Preview: Understanding Wooden Boat Construction, Part 2 – Hull Structure

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In Part 2 we see how the basic components of a wooden boat (bilge stringers, clamp, shelf, frames & planking) go together.

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22 Responses So Far to “Understanding Wooden Boat Construction, Part 2 – Hull Structure

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    Christopher Waaler says:

    This is really really good. Thanks for sharing these time-honored skills with us.

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    Lorenc Kodheli says:

    Excellent explanation. I am a student boat-builder and these lessons are very valuable to me since they explain the purpose of each piece clearly. The information is concentrated and that is good. There was a suggestion on adding information about the force vectors information from “Robert Hadden” and that would be an improvement on an already excellent series.

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    Robert Hadden says:

    Well taught explanation about boat hull structures. Excellent, except for one thing. I think that it would be helpful to the student to know why the hull structures are assembled and fastened the way they are. There are physical forces from the waves and the wind that ultimately are going to try to tear that boat apart when sailing or motoring through the water. Therefore, all the joints between the hull members must be tightly fastened to make those joints as strong as possible, such that those joints don’t move, or flex when those water and wind forces are applied to them. So, perhaps illustrate the direction that those force vectors are applied to those hull joints, and explain what makes those joints so strong. Those strong joints are the reason that so many 100 year old wooden boats are still sailing. The failure of those joints is the reason many are not.

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    Jerry Zitterkopf says:

    I thought boatwrights were born with the genetic predisposition to know all the terminology used in traditional boat building. It turns out OCH and Sean make it possible for, lets say, a boy from Nebraska to actually learn all this terminology. I’m working on a Sam Devlin Song Wren which is great but Sean has started to instill in me the desire to take on another wooden boat should I ever manage to finish this one. Great job Sean. I’m looking forward to your next installment.

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      Maurice Mancini says:

      Building small boats can be a passion or obsession .

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    Michael Vaughan says:

    Et voilà!
    Now everyone can understand it.
    Sean was born to teach.
    Thank you.

    • Steve Stone

      Steve Stone says:

      Wait just a second, Michael. No “eximious!”? We must be losing our touch.
      Oh, you said that on Part 1. Nice variety.

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    Russell Smith says:

    Thank you Sean, excellent job using your blackboard illustrations combined with on board examples.

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    Mark Cole says:

    I think Sean belongs in the same lofty category as Nigel Calder. I enjoy reading Calder’s works because his presentation is so clear and concise, there is never a “huh?” moment. Sean’s presentation is the same – he took construction techniques I’ve read about and tied them all together so clearly I never once lost track of the presentation. Great job!

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    Ed Altonji says:

    Wonderful, Sean. Keep them coming! I echo nearly everything that’s been said so far. “Nearly” because it’s your ability to help make those complexities simple that has me ready to start my next build. Now if someone could just help me with the question my wife asked, “Have you saved the money in advance yet?”

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    Philip Nixon says:

    Thank you so much for this. You have blown away the fog and so much is clear to me now. A brilliant series and look forward to more of the same.

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    Tom Vogel says:

    Simplifying the complicated. Excellent teaching style. Thank you.

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    Philip Myer says:

    Clear and concise explanations- well done Sean.

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    douglas watson says:

    Excellent instructor- such a difference to people who are boat builders, but not teachers. I’ve learned more from these two videos than I have in years of ‘tube videos. I’m jonesing for #3!

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    Charley Humphrey says:

    Ahhhh, I’ve been waiting for Part 2. Excellent video and information! Looking forward to Part 3

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    Larry Cheek says:

    Sean is a superb lecturer: articulate, clear, focused, and thorough. Even his blackboard drawing is remarkably good. However, this reminder of the galaxy of complexities in traditional plank-on-frame boatbuilding makes me happy to stick with modern composites.

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      Steve Borgstrom says:

      Those complexities are exactly what makes me want to build a plank-on-frame boat! Not that I don’t love my glued-lap boats.

      Really enjoying this series, makes me want to take advantage of the School being essentially in my backyard and go take a class when the pandemic is over.

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    Burton Blais says:

    Excellent series – even though most of us will have read about this, it really is much clearer to see it in video form conveyed by an excellent teacher!

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    peter strietmann says:

    Well said and nicely illustrated. Thank you.

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