boiling

are shown

water

by placing

with a fire built

with water

should

end of the pipe should

arrangements

improvised

Bending

works

made

with the ground,

in the pipe,

under
there

be tied to the frames

be stuffed
in Figure

is little

in a

danger

for pulling

with rags to retain

10-3. Others

them

the pipe’s lower
them

the steam.

of
out,

Typical

on the same order

may

be

by the builder.

the Frames
may either

and then fitted

be bent

to shape

in the boat

to the boat cold. The former

frames

for your

boat

should

be followed.

are relatively
Guided

heavy

by the frame

agains:

the ribbands

is by far the easier

or the hull is extremely
layout

or bent

method,

on the construction

on forms

and unless

shapely,
plan,

the

this system
first mark

the frame positions on all the ribbands
and at the keel, marking
both edges with a thin
batten the same width as a frame and making sure the marks are made at right angles

120

FRAMING

KEEP WATER

. .j ,:

‘,.,:... ,: .,....

Figure 10-3. Steaming

to the centerline.

Start

framing

allows your experience
sharp bends are likely
The

actual

Then

start

procedure

as possible

the bending

bend

to lie flat
more

the ribbands.

against

against

than

inboard

it then

Take

like that

with hands

clamp

a frame

in Figure

it at the topmost

the ends

as you progres-

inboard,

and forced

the frame

into position

may be employed

can be clamped

to aid in

to the ribbands

give it a downward

moved
third

learn

from
tends

that

the bending

the steam

box.

the box. When

must

If possible,
the boat

be done quickly
two men should

is designed

the
will

against

1s you

wallop

on the

head to make sure that it touches all the ribbands,
and then temporarily
toenail
the ribbands
so that your clamps will be ready for further duty on the next frame.
will soon

box

it in place.

or feet, all the while twisting

iO-4A

ribband,

where

out of the steam

of the frame

the head

can be flattened

shown

toward

to fit the keel and nail

By pulling

should it be troublesome.
are available,
the frame

are likely to be easy. This

progresses

on the head

the ribbands

and

A gadget

it, otherwise

the bends

goes as follows.

the ribbands.

enough,

twisting in the bevel
If plenty of hands
bend

where

cut the heel of the frame
by pulling

sively force the frame
frame

arrangements.

to accumulate
as the work
to be encountered.

bending

and as rapidly

amidships

-.

it to
You

once the frame has been rework on the bending
while a

with frames

in one piece from sheer to

sheer, there must absolutely
be two men bending,
one on a side, each working from
the keel toward the sheer, in order that the frame can be completely
bent before it cools.
In many
in full-bowed
sketch

all the frames

hulls

D of Figure

in a short
angles

boats

length.

and those

S-12 are often
Because

to the centerline

against

the planking

frames

and

may be bent
along

are shown

the horn

troublesome

of this,

in Figure

timber

bow and

forward

lo-4B.

above.

However,

aft of the waterline

due to the necessity

it is permissible

in the extreme
so they slope

as described

from

The same

to depart
to allow
is true

of twisting
from

the frames

keel to sheer.

the frames
in hulls

These

of stern

bending

like

in a bevel
at right

to lie naturally
are called

frames

cant

in a double-

ender .

Cold-Fitted

Frames

Framing
the counter
stern,
done very carefully
if bumps

as the type of stern in Figure
and hollows are to be avoided.

8-12D is called, should be
In the interest of fair lines,

121

FRAMING

v

/-

CANT FfZAMES

c

TWhSTlhki

BE\/EL

Figure 10-4.

the frames
later,

for such sterns

or oversized

straightened
inner
frames
The

frame

to the proper

edge is finally

stringers

dre either

excess

to correspond

to be installed

in cross-section

curvature

over a mold outside

of the boat,

first

bent

to that

later

on the outside

will fit properly.

to the double-sawn
into

the frame

frame

These

of the frame
cold-fitted,

illustrated

is accomplished

If the use of cold-fitted
to Figure

lo-5A

quired

for the forms,

frames

cannot

be avoided,

over which to bend
bend

the frames.

a piece of soft iron

you must

by padding

make

so that
beveled

in Figure

bands with short lengths of wood in way of the frame location.
Curvature
out of a frame after it has cooled and set, but none may be added.
similar

as described

stock is overbent
on the ribbands.
after which it is removed,
the ribbands.
The
curve, and then beveled to lie against

beveled

and clamps
are similar

bent

10-l.

the rib-

can be taken

one or two forms

To get an idea of the curves

rod or lead wire against

re-

the ribbands

and use it as a guide to build a form. The frames must always be bent to more curve
than necessary,
and the form can be padded
to vary the shape. When ready to bend,
the end of the frame is slipped under the pipe shown in the figure and wedged; then
Leave the frames on the form at least overthe bending
is done with a steady pressure.
night

so they will cool and

set properly

and

not lose too much

shape

when

removed.

122

FRAMING

OWNG
USE OF 5TEEL
S-t-HAP
IGHT EIJOUGH
To bEUD
EA’. ILY)
l=‘b?ELk.l-f
SPLlTTlhlG
OF
FVA,ME
Ul- Cd
FORM
SUCH
AS ABOVE

0.
Figure
When

I& FORQ CO wO&
Rlb’ETED
TO STICAFI

10-5.
thrre

is too much

CUI’W,

thr frames can be straightened
with a device like
of the shop building.
Reverse curves can be made
at a time, allowing
the first bend to set weil, and
then nailing braces across the curve to hold the shape while the reverse is being bent.
Due to tensile stress, the outer fibers of a frame will tend to split when the curve is

Figure lo-6 on a bench
on thr form by bending

sharp,
frame

or a corner
one curve

found long ago that
but someone
is a very successful
way to combat

10 5~ is typical

of the simple

is also present
curves, a strap

when bending
similar to that

CaSes the strap

need

such as around

the turn

scheme

a metal strap bent along the outside of the
this breakage.
The strap shown in Figure

involved

and is very handy.

only extend

somewhat

of the bilge

more

than

of a motorboat.

able to judge which bends may Rive trouble,
counter of boats like Figure 8-12D, in which

to split

the length
After

of the hard

some practice

bend,

you will be

like those in the S frames forward of the
case the frame stock may be split with a

SPLIT

Figure

The tendency

sharp curves against
ribbands.
If you find some bad
illustrated
may be devised to do the same job. In most

BEf.J-7 FRAME

FRAMING

fine saw cut as shown

in Figure

of fact this is easier
ribbands.

When

use. If splitting

than

10-6 to permit

using

the frames
is resorted

a strap

when

the bend

to be made

the frames

are bent

easily.

123

As a matter

in the hull inside

the

are bent outside of the ribbands,
a strap is not difficult to
to, the frame should be fastened in way of the cut as soon as

possible.

Floor Timbers
One

of the most

timber.

These

between

of the hull

ably not remain

material,

and backbone.

planks

frame

members

pieces of f!at-grained

the frames

the garboard
each

important

and

tight.

their

Floors

is securely

floors,
along

are generally

fastened

usually

Without

fastenings

frame

is the so-called

oak, are the strength
severe strains

the rabbet.

placed

floor or floor

and

would

the hull would

alongside every frame
but there are certain

to the backbone,

connection

be imposed

on

prob-

to ensure that
exceptions
to

this rule. You will see plans for some powerboats
and light centerboard
sailboats with
floors located at only every other frame, but in the interest of safety, most boats of the
cruiser type, whether sail or power, do not omit any of them.
Floors are set on edge on top of the backbone
structure
and drift or through-bolted
to frames are either bolts
to it, depending
upon their location in the boat. Fastenings
or copper

rivets.

backbone

permits,

There

are always two bolts

and good

practice

through

calls for three

to the keel where

the width

or four fastenings

to the frame

of the
on

each side. Floors are shnwn
ly visible

in Figures l-3. 1-4, 1-5, 6-1, 8-8, and 8-12D and areclearwell illustrates
the
b- ! 1, 9-5, 9-8 and 10-8. The latter picture

in Figures

bolting

of frames

It should

be

to tl-,e floors.
noted

in

Figure

9-8

that

floors

have

already

been

fitted

backbone,
although
the boat has not yet been framed.
This method
is common
but would be recommended
to the amateur
tice for the professional
builder,
reluctance,

because

point.

With

this system,

each

frame,

bolted

and

in position.

the mold loft work involved might try his patience
each floor must be preshaped
from a full-size

correct
bevels
In v-bottomed
However,

the shape

and

are not so many

not

as it is with bent-frame

as much
The

of a chore

thickness

the frames

there

of floors should

in v-bottomed

be as specified

boats.

In bent-frame

is obtained

the floor can be
being an essen-

simultaneously

of them

to make,

pracwith

to the breaking
section drawn at

must be cut on three edges before
hulls, floors must also be preshaped,

tial part of each frame.
each frame being built,

to the

with that

of

so the lofting

is

hulls.
on the plans
hulls

most

and is usually
of the floors

the same as
are the same

thickness
or shghtly less than the thickness
of the frame. Those under the mast steps
and engine beds in both type boats are made heavier to take the extra strains found in
those areas and to accept the fastenings
that run through
the adjoining
parts at these
the keel casting and
points. Floors in way of ballast keels arc Jored for bolts through
the diameter
of the bolts.
are of a siding equal to the ordinary
flour: nlus
,
that floors be carefully
fitted.
Like all joints in a well-built
boat., it is impt.,--ltive
They

are made

ends

of the boat

to have full contact
the floors

with the frames,

are beveled

and where

off to fit tightly

the frames

as shown

twist in the

in Section

A-A in

FRAMING
-

BAT7-d (OR USE RlBbV%?)

AT LE‘-‘EL

OF TOP OF FLOOR
TY MEASURE
0Ek’EL Od OLIT0CARD
EQGE

KEEL,

cBEtEL
FLOOR ‘ro FIT TIGHTAGAI~~YT
FRAME -- PLACE FLOORS CM I=‘OR72 51 DE OF FRAMES
FCR’D 015 MbSHll:
Od AFT SIDE
AFT OF Ii4lMHIP

Figure

Figure
ships,

10-7.

The beveling

10-7. Due to the hull curving
the

placed

twist

in the frames

on the forward

the frames

from

for one reason

and .fastening

in toward

side of the frames
to the stern.

or another

at the option

movement

of the parts

when

the hull

installation

forward

Longitudinal
Although
hull

Strength

fore-and-aft

is all or partially

because
planks

or a short

they
on

fitted

stringers

is stressed.

Limber

10~7A) so rain

than

about

one-half

shown

in the photograph

otherwise

holes are cut on the bottom
or bilge water will drain

to the

The outboard
edges of the floors are
This bevel may be obtained
from a rib-

may be sprung

and

planked,
on the

To save weight

other

and on the aft side of

floor may be located

around

clamps

they

may

or not
inside

may

the adjacent

the boat
of the

not be fastened

be considered

part

is decked.

frames.

the smallest

and

hulls,

the width

make
are

installation

tapered

at the ends

frames

for

before

the

of the workboat

install these pieces in single
in Chapter
8 and as shown

in Figure

and

strengthen

the clamps

from

a maximum
and

10-8. If material

framing

clatnps

the

Stringers

lengths,
they may be pieced
in Figure 8-13.

hull

and be carefully
oak where weight

easier,

in width

of the boat.

in place
of the

Stringers

They

siderahly
and to be most effective
they should fit snugly
They a .e made of hard pine or Douglas fir and sometimes
jectionable.

are

Members

arc used whether

edge

of amidships

the floors

to fit the member
it rests upon, and many proinch or so over the keel to aid in preventing

(Figure

batten

and aft of amid-

consequently

of the designer.

low point of the bilge for removal
by pumping.
beveled so the planking
will bear against them.
band in the vicinity,
the same purpose.

forward

the ends;

An occasional

The bottom edge of a floor is beveled
fessionals
prefer to notch them a half
edges of floors before

are important.

the centerline

will bc toward

amidships

of floors

hull

are
con-

fastened.
is not ob-

and stringers,

in

amidships

to

clamps

are clearly

is not available

out with scarphs

as described

to

FRAMING

Figure
10-8.
(Roscwfihi)

Bilgr stringers
there

v-bottomed

boats

aground

be severai

and plugged

board

corners

possible
fastening.

boats except
side

Stringers

of the

give valuable

is usually

where

where

they will be visible

of the stringers

to the position
upon

bolts are used.

They

shown

builders.

The

chamfered
stringers

on the drawings,

the relative

thickness

In some boais
and

sprung

found

in

if a boat should

on each side made
tightly together.
wood screws, ex-

the upper

and lower in-

on a machine

be located

run as far fore and

of the piece,

ones, and in

the screws are counter-

or beaded

should

“ribs”

are not

support

one stringer

in quarters,

are sometimes

cnllpd

the smallest

hull.

strakes, and when multiple,
the strakes are wedged
is fastened
to each frame with staggered
flat-head

by professional

depending

:rn each

of the clrne.

in heavy construction,

appearance

why bent jLarnes nw often

and lay over on her side. There

bored

and

may
because

_ up of one or more
The bilge stringer
cept

shoua

are used in all round-bottomed

powerboats
run

T1zi.r photo~gru#

125

for

as closely

as

aft as is practical,

or shored

in place

for

126

FRAMING

DECdED

oPEh1
ROUND
BOTTOM

CHIME

Figure

The

Scr&ions

10-g.

showing

BOATS

sht~?r

dam/E

sheer clamp is located on the inside of the frames as shown in Figure 10-9.
r;atl
4,r a:~n to show :hat in decked boats the upper edge of
!O- !(! has been espe-.-..y

Figure

the clamp

is set down

plus the depth
sheerline
mum

from the sheer line a distance
equal to the thickness of decking
It is important
to keep this point in mind or else the

of the deck beams.

will not be at the right

strength.

the hull

This means

before

planking,

installing

that
the

in place

of the hull,
and

then

heights

interfering

The clamps

if the amateur
clamps,

temporarily

until

the two planks
replaced

from

and

the molds

OEck

with

are bolted

should

the bolts

to the frames

go ahead

would

have

for maxi-

and completely
to extend

plank

through

the

fastenings.
I am a little ahead of myself,
There are two ways of gerting around
this, although
One
way is to fasten the upper two
since planking
will be discussed in the next chapter.
planks

possibly

height.

the plank

planking

are taken

fastened

for good.

to adjacent

IO-IO.

In.

decked

frames,

After

the fitting

the molds

and bolting

are taken

out

of the clamps

The other method
is to transfer
the sheer
then cut away enough of the molds to in-

SHEER LitJE-TRAt-&FEP
THlS HEIGHT FROM MOLDS
TO FEAMES

0EAM

-i-H~tJrclER CLAMP
lhl HU
HAdtdG
DECK SHELF

Figure
sheer.

is completed.

off to enable

hulls,

PLAdE
l-C’ FIT
AGA IhITi- FIZAMEF

the top edge of the clamp

is placed

below the

STRlhlGte
TWItOUQH

00l.TdD
FLOOCS

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ENGINE

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Figure 10-11. Engine

,*,
@”
*

4
.

15 1

PLANKING

t l-15.

Figure

l~rrllrhfwtls,

tiowever,

‘i’hv

although

is child’s

tht:rr

is no substitute

it

lofted,

great

of spiling

one another.

molded

boar,

meaning
prove

and

a huitdcr

tricky

a [rue and sturdy
to bc done

Indeed,
must

depending
to build:

upon

There
by John
learned
by those

about

o/

the details

with a great

deal

mfdds,

The tines must stilt

be constructed.

between

curves

under
These

Gougcon

of cold-molding
of experience

hulls

should

Recommended
are Moduw

Brothers
from
wirh

on Boat
these

tightly

and perhaps as many
some hI1tt shaprs can
amount
not

Yacht

Construclion.
which

of trouble,

be attempted

Reading

Wocldrn

books.

is stilt a

to butt

that, to build a cotdroutine
for each layer,

seem to give a great

that such
craftsman.

There

the planks

but at least three
of layers. In addition,

the number

length.

Thr

and

must

not just once.

books listed

at considerable

Guzzwrtt

11 /irlnrcwork
t~rrz:u~fdl.)

some professionals
have opined
go through
a complete
planking

hulls with reverse

are two excellent

mold

to get the joints

and onr professional
builder
has stated
anyone
less than a realty skilled, patient
cold-molding

If,

SWIII to the amateur
that laminating
up a hull of thin
to bending
frames and spiting and cutting out planks,

that thy hull is ptankrd

as five times.

rlpp/ivd

for skill and care in any facet of boatbuilding.

be accurately
against

hvl’trfi

(I~~lf~lf~ f~orcrtf~sy o/‘,/ohli

might
play compared

strips

amount

.$kor

/i’rst

ccrrrl .strr’ugf*r.s.

that

by

deal with

Construction
Much

can

be

have been written

this type of construction.

PLANKING

152

Figure 11-16.

Diagonal

Planking

Although

it predates

similar

cold-molding

to cold-molding.

the planking

layers

In fact,

instrad

done,

it can bc considered

is that

it employs

two layers
mostly

strakes

of planking.

less severe

fastened

to a framework
a fever

of diagonal

angle

to the keel and

keel or sheer
Toward

clamp,

thr topsides

as long

The

second

with screws
tween
clout

tends

nails

tenings

is glued

must

between

the framing

over the heads

planking

is smoothed

When
can

or nails

this method
that

each

is used

strake

en-

is generally
frames

(or

with longitu-

and can be seen to be
of uniform

width,

2”

glued

as the convergence
too much

approximately

chine, and

to frames,

also being

to one another.
of the bottom

out of parallel
into line;

and

with those

the angle is not

frames.
is also edge-glued

and frames.
and

planking

To provide
outer

strakes

be wood screws

on the outside

by sanding.

screws

of the planks

of the inner

are then countersunk.

puttying

and

be tapered.

clamps.

of only

The first layer is laid up at a 45-degree

of the strakes

cross several

consists

together

11-16,

back

as was formerly
it a bit different

and transverse

or bulkheads

is made

glue

agent
makes

The planking

clamps,

frames

to the first and

the intersections

hulls.

material

the planks

to the keel, chines,

frames,

in shape

in Figure

the angle

brings

as the planks
layer

thickness,

planking

with

with the edges

IO change

Tapering

strake

is very

glue between

that it often

the change

the size of the hull.

is secured

and

planking

waterproof

is shown

The

the bow, the planks

amidships.
critical,

upon

veneers

of keel, chines,

planking

diagonal

using
What

on round-bottomed

of transverse

of cold-molding.

depending

than

where

consisting
number

similar

to 4” wide,

time,

now.

in a waterproofing

of the greater

than

dinals).
The scheme
to that

soaked

are thicker

Because

is much

in some cases,

of fabric

powerboats,

counters

some

to br a form of cold-molding.
that

on v-bottomed

by quite
as it is practiced

of the hull.

driven
After

strakes

and fastened
clamping

pressure

are clout

nailed.

are 5/H
* thick or more,
from

in place

the inside

the adhesive

beThe

the fas-

to eliminate

has cured,

the

Chapter

12

DECK FRAMING

The

decking

of a boat

is laid on transverse

beams,

which

not only provide

the deck but also help to hold the sides of the hull together.
tant

in all boats designed

to be decked,

powerboats
and sailboats
that are
strength
to do without
the stiffening
hulls

the thwarts

do double

duty

especially

The

in sailboats.

latter

support

aspect

The many

for

is impor.

types of small

not decked
must be designed
to have enough
that the deck structure
provides.
In many such

as hull

stiffening.

Clamps and Shelves
The

deck

beams

contribute

heads

member

is generally
clamp

it instead

craft,

with

screws

screws through

the clamps

edges

boats they are fastened

is fitted

as the clamp,

landing

and

area for the beam

toward
should

beams

of fastenings
between

lengths,

a pitch

are used as fastenings,

Bolts have the extra

concentration

located

or deck shelf,

material

a greater

In small

to the hull if they are to
to the clamp

in size, an additional

on each side of the boat.
its position
ends,

stif-

The shelf

on the flat against

which

are fastened

the

through

of the clamp.

used.

single

of them.

connected

12-1A and B). As hulls increase

a shelf.

of the same

In small
whereas

required
(Figure

callrd

provides

always

be of good size and strongly

the strength

and the frame
fening

must

when

advantage

are not accessible

in the vicinity

frames.

(See Figure

necessary,

be planed

to fit snugly

against

to the camber

once the boat is decked.

of the deck
pieces

The inner

vessels through-bolts

able to be tightened

12- 1.) They

or, in several

the ends of the boat.
corresponding

but in larger
of being

beams,

shelves

are sprung

joined

the clamps.
of the deck

by scarphs,
The

beams

To lessen the
are fastened

in place

edges may be left square,
shelves
so that

are

if necessary,

on edge

to
in

with the joints
but the outer
must

be fitted

the beams

will
153

154

DECKFRAMlh'G

-M

2---EebA-r
2
---EebA-r
V-A-F- BEAL4
BEAL4
ca.4EcTlahj~
ca.4EcTlahj~

//

V-A-F-

‘1
‘1
/yq
/yq

ROLTS
lee sceEv.5,+.J
CDL*5-e.
C’~Od)
CDL*5-e. C’~cd)

DECK
CLAMP

@

4 SHELF
DECK BEAll

K’IT+
K’iTi

CLAMP

Figure 12-l.
bear on the shelves’
few deck

beams

When

the

found

best way to get the bevel

is to temporarily

may

few feet,

of the shelves

and

great

The

so the bevels

edges

clamp

having

shelf

strength

are

be measured

can

bolted

and

then
together,

stiffness.

every

be planed
they

form

Such structural

be fastened

breasthook,

which

hook is often
good

sawn

a connection

(Figure

12-3A).

out of a natural
is a piece
assemblies

this connection

and bolted
underside

in place
must

wood

of oak

crook,

laid

join one another

a curved

have the proper
mold

loftsman

either

plate

knees,

the transom
and

and

‘AICE

FeOM

For a flat

are sawn from crooks
cross framing

is more difficult.

fit the transom

T

5tEi.F

curve

BE&L

CLAMP
4

0A
LOCATI&
m AGREE

Figure 12-2.

0E,w
H~YQER
WITH CAMBER

l3Eb~L Old OUrEi2
OF SHELF

EDGE

at the
In this
as well.

of the deck

PLAt45
CLAMP

Just as

through-bolted

CiAMP
&EAM cc
BEAM
MOLD
TtMlWLAClLy
‘TU MEASVeE
5~IELF
BEVELAT 5TATlOd5

rs

a

The

way is also suitable.

who can work out the intersection

CUT OFF
SHOWIJ

with

to them.

via the transom.
which

the connection

camber

the twosides

of oak or hackmatack.

at the stern

and against

transom,
deck

and bolted

used the same

of quarter

are, of course,

out of them,

the shelves

(See

angle-shaped

members

on top of the shelves

or metal

takes the form
With

you are a skilled

FPAMCS
AS

between

a single

angle.

At the bow this is done

of the boat.

on top of the shelves

of the deck.

case the knees

at the ends

A piece of plywood

The shelf/clamp
transom,

together

is a knee of sorts fitted

set a

or at least at

to the proper

on both sides of a vessel, and to get every bit of benefit

should

Unless

width.

in place

every station.
The
Figure 12-2A.)
member

entire

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4
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I ’

156

DECK

FRAMING

5’ET

I. D,,,de AB A:( c‘17 r-o A~J*Ico~~s.
STEP Z cl, ,‘i Al, C-D c-c mo*e *se
35 sbwr and dmr. ~ornkr wr,e yr(+r
0 m*+en.

II410C’L~ OF c&.K~~Z-,

Figure 12-4.

and

transom

on the floor,

The plan
boat.

view shape

The

shape

deck beams

of the top edge

on each

edge just touching
each

time

of the knees

side of the centerline,
the inside

these

is clamped;

by the cut-and-try

on the deck framing

is best obtained

method.
plan

for the

on the boat.

Install

at intervals

of three

of the transom

and

clamp

on top of the beams,

of the transom.

the batten

pieces

as it is shown

for thr* five or six feet ahead

four inches
batten

it is best to make

is easy to obtain,

a batten

Mark the transom
a line through

at the underside

the marks

the
or

its aft
of the

will represent

the

underside
of the decking as well as the top curve of the quarter
knees. The battens can
also be used to measure the bevel needed for the aft edges of the knees. Shaped as they
are in every

Deck
The

dimension,

these

pieces

are really

quite

a job

for the amateur.

Beams
deck

beams

bility

are desired,

beam

at each

will quickly

should

be made

and of spruce

frame,

and they should

shed any water

cessive,

the beams

curved

grains

of oak or ash where
where

that

lightness

be cambered,

comes

aboard.

can be sawn to shape,

are obtainable.

When

there

maximum

is a consideration.
both

Where

an especially
is severe

strength

and

There

should

for strength

the camber
good

camber,

method

durabe a

and so the deck

is not unusually
when

boards

such as is often

exwith

found

in

DECK

tops, the beams

cabin
bent

to approximate

has much

merit

can either
form

because

and

be steam-bent

to shape,

then sawn exactly

of the resulting

or over-width

to shape.

strength

FRAMING;

Another

157

stock can be

method,

of the deck beams,

one that

is to laminate

the

glue. Beam construction
beams of three or more pieces over a form, using waterproof
is shown in Figure 12-4A. Most of the beams will have the same siding, but at hatches,
mast

partners,

percent

and the ends of cabin

than

the t,egular

beams.

trunks,

the beams

(See Figure

should

be heavier

by about

75

12-3.)

Although
it is customary
to represent
the beams and frames on the plans in the
manner
shown in Figure 12-3, Figure 12-3E shows that the beams must be beveled to
fit against

the frame

planking,

which

combination

heads.

curves

This is because

toward

of deck camber

the frames

the centerline

and flaring

are twisted

toward

hull sections,

must

sometimes

be cut away so the beams

This

is sketched

in Figure

will land

to lie flat against

the ends

of the boat.

the inboard

corner

on a flat surface

the

Due to a

of the clamp

instead

of a point.

12-3F.

Deck Beam Camber
The

amount

depth

of camber

of curve

is given

of so many

beam.

To make

Figure

12-4B is followed,

method
and

shown

should
length

when

you run

method,

three
and

a beam

or the camber

into

a cabin

straight-edged

are

at the
battens,

driven
center

longer

placed snugly against the nails
the angle between
the battens.
batten

assembly

always

holding

from

each

than

in Figure

is needed,

beam

beam

the

with

12-48

board,

one

and very useful
camber.

at each

end

at the top of the

the required

beam

in

mechanical

is self-explanatory

but C is faster
has a different

length

procrdure

thr

In this

of thr

arc.

beam

Then

two

by at least two feet,

are

as shown and tacked together
rigidly enough to hold
The camber
curve can then be drawn by sliding the

the centerline

the battens

shown

in the pattern
of the

as it is called,

bc laid out easily

curve

top where

each

mold

may

The method

only one camber

nails

one

12.4C.

or in the specifications
and is stated as a
using the length of the longest
length,

for a given
or a beam

pattern,

in Figure

is suitable

on the plans

inches

to one

in contact

with

end

of the beam

the nails

and

then

to the other,

at the ends.

Half Beams and Headers
At the sides of deck
beams.

The

opening

fore-and-aft
Figure
practice
shown

12-1A.

The

into

is still followed

today,
The

the strong

springing
the header
Figure 12-2B.)
In powerboats

and

always

must

is to make

beams,

then

to its planned
small

sailboats

mentioned

the half

a couple

the header

dimensions
with

very

from

previously
fastened

beams,

and

clamp

up to the mold.

side

and

the

as shown
although

in
this

with the camber

molds,

the centerline

narrow

half

by the easier method

to coincide

of beam

are termed

and

is more often made
be elevated

pull

12-3) and

are notched

dovetailed

the connection

(Figure

beams

the half beams

headers

and the procedure

are short

by the strong

which

old-timers

in the sketches.
between

the beams

is bounded

headers

the beams,
space

openings

decks,

them

of

in the

all the while

of the boat.

(See

the normal

half

158

Db:CK

beams

E;RAMI,YG

are sometimes

case is simply
heads.

on which

for the length
(See Figure

replaced

a filler

piece

by a shelf fitted
as thick

is laid the decking

of the narrow

When

consists

is stiffened
(Figure

between

header
These

with

12-3C).
and

knees in the derk
masts.

the usual

beams,

The shelf in this

notched

around

the frame

board.

This kind of shelf extends

clamp

being

fitted

only

from bow to stern.

12-3D.)

the decking

headers

or a covering

side deck,

Deck Tie Rods and Lodging

framing

on top of the clamp.

as the deck

of planks
tie rods

These

half

frame

knees

Knees
rather

beams.

to provide

additional

strength

of plywood,

heads

stiffening

the deck

or clamps

there

at ends of large

hackmatack
They

pieces

frame

and

the

also take some of the load off the connections

For

are sawn from

large

between

fastenings

conform
with the deck camber.
clamp. (SPP Figure 12-3.)

than

running

openings

or oak crooks

are bolted

or riveted

may

be “lodging”

in the deck or at

and are planed
to the beams

on top to

and shelf or

Deck Blocking
Wherever
blocks
wood

there

fitted

are fittings

between

on deck

the beams

for the fastenings

to bear

such

as cleats

and

tackle

blocks,

there

to take through-fastenings.

The

the load to the beams

they distribute

provide

I he case of shearing
forces, and over a greater area of decking when upward
encountered.
The blocks can be of oak. mahogany,
or plywood and should
on

top

to conform

Whenever
bolts.

to the

possible

Blocks

deck

the blocks

arp shown

be

against,

and

blocks

should

camber

are

best

in the deck

and

sawn

to a tight

if through-fastened

framing.

12-3.

12-3 is for a sloop

having

in

strains are
be planed

fit between

to the beams

Figure

more

beams.
with

long

Mast Partners
‘The deck

framing

the cabin

trunk,

beams.

These

plan

in Figure

the top of which

blocks

they are fitted,

are always

has large

as thick

and they are always

blocks

called

as the depth

made

should

be coated

serves to keep

Haqging

large
with thick

out water

deck

frame

of hardwood

white

should

lead

there

surfaces.
or other

mast

partners

such
bedding

and

as blocking

between

between

through-bolted.

mast partners,

through

fitted

of the deck beams

plcmentary
sketrh, Figure 12-3G, shows a set of typical
in thr trunk top or the main deck.
All comparatively

its mast stepped

which

The sup.

whether

located

or lodging

knees,

as the decking

is laid.

This

be a leak in the vicinity.

Knees

The forces exerted
a manner
similar

on a boat by seas and by masts in sailboats
work to collapse
to the way that a packing
box from which the ends have

a hull in
been re-

DECti

FRAMING

159

+iACECh
*.PltJL
,‘P
5-3
-~
.
..--11\
7
\+..
ml!
h,
.VCP
.
BLOC*
\,-neo
*3-,.

Figure

beam.

4‘ GPOOVE

threaded

deck really

even

with common

and
better

poking
and

galvanized

holes

nails,

in the canvas,

are inexpcnaivr,

and with
making

it

but cost more

to

nails.
cloes not have much

to recommend

it except

low

this is doubtful.

type of decking

shown

in Figure

13.IC

is strong,

rather

quickly

laid,

when the deck is *c, ” thick or better. The strakes are usually square,
or
a little wider than their thickness,
and for maximum
rigidity
they are

to the curve

of the deck edge.

It is best to cut any laid decking

from

rift-sawn

163

DECKING

boards

and

lay it with

shrinking

and

finishing

nails

not exposed
bronze

up,

at many

strakes
as shown

of the wood.

to each

in Figure

of the sheer

13-1D.

Around

strake

If a strip-built

and

of course,

The

deck

because

the

practice

the edge of the deck,

is built

Figure

4-3.)

of

Galvanized

they are hidden
nonferrous

and

Monel

or

all misgivings.

between

It is good

will be a minimum

(See

can substitute

eliminate

other

of planking.

deck

deck.

are satisfactory

the cost and

are fastened

beams

of the

The fastidious,

times

for this way there

the width

are used for fastening

surface
edge

across

to sea water.

nails

The

the edge-grain

swelling

beams

and

toenailed

to set the nails

the outermost
is planed

with waterproof-glued

slightly

below

strip is fastened

off smooth

seams

to the

when

the

to the

finished.

like a strip-planked

hull

(Chapter
ll), it will be enormously
strong if the seams are fitted reasonably
tight.
After being planed smooth and sanded,
such a deck can either be painted
or covered
with

light

fiberglass

Plywood

cloth

and

painted.

Deck

A main

deck or cabin

rangement

top of marine

of the pieces

strength

for the deck

openings

and

in the deck

must

for hatches,

In the previous

under

the deck at openings
the same

waste

cockpit,

chapter,

and

is strong,

light,

be planned

for minimum

available.
Following

plywood

of plywood

panels
tioned.

then

of material,

and

cabin,

taking

into

horizontal

racking

tions

are not

because
The
with

as important

this adds
deck

panels

rlosrly

if thr

considerably
should

spaced

fastened

plywood

be fastened
screws

A well-fitted
staples

plywood
staples.

driven

underneath.

glued

Joint

to the deck

the edges

and

threaded

along
nails.

to the deck framing

I,$ ” thick

by compressed-air-powered

the deck

beams

Countersink

can

staplers.

can be fastened

be fastened
The

coating

with

coated

increases

ficult

and sheer

might

or even impossible.

to the surface,

Canvas Covering

which

the deck

be done
should

by using

in a single
that

the flat panels

a double

be waterproof

thickness

thickness,

glued

with
Monet

the staples’

either

oak.
due

very dif-

will not conform

such as two layers

together

to provide

of

the most

Decks

Plywood

is best covered

and

decks

laid

laying

As soon as it is obvious

the job must

%” or x” plywood,
st rengt 4.

economics--

make

the
putty,

holding
power so it is just about impossible
to withdraw
these staples from whitr
When a plywood deck is specified to be :?$ R in thickness or more, the curvature
to camber

loca-

beams,

and cover them over with a surfacing
with fiberglass
cloth and resin.

glued

up to

The butts should
the beams whrrr

strength.

or annularly

deck properly

Plywood

block

is waterproof

around

fastening
heads slightly below the surface
non-oil
base if the deck is to be covered
non-ferrous

to a butt

to the horizontal

flat-head

knees

was mcn-

the plywood should be cut so scams do not come

reasoning.

br sccurety scirw

ends can

the size of the
of lodging

at the ends of large openings
in the drck as shown in Figure 13-2.
overlap as shown in thP skctrh. and joints should be located bctwern
the panel

maximum

consideration

with

in construction

to minimize

laid. The ar-

to provide

together

the function

at masts

and quickly

with care

being

canvas

with fiberglass,
covered

covering

with
of decks

but inasmuch

canvas

as I recently

in the Caribbean-~

is still worthy

of mention.

saw both

;)robabiy

plywood

because

of

_I\I
in- -I-

164

DECKING

FAGi
CANV’AS

r eATTeN
-,_ /___-1”.,.,-Ccl

Fi0EeGLA55,

FlBEtZqLA55

-

JR

TOtiirLJE

ifn

i

~

lUTED

ob?

~.-~
V4PN’GED)

COPAMOk,
At&
I
I

t3EaMr -l-o
OF DECICZ -I’

ml4

FtBCKGLAS5

;

0

*

062

4 GE% -5.

0LOCF.l
RETIGEEN
SurrJar
eDG5

DECK

PLANICSHEEEZ

.\

PLnuwLFuEER

-,

COVEk3ZD

cCn.,VAS

C4NdA5 JR

l’-rvjoJD

C

WlTCI

oa

_-

____

.AWtchinq

,

lldil

M&,ODTYPE ~~DEC<

---___----_

‘;

•t

I

- Seun-

I

THE
,,ECk<
-r\6U\E
bltaY WAti’E
E,TnBa
T,.‘E
pL.--“.
.--cm
-

kc,ITlri
OVTrr
KIT*iLnrE:Y
, ‘4iED5rEtr.STORLOCL
DECV.IUG
IbT’r.2E.d
“ECr.RE4W
C”TFl?Oh\
pL,bQ,-..o
i’AriELS
,h

Figure

13-2.

Canvas

for covering

piece

if possible,

suitable

width

together

so that

should

allowing
cannot

be bought

enough

be had,

there

wide enough

width

to turn

get a sailmaker

will be a seam down

The
cements

weight

of the

for decks

that

canvas

varies

are liable

on the market,

from

8-ounce

it is recommended

be sure the canvas

risk of applying
loose covering.
First stretch
stretched

moist
the

as tight

or other

is clean.

canvas

canvas

that

fore and

as possible,

and

canvas

that

worker

When

fold.

Seams

are shown

boats

to lo-

wear.

Although

you use plain

If a

to sew two strips

of the boat.

for small

to get considerable

deck in one

over the edge of the deck.

with a double

should bc applied
to the deck immediately
paint is smooth so there will be no lumps
reason,

to go over the entire

down

the centerline

use sewn canvas, tack it on the centerline
skctrhcs in Figure 13.2B.
12-ounce

FOPM&h
OMULI
STCEIIGTcl

there

marine

before you lay the canvas.
to show under
the canvas.

unable

to

in the

and

even

are canvas

paint,

which

Make sure the
For the same

Select

a dry day for the laying, or else you run the
in a
will stretch later, when it dries out, resulting
aft
this

along

the centerline.

is at least

a two-man

The
job.

canvas

should

It is better

be
ac-

DECKING

complished
worked

by rolling

on than

edges

of the boat

should

be copper

spaced

in order

After

the ends

and

and

the edges.

tacking

Where

will be turned
When

to hold

the canvas

further

shrink

structures

the canvas

can be added,

an effort

to get a slick, glossy surface,

Tacks

be very closely

from

and hatches,

around

cut it about

idea

to apply

later,

it will start

the first

is to wet the canvas

Do this with a scrubbing

a final coat of deck paint.

4” in-

and beams; it

to the boat.

it is a good

one of the best methods
painting.

sides of

tack it to headers

as they are added

fastened,

opposite
fastened

brush

to
and

one or two more coats of

If too much

to crack early

paint

is applied

in

and will also cause the

to crack.

Covering

Surfaces with Fiberglass Cloth

1 am going
such

by moldings.

is completely

is dry. At any time

flat paint
canvas

for cabin

later

completely

it or not,

then

area can be
down over the

and should
pulling

the canvas

and temporarily

it just before

before

will be hidden

amidships,

until

covers openings

has been

and stretch

the surface

working

it tightly,

deck

Believe

which

more

Pull the canvas

the pressure.

start

stretch

sticks so that

steel or even galvanized,

as you go along

up inside

of flat paint.

paint

it with tacks,

the canvas

around

by just your two hands.

never

or Mone!,
for them

side of the openings,

coat

secure

the ends are fastened,

the boat

of the canvas

can be handled

165

to touch

as plywood

disagreement

only on covering
panels

about

the most dimensionally

or diagonally

covering

planked

t hcsr surfaces:

hulls

should

stable

wooden

(Chapter

structures.

11). ‘There

is often

the cloth be laid on bare wood and

then saturated
with resin, or should the bare wood be coated with resin. and the glass
cloth laid in the tacky resin, smoothed.
and immediately
saturated
with another coat
of resin?

Ask an experienced

applied

covering

There
adherence

that

resin

called

Stable
adhesion

it for use as a putty.

Cabosil

surfaces

such

can

of the wood
decks

If the cabin
should

sides and
be

you know who has

is to be painted,

strengthening

are
and

items

the

also
making

sanded.
smooth,

coamings

method

or two and
in tape

watertight

putty,

a white

the

woodwork

deck

with corstrips.

the cabin,

being

bright,

joinerwork.

the edge

The

primer

are to be finished

in the finished
These

of cloth,

doubling

a fiberglass

is to build
“feather”

form.

exterior

of

layer
with

sanded

so it is not visible

available

a single

reinforced

installation

the watertight

it for an inch

with

if rough

being
as hatch

before

it with the sander
fabrics

after

for an epoxy

the resin.
boat,

is improved

such

covered

up against

with

of a v-bottomed

surface

the fabric
The

or someone

the wood.

For instance,

can be coveted

are painted

everything
tapering

be mixed

like plywood

as thr chines

Fiberglass
used first.
decks

from

of fastenings
or in cracks must be removed
to bare wood and
material.
A materials
supplier
can sell you powders to mix with

to thicken

powder
ners,

of these materials

seems to be no disagreement
over the fact that epoxy resin has the best
to wood nr over the fact that the wood surface must be clenrr. Any oil-based

putty over the heads
replaced
with another
the

supplier

has not delaminated

etc.,

the

When
and turn

of the covering

by

job.

narrow
joints

strips
that

are great

for

v~ill be painted.

166

DECKING

with

Decks

Planksheer

A very attractive,

old-fashioned

fabric-covered
around

deck

the

edge

planksheer,
scarphs.
lines

Its shape

from

is obtained
and

best to cut the outer

marking

from

the planksheer

is fairly

at the edge
can

of the planking

narrow,

block

(Figure

in either

to shape

of two ways.
run

on the deck,

the edgr

of a fabric-covered

a
and

they are

In some cases where

on edge.
The

The fabric

inner

edge

is

of the

into the groove

tacked,
and the groove filled with a tightly fittt=d batten
of wood
planksheer.
Another
way is to employ a toe rail set al the inner edge of
as shown in Figure 13-2E. The fabric is tacked along the edge and the
13-2F shows the
tened over the fabric with plugged
screws. Figure
mc~thod of finishing

Then

case it is

otherwise

down

a

with

by the dotted

in which

them

the deck.

the fabric

called

on the underside.

assemble

bent

piece,

is a

board

are joined

as shown

are edge-bolted;

and

13-2D),

This

planksheer,

underneath

it is steamed

of the planksheer

be rabbeted

needed,

deck

covering

segments

on the deck

a batten.
heavy, the joints

the top to a butt

the

it is a tapered

edge on all the pieces

screw fastened

planksheer

unless

colored

13-2C.

and

a board

the edge

for the width,

draw in the tapered
width with
When the deck is sufficiently

stopped

by Figure

-wide boards

by laying

canvas-covered

or contrasting

as illustrated

to shape

line is drawn

of the completely

by a varnished

of the deck,

is sawn

in the figure

parallel

variation

bounded

and

to match
the
the planksheer
toe rail is fasmost common

deck with a half-round

mahogany

or

oak molding.
The outermost
strakc of a stx-ip-built deck is edge fastened
to the planksheer
for support, but the outer cdgcx of a tongue-and-groove
deck would bc sprung downward
if
on brt ween

stepped
canvas

fiberglass

splitting

the edge

deck planks
deck beams.

Caulked
There

where

unsupported,

of the decking.

when,

perhaps

a tongue-and-groove
To prevent

rhey run out at the edges,

to the extent

of tearing

the

deck is not recommended-and
and also to support the ends of the

this,
there

must

be blocks

fitted

between

the

Decks
are IWO types of caulked

too much
wherr

beams
covering

difference,

weight

deck

is important,

decks.

planking
thinner

In larger yachts, where weight does not make
is laid. In smaller
boats,
1” thick and upward

decking

is laid over a sub-deck

of marine

plywood.

A tyllical laid and caulked deck is drawn in Figure 13-3 for a sailboat and
The planksheer
is fitted first as described
struction
also applies to powerboats.
thtsn thy narrow

strakes

are sprung

parallel

for the narrow strakes are twofold:
the narrow material
will not shrink
must be clear

and should

to the edge of the planksheer.

the conbefore;

The reasons

they may bc sprung without too much trouble,
and
and swell much or check. The wood for a laid deck

be in long lengths.

Any joints

are located

so they are quite

far

apart in adjacent
strakes. The wood must be rift sawn so the grain can be laid on edge,
because flat grain will eventually
lift and splintera condition
that is both unsightly
and hard
cedar,

and

on bare
Burma

feet. Suitable
teak.

The

woods
last named

are good

white

is the best and,

pine,

Douglas

fir, Port

like most good things,

Orford
by far

-Raftawn,ckr drcwiog
I-?
PLbtiB3HCLR

ac

SEAM
FOR
rHlOISOL
COMPOUhlD

hJ0CMA.L
SCAM

-GAULIcIdG

od

ALL bWEL
cue
CWE

SEAMS-

•~AG~CRED
FASTCdWG5

Uh

6Erc

---_ .--, ._- CA0lhi SIDE J

ICAL
b’AiCpE
d-IV

-CAUU&D

SCAMS

Ruti

LAID DECK’--

-L--

Figure 13-3.

ObCdcldDER
l’D
-YAK?? FA5TEhlldG5
Iti hhS ErlDS

-.
L STCA&S
HERRNG
00dtD
AT
%-rz~P-BUILT
DECK)
BR tJIbbE!D
IIJ-IU
STCAIGW
OR TAPCREO
IdlhJO
PLAhJ<

CL. (sac

168

DECKING

It has a natural

the most expensive.
does not have
bleach

it out to a whitish

equal

oil that seems to make

or painted.

color so that,

Scrubbing

together

the deck everlasting,

with

salt water

and it

in the sun will

with its long life, there is no deck quite

to teak.

Teak
trim

to be varnished

decks

do get dirty

is being

there

used

has been

of them
Until

a flood

do a good

to bevel the edges

sections

the seams.
square

secured,
regular
keeping

to offset

teak

appearance,

put on the market.

up new seam compounds,
to make

The seams were
glue, ” a preparation

are available

like the one shown
are masked

Most

practice

watertight,

caulked
heated

tape.

with cotton,
and
to make it run for

sealers
After

The seam

that

away after

can be run

the decking

filler

was

as shown

and the excess was scraped
thiokol-based

in the figure.

with

standard

them

13-3.
“seam

The seams were over-filled

seams

antiseptic

systems

for caulking

in Figure

was called

seams

but since so much

otherwise

are easy to use.

Now there

the open

their

and treatment

of the deck strakes

the glue hardened.
simple,

boats

got busy making

space was left for what
“paying”

do not look well if neglected,

of teak cleaners

job and

the chemists

by the enlarged

and

on fiberglass

is then

is laid

applied

in
and

with a

household-type
caulking
gun. Care must be taken to avoid air bubbles
by
the tip of the cartridge
at the root of the seam so it is filled from the bottom

up. The seams are over-filled
and the excess filler is cut off with
after the thiokol has completely
cured a few days after paying.
A 1 ‘/R* or 114 0 thick

deck will have strakes

about

1 W II wide,

about right as the thickness of the decking becomes greater
that
will specify what your architect
wants. It is suggested
listed in the table,

Figure

a very sharp

chisel

and this proportion

is

in larger boats. Your plans
you use flat-head
screws as

6-2. The screws will be countersunk

and plugged

with bungs

of the same wood as the decking,
and due to the size of the plug, there will be room for
just one fastening
at each deck beam. Note in Figure 6-2 that the screw gauge may be
reduced

for decking,

It is noted

1.3-3 that the strakes

deck

into

run under

made

wider,

king plank.

or nibbed

cabin

sides,
Quite

requiring

bing

into
run

out at the sides.
but

are caulked
smooth.

payed;

Planking
conventional
directly

and

laid

deck,

beams.

with

the

the

into

as the taper
plank

the plank

that

entire

surface
of marine

exception

that

way there

like

must

be

It is not desirable

to let deck

next

opening

to the cabin
strakes

are run

the planksheer

is

parallel

as well as the

on some of the nib ends will be

around
ends

at the centerline

Either

the decking

to the eye. When

The decking

of proportions,

this, the strake

You will find

is pleasing
then

as drawn.

is to run the planks

a margin

a laid deck over a sub-deck

to deck

an example

and

and fastening

not only common

may be herringboned
plank

to be nibbed

is needed,

way of decking

too, are straight)

the lengths

the ends

the planksheer

at times.

13-3. Sometimes

a lot of fitting

Still another

sides,

in Figure

bung

to take fastenings.

sides, and to avoid

as drawn

very long.
both

a king

the deck at the centerline

seams

to the cabin

in a smaller

in Figure

the strip-built
blocks under

resulting

straight

fore and

the cabin

(unless

to blocks

the method
planking
of the
plywood

under

the deck where

used in Figure
is complete4,

deck

is planed

is similar

the strakes

aft, nibthe cabin
13-3 is

the seams
and

sanded

to constructing

are not

being

a

fastened

should be thicker than the plywood sub-deck;
as
would be covered with a 5/gn
a 3/gti fir plywood sub-deck

,pc~’

I

I

!

DECKING

thick

teak overlay.

Plugging

the teak to the plywood
the sub-decking
builders

allowing

ttle teak
it to cure,

If the teak strakes
cient

from

for counterboring

holes can be avoided

underneath.

there

cover the plywood

As an alternate,
(without

should

fastening

Pains

be taken

be a leak in the seams of the teak

with lo-ounce
can

be laid

fiberglass
on plywood

of course)-a

are not back-screwed,
and

must

if desired

plugging

screw

messy

cloth

to prevent
laying

with

but effective

the “/eWthickness

by back-screwing

strakes.

before

covered

169

rotting

In fact,

of

some

the teak deck.

thiokol

compound

job.

mentioned

holes in the conventional

above
manner.

is suffi-

Chapter

The

14

amount

and

likr

daysailers

boats
have

your

cabin

be done
hull.

of deck joinerwork

will havcb simple

a deckhouse.

work should
built

character

trunk,

carefully

the occasional

cockpit

hatches,
and

paint.

Even

though

it is said

while

larger

yachts

cockpit,
and bulwark
rail. This
regardless
of how well you have

because.

will make

a snap appraisal
of your boat based
too, is necessary,
for
Pr0pf.r maintenant-c*.
woodwork.
peeling varnish, or scarred and

on thr appearancr*
of the deck structures.
nothing
looks wet-se than bare and stained
dirty

Open
might

watertight

neatly

visitor

will vary with the type of boat.
coamings.

that

a book cannot

btb judged

by its cover.

my ad-

\ice is to take a great deal of care when finishing
parts that meet the eye and to keep
them shipshape.
A discussion
about finishing
follows, because the builder must keep
thinking

about

the ultimate

appearance

while

doing

ever);

hit of the exposed

deck

joinerwork.

Finishing

with

Traditionally,

Varnish
the finest

mahogany.

Today,

yachts

for various

had vast areas of varnished
any large

reasons,

areas

deck joinerwork
of varnished

of teak or

fine

woods

are

most likely to he faces of plywood rather than solid lumber,
and hopefully the faces are
of veneers thick enough
to survive a few refinishings
to bare wood. Nowadays,
varnished

wood

lines such
Teak

(“brightwork”)

as the sheer

and

mahogany

them can be dented
and such a finish
open grain
170

that

is limited

moldings

used

to accent

fore-and-aft

of the hull.
are moderately

by abuse.

Their

hard

natural

takes work to produce
must

to trim

and

initially

he ftlled for a smooth

resistant

appearance,

to scarring,
though,

and to maintain.
Clear, natural

finish.

but

has appeal

either

of

to many,

These woods have an
filler is used for teak,

~“”

I

I

DECK

while

paste

filler stains

be sanded

of desired

to a perfectly

brushing

consistency,

is spread

time the excess is wiped
after

a little

When
work

and

area

must

ture

a finish

be clean

and

amount

remain

filling:

then

The wood must

‘i 2 filler,

to dry to a dull

with a fine-grade

thinned

appearance,

abrasive.

you will be proud
while

to

at which

about

what

Repeat

opinionated

kind

people

of varnish

who freely hand

to use. As you become

you, too, may also swear by a particular
of the kind

cleanliness,

absence

for six coats

to show off. The work and

varnishing.

are full of highly

But regardless

the same:

allowed

that

of advice

and more experienced,
of brands.

to the mahoganies.

before

free of dust

and boatyards

out an enormous
more

on and

be sanded

you will have

The waterfront

finish

171

off across the grain with clean cotton waste or rags. This is easy
After a day of drying,
the first coat of varnish can be applied.

practice.

this is dry, it should

or more

color are applied

smooth

JOINERWORK

of varnish

of moisture,

used,

brand,

the essentials

and sanding

or a mix-

of varnishing

in between

coats to kill

the gloss.

Finishing

with Paint

Jy. painting
in Chapter
16. but 1 merely want to point out here
abr..*
...aurni’
you may he painting
wood deck joinerwork,
such as Philipinstead of varn:-’
fir or Duraply
plywood,
or fiberglass-covered
mahogany
(solid fJr plywood),

There

is a section

th-:.
pine
wood.

For the finest

appearance,

as well as easy to maintain,
nished.

With

because
well.

a paint

finish,

countersinking

This

Use only

a good

to smooth

glaze
coat.

if necessary,
lightly again

again
Sand

Starting
craft
marine

yachts

trade.

hren

available

For the

previous

superior

finish

that

button-bursting

plans

as if it were to be varneed not be plugged,

sand

with a polyester

material

Start

paint.

can be very attractive

that

putty

with an undercoater,

smooth,

apply

apply

a second

depending
tion

glazing

undercoater,

touted

leave

polyurethane

form by several
or so, this high-gloss,

10 years
form

reasonably
will

two-part

in brushable

not at all adaptable

affluent,
the

coatings

for amateur

use of the polyurethanes

applicator

(“painter”

used on air-

firms catering
to the
durable
coating had

is really

application.
can

not

result

proper)

and

in a
truly

of your

Cockpit Coaming
boat

will show you the

kind

of cabin

and

coamings

(along

heights and half-breadths),
type of toe or bulwark
rail, size and location
and other related
information:
the best 1 can do is discuss joinerwork
general.

will do as

is thin.

proud.

Cabin Trunk
The

the highly

only in a sprayahle
and

finish

and sand lightly and carefully
before painting
the first finish
to kill the gloss, then apply a second coat of finish.
marketed

are brave

with

irregularities,

were

If you

and covering

working

of marine

out

in mid-1979,

and

the surface

when

grade

compound

an all-paint

the wood must be just as smooth
the heads of screw fastenings

below

is an advantage

and indeed

The

largest

upon

of the cabin

structure

the design.
side,

you

will

If the curve

tackle

is the

of the cockpit

it will he best and easiest

cabin

coaming

to make

both

trunk,

with

of hatches,
details in

or deckhouse,

on deck is a continuacoaming

and cabin

side

172

DECK

.JOINER

WORK

COAM

Figure

out of one
available

14-1.

long

glued splines.
can be made

of the bottom

it was laid

The

down

old-timers

from

of the cabin

work
screws.

deeper

reasons

the cabin

for the amateur
the cabin
joint

sides

is difficult

up against
bright,
cabin

sides as shown

and caulked
14-2C.

This

deck

from

but the results
the deck

beam

fabric

of the

more

cabin

the best way is to make

a rabbeted

with

and

after
toward

Sometimes

for

This can be a chore
pleasing.

It is easy to fit

14.2B,

but

and the fabric

If the cabin

to say the least.

them

inboard

outboard.

in Figure

such

a

turned

sides are to be finished

care must

covered

practice

posts, make

sides,

be sloped

than

exacting

general

corner

considerably.

watertightness.

the deck is canvas

job is a real challenge,

making

to lean

great

on the top

unbelievably

posts and to fasten

as shown

of inches.

impractical,

at the

loft floor,

extra

whtle

the deck is fiberglassed

the deck edge to ensure
only when

corner

are often

these

held in place

a little

-~ almost

thickness

headers

panels,

top.

to behold--

inboard

with

from the mold

to leave

appearing

unless

side for a couple

turned-up

sides against

the

are usually

the board

standard

carefully

to a perfect fit.
being vertical,
should

sides are sloped

to keep watertight

the cabin

making

the cabin

builder.
inside

wood

a sight

rabheted

boards

it is to rest on the deck or

whether

of the trunk

by ‘/,,,‘I or so than

to keep them

than

14-1B and C.) When

assembly,
work off the radius corner
The sides of the cabin, rather than
fhc ccn(erlr’~c~ slightly

side,

Remember

was truly

(See Figure

longer

of the trunk

the corners
that

mahogany

up by edge joining

of thin

the plans.

is to fit the ends into suitably

aesthetic

wide

The top edge is taken

to the camber

dovetailed

glue and plugged
rahhet

Long,

can be made

to the shape.

be planed

time-consuming

nowadays

14-1A.

with a template

and scribed

edge so it can

the

edge

it, is best obtained

opening

where

and

as in Figure

but if not, the width

If the cabin side is to be of plywood
up in the same way.

The shape
drrk

piece

for this,

overlap

!hiG

be taken
Thus,

to fit and bed

it is best to set the

or fiberglassed.

sill piece

as sketched

With

a laid

in Figure

DECKJOINERWORK

-FA~~E~~~~GsTKz,P
BE2..NS
K’!-Ed

LIA0LE

m

Fe
cafqr:

SlmE15l-rritd

/ N eoaer

.Sli

173

ICAti

Figure 14-2.
When
fastened

trunk

sides of solid lumber

with bolts through

to the top edge.

are specified

the deck and

Drilling

must

to be as thick

beam

header,

be very carefully

done

as 1 ‘/I “, they should

be

with the bolts countersunk
so as not

to ruin

in-

the lumber.

When the cockpit coaming
is thinner
than the cabin side, make it out of a separate
piece and let it into the trunk dt the after end as shown in Figure 14-1D. When the
cabin and the coaming
are not in a continuous
to the cabin sides through
a rabbcted
block.
Strangely
built

enough,

sides, nailed

through

the trunk

counting

amateur

1 have seen only one

and glued

top, the cabin
labor.

curve
bend
solution

the intersection

at the edges.

whether

is to strip

,+JAiiED

athwartships:

shown
especially

trunk

for a sailboat

of this type.

With

had strip-

thr mast stepped

I saw, female

forms

14-3. or even more
it might

and the trunk

in plan

;l-RIPS

Figure 14-3.

was

with considerable

so. Depending

be impossible

in view of the curve

dis-

were set up, against

roof and sides is desi,gned

planked.

that

fastened

and this is one way to do it easily,

the edge as shown.
4 &LuED

is usually

the work went quickly

in Figure

or double

edges,
plank

has to be strong

of the cabin

like that

the roof is single

to the plywood

cabin

as planking

In the one case that

which the strips were clamped
very strong.
Sometimes

the samr

curve, the coaming
Figure i4-1E.

upon

to give a quick

view. In this case a

:<:

(”

\,

:I

by

I

I-

,

I

174

DECK

JOINER

WORK

Toe Rail
Small

sailboats

foothold

are

when

fitted

the boat

ing decorative

scarphed.
sheer

with
The

so that

thickness

14-4A)

rails are either

that

are used

to be looked

set slightly

inboard

as a

on as be-

of the deck

edge of the covering
board, as mentioned
in Chapter
13, and
the butting
pieces are
screws. Where jcints are necessary,

under

edge of the rails has scuppers

rainwater

and spray

throughout,

shown

The

(Figure

long use, have come

plugged

but more

rails may be of constant
being

and from

as well as practical.

edge or at the inboard
are fastened

toe rails on deck

with

is heeled,

height

on the lines

will drain
often

from

they

cut at and near

overboard.

The

are tapered

end to end,

the low point

of the

rails may be of the same

on the inside

but frequently

face.

they taper,

Small

toe

the heights

plan.

.-. .--

!.J”-

n-s

c‘s

Figure 14-4.

Bulwark
Larger

Rail

boats

tapered

have what

in thickness.

Details

drift bolts run about
with a neatly
for economy.

every

a bulwark

are shown
IS” through

rail.

always

in Figure

tapered

14-4B.

in height

Bulwark

the deck into the sheer

and usually

rails are secured

strake.

by

and are topped

shaped cap, screw fastened
and plugged.
The cap is sometimes
omitted
Joints in both rail and cap are always scarphrd
and the bottom of the rail

is scuppered

to drain

pers

that

(pipes

is called

water

drain

that otherwise

water

from

the

would
deck

be trapped

overboard

on deck.
through

If no deck scup-

the

hull

near

the

waterline)
are fitted, then the bottom of the rail scuppers
must be at the deck level to
drain rainwater.
When there are deck scuppers,
the bottom of the cuts in the rail are
placed
scuppers

about

tm ” above

to streak

stem rabbet,
and
Figure 14-4B.

the deck

the topsides

so that

with dirt.

the cap is shaped

ordinary

rainwater

The forward

at the stem

and

will not run

through

end of the rail is fitted
across

the transom

into

as shown

the
the
in

DECK

Installation
builder.

of the

Templates

tom edge
in place
not

rail

will call

be of thin

to fit the edge of the deck.

and a batten
mind

bulwark

should

and

that

Then

for

some

sprung

ingenuity

in place,

the rail heights

the magnitude

will vary

vertically

Jigs from

of the problem

face of the rail conforms
on

a normal

the cabin

175

the

shaped

part

of the

on the bot-

at the stations

It will be a problem

the outside

on

and

is run to fair the top of the rail.

installed

changes.

wood,

JOiNERWORK

are laid out

to hold

the template

with the type of boat.

to the hull sections,

that

Bear

in

is. the rail is

boat;

thus the bottom
edge bevel constantly
coamings
and across the fore and after decks

sides and

must be devised to hold the template
in place, and then the rail while fastening.
It is
very likely that at least the forward section of the rail will need steaming
to get it in
place,

and

joints

much

care

must

be taken

to fair

the rail

sections

into

each

other

at the

so they will be smooth.

Bulwarks
for the larger boats can indeed
try the patience
of the inexperienced
builder.
In certain cases, laminating
can eliminate
some of the heavy work. However,
laminating

requires

laminate

bulwarks

Monkey

Rail

Powerboats

when

as a foothold

chocks

for anchor

hatch

hatch

it. The

one boat

a short

handling

dock

and time to construct:

is to be built.

monkey

an anchor

(See Figure

rail forward,
in a heavy

it is best to
4-4D.)

Figure

sea and

14-4C.

can

This

be fitted

is

with

lines.

Hatch

A sliding
The

than

up with

when
and

takes some planning

more

are dressed

handy

Sliding

a jig. which

must

is necessary

to give headroom

be rugged

enough

cover may be flat across,

over companion

to take the weight
but looks much

ladders

of a man

better

and elsewhere.

sitting

or standing

when cambered

on

like the deck.

It can be of plywood, either one or two layers, but is usually made of solid lumber,
as
shown in Figure 14-5. The cover is made on a pair of beams sawn to the camber,
using
edges grooved
for soft white
material
‘/; ” thick and about 3” wide, with the butting
pine splines,
glued

and

The
which
tongues

the hatch

the top piecrs
to make

on the beam
with

brass strips

than

ends

a piece of split
that interlock

as well as prevent

are fastened

logs may be constructed
are easier

tected
The
that

which stiffen

to the beams

in a variety
others.

tubing,

with plugged

of styles as shown

A common

to slide in grooves
brass

leaks. The joints

are waterproof

screws.

in Figure

slide is shown

14-5, some of

in sketch

A with brass

in the logs. The edge of the cover is pro-

while

with the split tubing

the tops of the logs are sheathed
to keep spray out of the hatch

with

opening.

arrangement
in sketch B is similar in operation,
having a rabbeted
beam header
slides in the log groove. The top of the log may be sheathed
if desired,
and the

molding
on the edge of the cover makes it adaptable
to canvas covering.
The logs
shown in sketches C and D do not have grooves, for the covers slide directly on the logs,
making

it necessary

friction

is minimized

edge only.
project

to sheathe
by having

them

to prevent

an angle

wear

between

of the surface.

the brass strips,

SO

In C the sliding
contact

In D there is a piece of brass let into the cover at the ends only,

slightly,

so the wooden

cover will not touch

the log. The

is at one

and it should

arrangements

shown

176

DECh’

~J~~i!VER

WORK

Figure 14-5.
in the sketches
steel,

but

are typical

brass

is quite

An elevation
14.5. The

at the centerline

length

by the distance
opening.

and others

can be devised.

of a sliding

of the logs as they extend
from

Beyond

The

metal

the aftermost

the required

the logs to the deck beams

hatch

length,

and

hatch

is illustrated

beyond

hatches

by Bomar

Companicmway
The simplest

with plugged

way of closing

a brass

cabinet

guides,

locking

lock may

to circu’late

to keep water

is determined
end of the hatch

with an ogee curve.

screws.

The bottom

Bomar,
hatches

Fasten

edges of the

to drain trapped
alloy and Lexan

water.
sliding

Inc., South West Street,
match in styling the deck

others.

be fitted.

from

the opening
as shown

tongue

air through

are sometimes

as those made by
03603. The sliding

E, Figure

Closure

that slide between
take

and

by sketch

to the forward

the logs are finished

headers

hatches,
such
New Hampshire

made

can be stainless

the companionway

cover beam

logs just forward of the apron must have scuppers cut in them
In the end, it can sometimes
be less costly to buy aluminum
companionway
Charlestown.

parts

easy to work.

in Figure

screwed
The

to the

running

it is locked

of the

hatch

cover

also have ventilation
up. A shaped

off the slides or main
for the drop

is to fit drop

boards

14-5. A slot can be cut in the top slide to
bottom

top slide should

the boat when

substituted

in the aft end of the trunk

deck

into

beam,

or a

holes or louvers

sill is fitted
the cabin.

on the deck

Double

doors

panels.

Hatches
Openings
At sea,

in the deck are covered
particularly,

hatches

with hatches
that

leak

are

made
an

to be watertight

unspeakable

or reasonably

nuisance,

making

so.
for

DECK

’ A5SEM0W
54 SWELLING
‘L-OFUWEP
wiLL
td0r
FOfZCE FRAME
HPAR-I-

6-l

hATCH

CDAMI~G

-I I

177

CDPdElZ

0D

HATCH COAM Ihb

JOINERWORK

CRUDE
b-l ‘L ryPf!z

COU
LIGHT

HUSlc’\/
HAl-Ctl

BROhlzE
HlblGE

SECT:

-l-HRU

HATCH

bWl72? WA-I- TYPE
l%uSH
HAl-lW

0
II

Figure

14-6.

discomfort

during

the watch

below,

so they fit well and function
splined
half

as described

lapped

consider
sketch

satisfactorily.

for the sliding

at the corners

to be too difficult
A of Figure

so every effort

(here,

The

companion
again,

be exerted

pieces forming
hatch.

The

if the half lap is reversed
that

the swelling

joint

screws

across

the width

The hatch coamings
either through-bolted
corners

of the hatch

as shown
In fact,

in sketch
bedding

Use either

will force

of the top must

around

used

the corner

be in the same

them

from

piece

which

that the detail
that shown

is parallel
apart.

the cover is

dovetails

and it is very important

the end screws in the top pieces are in the side frame
of the top in width

to construct

the cover are preferably
frame

the old professionals

for the amateur),

14-6 be followed.

should

I
in

so that

to the top pieces,
In other

words,

all

of frame.

vary in detail according
to preference
or practice,
but all are
or fastened
from the bottom
with long, husky screws. The
coamings

are dovetai!ed

G, Figure
compound

a time-tested

together

or rabbeted

14-6, and set in marine

bedding

is used to keep out water

under

marine

bedding

sealant

and screw fastened

compound
eveything

such as 3M Number

on the deck.
fitted

on deck.

5200 or a thiokol-

base compound.
Sketch
although

B illustrates
frames like

modified

into something

a crude workboat-type
C are used, they are
like D, which

hatch not very suitable
for a yacht, and
too light to be any good and should be

will stay together

and is fairly

watertight

when

178

DECK

-JOINER

WORK

I_

:

2.
,
4.
J6.
7.
8.

#LE.

1-A’

*(a’. I’ AL41
$,: , ‘; RF?..-r
PEec
f>
777 . bSE.’
**‘l
I’CC..
-re
r ?Y z j*.
1. UA435
I2
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C.rT’”
c AC. 4
Ig ..‘A..--k’>W

-E-

-----I

Figure

SECTlOPJ T-KU
*AT‘=* CC‘AW’hs * CdEq

14-7.

dogged

down.

The

gasket.

A refinement

type shown

too light.

they must

E has

of this is the hatch

the best of the lot and
hatches

in sketch

n3t too difficult

Flimsy

hatches

the

coaming

construction
to build.

and hatch

shown

hardware

like the galley.
with

with a plastic
Unless

a plastic

on the hatch

top.

a strong

the

plywood-

material

covers

pins

just do not stand

with a bronze

The

builder
priced

such as Lexan

is to

if fir-is

from

below

with

cast

of the type shown
opposite

be pulled
some

be

all

is used,

of

up to the abuse

Some

by fitting
brass

a crewman

is wanted
frame.

a lot of light

in a wooden

a

hatch

like to hinge
hinges

hooks

in sketch

and

main

cover

of

the hatches

eyes, or dogged

in the
marine
at both

side.
down

from marine

Such fasteners

to

deck

and replacing

on the desired

F (available

the hinges.

is liable

like the one shown

two sets of hinges
both

to spaces

it is a bit risky to use a

where

painted,

rod to engage

the
The
tight

hardware

are especially

good

down.

no-w has the option
hatches,

If a light

satisfactory.
is effected

at the corners
must

but it admits

one with a bronze

joinerwork

fastener

located

a gasket

lowest

is

the parts

hardware
firms and are quite
Note that the hatch in Figure

deck of a sailboat
force.

with a removable

are locked

concerns)
where

deck

and after sides, which

individual

is optional,

with considerable

fiberglassed

forward

This

top on the main

hatch, it is safer to use a round
hatch section in Figure 14-6.
When

14-7, which

to make

take.

14-7 is shown

jump

for a rubber

in Figure

It is a mistake

The hinges shown are made by a couple of the marine
satisfactory.
Through-bolt
the hinges wherever possible.

hatch

grooved

of buying

of which

hatches

are good

value,

instead

of making

are made

mostly

them.

The

of molded

p!Lstic. Hatches
:,f cast aluminum
alloy frames with strong lights of polycarbonate
sheet such as Lexa;l are considerablv
more expensive.
Some of these hatches
are
designed

with

sailboats

in mind

and

have a minimum

sails can be hurriedly
passed through
the hatch without
Some complain
that the plastic-topped
hatches sweat,

number

of protrusions

so that

catching
on anything.
and this is also true of metal

DECK

hatches.
tirely

Sweating

of the metal

by applying

granulated

minimum-sweating
Flush

hatches

can

he considerably

cork to the underside.

hatch

,JOlNER

reduced

Of course,

out of one of the older

WORK

materials

179

or stopped

it is possible

en-

tc make

a

- wood.

Hatches

Cockpits

usually

have

are constructed
washdown

water

This

method

usual

sha!low

gutters

from

hatches

in sketch

running

is pretty

or much

channel-shaped
enough

flush

as shown

to project

into the bilges

and storage

and dripping

spaces

and often

to keep rain.

spray,

on equipment

and

on the way.

it does not take much water to overflow the
A better method
is to use a system of
to clog the drain.

metal

under

tanks,

14-6, in an effort

poor because

dirt

sheet

over engines.
H, Figure

gutters

attached

the opening,

and

to the

having

hatch

opening

a good-sized

framing,

overboard

wide

line, say 1%U

at least.

Watertight

Self-Bailing

A watertight

cockpit

with scuppers

The

boat

as fitted

to drain

of the cockpit
teak.

can

Cockpit

water,

in sailboats
whether

it bf: from

be fiberglass-covered

plans

should

provide

is simply

below

rain or heavy spray

plywood,

details

a well sunk
preferably

ifor the cockpit