Planking

Garboards installed

The planking of ten strakes per side is a lengthy process.

Each plank represents its own unique challenges.

The garboard and the next two planks twist quite a bit as they approach the bow.

For each plank, gains need to be cut so that the planks merge into one smooth continuous surface as they approach the bow and the transom.

Plank #6 installation at transom

For the style of this design, it is not necessary to cut these gains beyond plank #5 on the stern side.

Skeg Mortises under keel line

While I had less than half of the hull planked, I took the opportunity to do some clean up work alone the future keel since access to the top of the boat will be more cumbersome once the full beam of the hull has been reached. I simply loved this particular low angle plane. One of the best tool purchases I made in preparation for this build.

Neat Epoxy on beveled surface

Each installed plank needs to be beveled along the receiving edge of the next plank so that the next plank forms a smooth surface band along the glue line. Since the angle at each station changes, the bevel needs to roll smoothly from station to station.

Before applying the thickened epoxy for the actual glue joint, Francois Vivier recommends that the beveled line receive some neat epoxy to seal the various exposed layers of the marine plywood.

 

Before each application of epoxy I taped off the upper plank line so that the squeezed out epoxy would not go all over the place during the clamping process. 

I was amazed at how much epoxy was needed to get the entire job done.  For gluing of the planks I did not use the regular MAS Epoxy Resin. Instead I used the MAS medium viscosity FLAG resin which behaved very nicely once properly mixed with slow hardener and sufficient wood flour thickener. This was particularly important on the last 4 sets of planks where the glue surface is increasingly vertical.

 

Final strake installation

When I first saw these "clothes pin" clamps I had my doubts about their efficacy. Once I made myself a fair number of these little gadgets, I was pleasantly surprised at how well they did the job so long as you clean up excess epoxy squeeze out right away.

Obviously, that needs to be done regardless.

Let the Clean Up Job begin

So now the entire hull shape is in place - all 10 planks on each side.

Alas, so much yet needs to be done before the hull can be turned over for work on the inside of the boat.

Essentially, the outside will have pretty much a finished appearance (except perhaps of the top plank).