Stem/Forefoot Structure and Replacement Plan

[bob mitchell]

       Underneath the most forward keel bolt coming up through the apron is the joint where the forefoot is joined with the deadwood.

The joint is covered, or bridged for strength by 3/4 vertical plywood on each side that is the final extension of the vertical plywood that covers all of the 5 1/2" Douglas Fir deadwood. You can see the forward end of the plywood marked on one of the blueprints from Clyde. A smooth transition width wise

is achieved by reducing the width of the deadwood over its couple of feet from 5 1/2" to 4" at its forward end so that the two vertical pieces of plywood on the deadwoods side smoothly transition across the deadwood apron joint. the forefoot itself is notched to receive the plywood (which is visible as far right hand near vertical line in first photo). There are also three 1/2" bolts that drop down through the remainder of the apron into and through the forefoot assembly (not shown in blueprint above).

     The above photo also does not show the divisions of the stem, which consists of two pieces, the first being about 33 1/4" long, 5 1/2" wide, and maybe varying in height around 6 1/2".  This piece joins the next piece behind frame #4 which is a double frame with an athwartship 3/4" plywood piece bolted to its forward surface.

 

 

Behind the cheek block labeled 4-5 is the first piece of stem. On the other side of double frame 4 (cheek block removed) the second piece starts with about a 6 1/2" width and widens at the top to about 9 1/2". I did not measure its length beyond ascertaining that it could be gotten out of a 6" x 10" x 6 or 7' blank. If I am wrong I will come back and make a correction.  Interestingly, the rabbet, not especially clear in this photo, wanders along the forefoot/stem border, some times on one, sometimes on another, and sometimes on both. Below the stem pieces runs the forefoot, which also seems to be made of the initial massive piece starting at the deadwood joint and running and getting much smaller, to near the bobstay staple, and then a second piece running the rest of the way up. The big piece could probably be gotten from a 5 1/2" x 12" x 8' piece. Here is a shot of the the two forefoot pieces, but it is unclear where the original scarf was because the piece behind the staple is not original.

While it is hard to discern if you can't see it in three dimensions, the 7/8" x 1" rabbet is at the bottom of the new piece.

THE PLAN, in a nutshell starts with this photo.

This shows the forward end of the new apron, ready for the new bolts that secure the new forefoot with  the deadwood (joint to left of picture).  It also shows floors 7 and 8 back in place, as well as 6 which was never removed. In front of the apron is a cheek block - the first piece of stem is behind it - and it is no good. Almost all the frames in this area are solid except at the very bottom, so since the floors support the frames I will simply cut the ends off even with the cheek blocks, which are all rotten, and then replace the cheek blocks with one continuous length nailed into the new stem, with the ends of the frames against it. After I make the frame cuts, and remove the rotten cheeks, I will drop the 33" first stem piece out and put a brand new one back in. The fit will be simple because it goes centered and up against the floors which are still in place. The next long piece of stem, which is 6 1/2" at it small end, is only soft on its bottom two inches (for it length) and the remainder is very solid. So I will leave it in place, but cut out the bottom 2" and replace them with new material. At this point we have the big piece of forefoot and the small piece to make and reinstall - work, yes, but not unreasonable considering we have maintained the shape of the boat and the position where they go. It's not as bad as it looks because most of the curve is on the forward surface of the forefoot - and behind that is mostly straight lines. There are a couple of frames to replace.