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Issue No. 311
July / August 2026
Building Church Mouse
Part 2—Completing the boat
In the first installment of this series on building the Church Mouse Skiff (see WB No. 310), we made the construction jig, set up the stem and transom, planked the hull, and removed the boat from the jig. In this, the second and final installment, we complete the hull and build the rig.—Eds.
Marking and Cutting the Sheerline
1. The side panels were purposely left a little oversized. Now is the time to trim the sheer to the marks made on the inside of the planking in Part 1 (Step 2). To do this, drill small holes (⅛″ or so) from the inside of the planking through the sides at these points. This transfers the sheer marks to the outside of the boat. Clamp a batten through those points, and through the sheer marks at the bow and stern. Check that the curves are fair on each side of the boat, and that they land at the same stem and transom heights.
When you are happy with the marked sheer curves, cut them with the saw of your choice (we used a Japanese pull saw) as close to the line as you dare, and plane down to it.
Seat Cleats
2–3. The seat cleats are made from ¾″× 1½″ stock, rough-cut to 8″ long and then trimmed to length according to their locations. Their tops are beveled to meet the seat; you can lift that bevel from the plans, using your bevel gauge, or determine it on the boat itself. For each cleat, the face that meets the side must be scribed and shaped slightly to fit the slight curvature of the side panel.
The cleats’ fore-and-aft locations are measured from the mold positions, which were marked before the hull was removed from the jig; their heights are measured down from the sheerline. Each pair of dimensions, for each of the cleats, is indicated on the plans. Draw the outline of each cleat on the side plank, and then drill two evenly spaced small holes (⅛" or so) from the inside that will then locate the countersunk pilot holes to be drilled next, from the outside, through the plank and into the cleat. Then apply adhesive to the mating face of the cleat and fasten it in place.
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