THE HAPPY CLAM

Article Tools

Image Gallery

Print

E-mail

Comments

RSS

By this time, you're probably ready to get to work on your own boat. Got two sawhorses and a sharp pencil? Start by striking center lines (for reference) across two pieces of plywood and marking the two lengthwise lines on the third sheet at the points indicated in the illustration. Then, on that same third sheet, go on to measure and mark off the outlines of the center bulkheads, the front and rear transoms and the two seats.

Now, on one of the center-marked panels, measure back 4” along each edge at all four comers, and, with the help of a square, strike perpendicular lines from these points to establish intersecting points near each corner. Mark the plywood at the following distances in from each long side: 19” at the corners and 15” at the center line. This will be Sheet 1, as indicated in the plan views.

Next, choose a clear-grained, straight piece of blind stop, and mark its center on the widest face. Then clamp that point to the edge of Sheet 1 at its center line. With a buddy's help, urge the wooden strip into a bow, so its outer edge meets the intersecting points at each end of the panel. Clamp the wood in place, then scribe a line onto the plywood, using the strip as a guide. Go on to repeat the procedure with a second strip, this time using the center line mark as a starting point and the 19" marks as a goal. The process can be simplified if you use a pipe clamp to hold the second strip in place while you bow the ends, and cut some temporary spacers to fit between the strips in order to keep them aligned.

When you've finished scribing the curves, strike a straight line between the intersecting point and the 19" mark at each end. If you cut out this one side with a jigsaw, you can use it as a template to outline the other side on what's left of the sheet, lining it up more or less with the corner points you established earlier.

Now mark out the boat's bottom, which is the other center-lined panel, on Sheet 2. This time, draw two parallel lines across each end at points 2" and 4" from the edge. Then use the square to strike lines perpendicular to these, 6 ½” and 8" inward from each corner, measured along the ends. Finally, on the center line, indicate marks at points 1¼” and 2 ¾” inward from each side.

The bowing technique is the same. When you're finished, you'll have traced four arcs onto the panel—two outer ones, which you'll cut right away, and two inner ones (marked as dotted lines in the illustration), which are used for reference when assembling and trimming the hull later on. Cut out the bottom panel, then halve it, as well as the side sections, along the center line. Take care to save the comers, because you'll need them next for making the center gussets.

RSS | Comments | E-mail | Print