19ft sailboat Everything going good till......

[donald branscom]

I have run into a problem. Everything was smooth untill now.
I cannot get the strip of wood to bend into the slots on the chine.
I have twisted pushed etc., but it is not going to work.
I am thinking about using smaller strips like 1inch square .
The strip was supposed to be 2and1/2 by 7/8 and i was using a 5/8 thick strip just for a trial fit and that won/t work.
What do you think about smaller strips glued together?
http://i14.tinypic.com/4c2nwpg.jpg
http://i14.tinypic.com/4c2nwpg.jpg
http://i14.tinypic.com/4csb4h5.jpg
http://i14.tinypic.com/4csb4h5.jpg
This how it is supposed to work.

[maa. melee]

Somethings outa wack. Where's your fairing batten? Adjust those molds, moving, planing, and beveling before you fit the chine or sides or anything.

Looks like the frame on the far left is too low and the other two frames too high. Battens might tell you what's wrong when your eyes can't see the problem, or the extent of it.

[JimD]

Like maa. melee says check everything and be absolutely certain everything is lined up and made to measure. Did you loft the boat? Or just build the frames from the offset table and hope the measurements were all correct? If everything is ok and its just a nasty bend that is too much to ask of the wood then you could try what I always try. First, if you think soaking the chine log in water for a few days will soften it enough to bend it in place then try it. Otherwise rip the chine log down the middle into two thinner strips, soak in water to soften further, fit both pieces in place and clamp them and allow to dry in place. Then take them out, slather on the epoxy, and glue in place. Always worked for me. So yes, its absolutely ok to glue two narrower pieces in stead of one wider piece. We're assuming you're not set up for steam bending.

Edited to add. Do you have the sheer clamps on yet? I can't tell from the photo. If not then its a good idea to get those pairs or longitudinal strips on at the same time to make sure you don't twist the frames and backbone by doing just one side this weekend and the next side next time. In other words get both port and starboard sheer clamps on in one go, and same for the chine logs.

[donald branscom]

Like maa. melee says check everything and be absolutely certain everything is lined up and made to measure. Did you loft the boat? Or just build the frames from the offset table and hope the measurements were all correct? If everything is ok and its just a nasty bend that is too much to ask of the wood then you could try what I always try. First, if you think soaking the chine log in water for a few days will soften it enough to bend it in place then try it. Otherwise rip the chine log down the middle into two thinner strips, soak in water to soften further, fit both pieces in place and clamp them and allow to dry in place. Then take them out, slather on the.....

I will try smaller strips.
The plans said not to use battens if covering in plywood.
the frames were fair before i started this process of putting on this chine board.

[Thorne]

I've seen a lot of photos of builders using a taut string or cord running down the center of the frames / supports to allow keeping things true and show any twist or misalignment -- you might try that along with adding more cross-members as above.

[JimD]

Donald, I think what was meant by battens was not a structural member but simply a long fair bending strip of wood to stretch out along the boat to help eyeball the frame set up. A useful measuring tool.

Glen-L has a very nice on line sheet plywood building tutorial that may be helpful but I think in this case it's just a matter of the designer expecting a little too much cooperation from a wide length of wood.

[donald branscom]

Thanks for all the input. I appreciate the time you took to help me.
I have solved the problem by splitting the board from 2.5 wide to
1 and 1/4 wide. It worked perfectly. I will just use 2 sticks on each side.

The 2.5 wide board was trying to bend in a compound curve and it
was not possible.

I have checked my frames with a batten stick and it is all good.
So everything is still on track. Today is Sunday so I canot get the wood i need to finish this step untill tomorrow.

[donald branscom]

Donald, I think what was meant by battens was not a structural member but simply a long fair bending strip of wood to stretch out along the boat to help eyeball the frame set up. A useful measuring tool.

Glen-L has a very nice on line sheet plywood building tutorial that may be helpful but I think in this case it's just a matter of the designer expecting a little too much cooperation from a wide length of wood.

You are right Jim, makes me wonder if the designer actually built one to see what would happen.
On another boat i built the designer had made a couple minor mistakes also. When i asked about the problem he just said whtever i need to do to solve the problem was ok.
Once when i was on a job doing welding the plans called for welding procedures that were all wrong and i called up the designer and i was told that they thought a competent welder would know what to do,
A little irresponsible I thought.

[JimD]

How much did you pay for the plans? :D Just kidding.

[donald branscom]

How much did you pay for the plans? :D Just kidding.

OK - Mary from Ohio........Ha Ha HAHa