Clyde Information on Chine and Planking

[bob mitchell]

Here's another: the planks (bottom and side) have 90 degree edges and only the inside surfaces of the planks touch when installed (at least by memory, my photos in my site (see below) seem to show the out surfaces being very close.  The planks are glued to the chine and fastened with (my guess) 1/4 inch lags not long enough to pierce the chine.  There where two parallel rows of lags, a couple of inches apart.  After the glue sets up the lags are removed, their holes drilled out and plugged (dowels, pegs, whatever).  Your statement ("presumably so the side and bottom plywood planking intersection ("the chine", as well) can be sanded fair without running into metal fasteners") is right on the money.  When the planks were laid out and cut out, lines for the lags were scribe using combination squares set at the "right" distances from the edge.  Also, two more lines were similarly scribes for rounding the chine after the planks were installed.  To do this a "flat" was planed in between the two lines closest to the chine intersection of the two planks.  The other lines are the limits of the rounding.  From these lines, up for the side plank, down for the bottom plank, to the top of the side plank and the rabbet for the bottom plank, the planks are a full 3/4" thick.  The rounding process actually cuts off the point of the chine and the planks are separated somewhat in some places.  Where the angle between the planks opens (up forward) it is more important that edge angles of the two planks are cut to mate because there will (should) be less rounding there.  See the enclosed drawing "Rounding the Chines."

 

On my "Picture Site" (the Ning site that houses my pictures www.newporter.ning.com ) there are two pictures that may be instructive: the 3rd and the 10th, "Side Plnk On" and "Bott Plnk On."  These pictures were made before I started my tour of duty on the Newporters.  You will note that I said two rows of lags but the pictures show only one.  It is possible that it was decided that a second row was needed to apply good gluing pressure on the chines since urea formaldehyde glue requires smooth mating surfaces and plenty of pressure.  Or my memory may be bad, but I do remember two rows and I stick with it.  You will note that on the bottom planking picture that the spread of lags is about three to a frame plus a starting lag--or lags at the frames and two between the frames.  The other picture shows three between the frames in places (note the rows of nails in the plank indicating frames, also note that the lags are irregularly placed).  What wasn't done, as recorded by the pictures, and what I would definitely do, is NOT put a lag right across the chine from the first lag, that puts two lags close to each other probably weakening the chine wood.  Spread the lags evenly and place the lags of the second plank placed between the lags of first one.  Questions?  Ask.

 

Peace,

 

    Clyde