Email This Page to a FriendHow to Build the Off Center Skiff, Part 13 – Planking the Bottom
December 8, 2016
The Brooklin Skiff Club makes quick work of planking the bottom of their skiff.
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PLANS:
The skiff plans are now available, and you can purchase them here.
RELATED OCH VIDEOS & POSTS:
Why This Skiff? by Havilah Hawkin
BOOKS:
R.D. Culler’s book Skiffs and Schooners, Howard Chapelle’s American Small Sailing Craft, and Mystic Seaport Watercraft also have sections devoted to skiffs.
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4 Responses So Far to “How to Build the Off Center Skiff, Part 13 – Planking the Bottom”:
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Methinks them kids had a glazed over stare off into space. I once built a boat like this, 13-1/2 feet (though with lapstrake sides) The 1953 plans called for mere 1/2 inch thick cedar planks but I decided on mere 3/8″ spruce for light yet tough. They were all 5-1/2 inches wide and nailed tight. All was well and the little boat was noble until I discovered one of those 28 or so bottom planks was evil. The joint on one side leaked a tiny bit. Then after drying and launching a few more times it got worse. I put thickened epoxy in the joint and extra nails to prevent shrinkage. And then it got really evil and split. The water now came through the split. EVIL!!!
love the “extra” cuts on the boards when using the Japanese saw. marks of experience
Good to see that the kids are doing more of the construction work themselves in this segment.
It’s a compelling temptation for the teacher to do most of the work himself because it’s so much faster and accurate. But the students only learn, and get engaged by the craft, when they have their hands on the tools themselves. And make their mistakes, and then learn how to recover from them.
I just love this series, watching the kids, watching the instructors and the great tips I’ve learned. Keep it up. Every kid should have this kind of opportunity to experience a hands on project like this. I’m sure the seed is set to allow at least one or two kids from each group to continue developing an interest and skills that will carry them through life. Skills that will make them more interesting, more conident and more valuable in this so called modern society. I would love to develop a similar teaching environment in my small town of Port Colborne Ontario.