Nautical Research Journal


planks, with their outer shapes taken from the lines plan at each station. T e centers were hollowed out both to reduce weight and to relieve potential stresses from any wood movement. Each rib was secured with high strength wood glue and multiple dowels. (Figure 3)


4. Grinding the hull. 5. Templates.


Once all of the ribs had been placed, the stern deadwood was slid into its channel so it could be shaped and faired with the rest of the hull. T e keel and stem were leſt off until the fi nal shaping stage. With so much wood to remove, the fi rst tool used was a powered angle grinder fi tted with a 60-grit wheel. (Figure 4) Being able to lay the hull on a fl at surface made carving it much easier. As the shape was refi ned with rasps, wood shavers, fi les, and sanding rods, it was repeatedly tested against the cardboard templates made earlier. Once the shape of the lower hull was close to satisfactory, the hull was turned right way up and set into cradles secured to a building board marked with a centerline and all of the perpendicular station lines. Now the templates could be used more exactly to fi nish the shaping. (Figure 5)


6. Cutting rabbet for bulwarks.


T e fl at top having served its purpose, I added a piece of ¼-inch- thick basswood sheet to the rear half of the block to account for the rise of the gundeck sheer, with a 1/8-inch- thick piece at the bow. T ese were sanded to match the gentle curve of the sheer at the centerline of the deck. T is basic hull block got its fi rst coat of primer and was checked and adjusted to correct more subtle highs and lows, a process that would be repeated many times. Once I was


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