Hello rstevens,
Well, to explain the intricacies of the various methods of planking a boat is a bit beyond the time most folks will spend putting up on a message board. Besides we have no idea of the shape of your small craft…
Perhaps the best way to get you acquainted with building a boat is to suggest a book or three that may offer help. For traditional planking methods -- both carvel and lapstrake -- Howard Chapell’s BOATBUILDING book might be a start. There is Pete Culler’s book SKIFFS & SCHOONERS with some cursory information on his version of lapstrake plank technique. Ian Oughtred has a book CLINKER PLYWOOD BOATBUILDING MANUAL that illustrates his version of glued-lapstrake plywood construction, and Walter J. Simmons has a book LAPSTRAKE BOATBUILDING showing how to layout narrow planks or boards to make the sides of a boat.
You will need to make a batten, a narrow bendy piece of wood about 16 feet long. After the boat frames, transom & bow are flush, straight, plum and true, lay the batten along the side of the boat from beyond the transom to beyond the bow stem, marking each of the frames. The batten should give you an idea of the twist involved to cut out a plank that will work. There is much more to this process but this will give you an idea of the possibilities…
Anybody else have a good source for boat planking information...?
Do post a picture when you get the boat set up.
Thanks, Thom V
Last edited on Tue Jan 30th, 2007 05:19 pm by Thom V |
