After repairing the lower strake I turned my attention to making up the next plank. It has too much developed shape to be cut from the width of board available so I chose a point between two ribs to place a scarf. Each section of strake was marked out starting with the forward one. By careful marking and planing the chamfer (sometimes called the 'gerald') to the next plank was cut - I must admit that this is the job I find hardest to get right. Then, once happy with the fit at the stem rabbet the plank was laid on the bench and the scarf cut. The scarfs are 3 1/2 " long, about 7 times the thickness of the plank. I cut the scarfs with a slight recess or indent of about 1/16" to avoid a feather edge as the fir seems to be less likely to split finished this way.
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| Cutting a scarf |
The strake was glued and screwed at the stem - on this boat the stem rabbet and apron are generously sized and provide a good 'landing' for the hood-end. The strake was sprung and clamped into place and nailed between each frame. At this stage no fastenings will be driven through the frames (known also as timbers or 'ribs' in small boats) as they are all to be renewed later. When the forward part was fastened the after section was marked, planed and it's scarf cut to match the forward one. The scarf was glued and through-fastened (14 gauge) and the strake fastened round to the transom. The land fastenings on this boat are 10 gauge by 1" long with 1/2" roves.
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| Forward end of strake showing the 'geralds' |
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