Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Stringers

 What are stringers? They're the longitudinal pieces running from left to right in this photo. The planks will attach to them, but they also have the immediate benefit of locking the floppy frames into position!

The downsides are the number of clamps involved (I've resorted to lashing stringers to the frames with cord when I run out of clamps) and the high-tension bendiness of curved wood. Wrapping the stringers in towels, then pouring boiling water over them and wrapping in plastic for an hour steams the sass out of them.

Well, some of it.


View from the bow. Here you can see the angled notch cut into the forefoot to receive the next stringer -- in this case, #3 on the port side. (I numbered them from the top. Five total.)

You can also get a sense of the sweet knife-edge twist those bottom planks will take as they curve from the sides into the narrow forefoot. Not looking forward to wrestling those into place.

The round hole in the bulkhead will be fitted with a small hatch, so you can reach into the forepeak for light storage (lines, etc.). Had to cut that some weeks ago, as now that the stringers are nearly on, it's hard to reach through the sides of the boat!


4 comments:

EyeInHand said...

Great to see. It's looking rather boaty now, no?

Am reluctant to lend you more clamps, as am enjoying the improvisation so much.

S R Wood said...

Hey Barry! Yes, I'm finding it harder to actually work on it, since much of the time I just stare at it and daydream.

Roger on the clamps. Improvisation techniques also include an Elvis-like hip brace and swearing.

Quietcornerreading said...

I guess shock cords wouldn't work eh?

S R Wood said...

No, shock cords are too stretchy ... and they scare me because they snap unpredictably. Awful things.