The molds are the forms around which the planking is bent that give the boat its shape. They are temporarily attached to the keel and braced to the strong back overhead. Accurate setup results in a fair hull built to the designed shape.
The molds are derived from the full-size lofting and are assembled from two halves, sawn in pairs. They are carefully aligned on the keel, centered, plumbed and leveled in their respective locations. With the molds in place, planking can begin. |
The outer stem is shaped and installed after the planking is trimmed off flush with the front face of the inner stem.
The outwale blanks were backed out slightly for bedding compound before steam bending them to the sheers. After sealing with red lead primer, they were permanently bedded and fastened in place. |
The frames and sheer clamps were all steam bent as well. The frames were temporarily fastened hot. Later, they were removed and pre-painted with red lead primer and the interior paint color, then reinstalled with the permanent screw fastenings. The sheer clamps were just red-lead primed on their faying surfaces before being riveted through the outwales and frame heads. They would receive a varnish finish later.
We glued wedges behind the frame heads to give a solid bearing against the sheer plank at the top of the frames where the sheer clamp bears. |
The washboards stand on edge atop the rail caps and are notched with leather lined "oar ports" that capture the oars and provide the fulcrum in the same way as oarlocks do on later rowing boats.
The washboard blanks were laminated with a taper from bottom to top in cross-section and were then tapered in height from the middle toward each end. Because of the sweep of the sheer in profile, we cut the blanks apart lengthwise into 3 pieces that were then flexible enough to individually spring down into the sweep of the sheer. The first layer is bedded and fastened to the rail cap with each succeeding layer glued and screwed to the one beneath it, after which the oar ports were cut out. |
Telephone
843-872-7070
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Email Located at Ross Marine[email protected] 2676 Swygert Blvd., Johns Island, SC 29455
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