Build log · Phase 3, Hull planking

Bulwark lowered, and the first plank of the second layer

8 April 2018 · Milestone · How-to

Set up outside in the lovely sunshine and carrying on. First, lowering the bulwark. After a great deal of measuring I arrive at a reduction of 7.15 mm. Oddly enough there’s no way I can get both sides to measure the same, but I cut them to the same height anyway.

Measuring up the bulwark
Measuring up the bulwark
The bulwark cut down by 7.15 mm
The bulwark cut down by 7.15 mm

Once cut, it looks good. The right-hand pencil mark on the port side indicates the same distance on the transom as the mark on the starboard side, and the height of the bulwark is exactly level with the transom. So I’m assuming it might just be right like this.

The bulwark now runs level with the transom
The bulwark now runs level with the transom

Starting the second planking

Then on to the second hull planking. For that I first marked out the top of the wale. As per the instructions I use the distance between gunport and wale as shown on the profile view of the drawing. That goes rather well. To make sure it’s right, and that I don’t lose the line while planking, I’ve stuck masking tape where the wale will go.

The distance between port and wale taken from the profile view
The distance between port and wale taken from the profile view
The top of the wale marked out
The top of the wale marked out
Masking tape where the wale will go
Masking tape where the wale will go
The line of the wale along the whole length
The line of the wale along the whole length

And the first plank is on. Quite pleased. On both sides they must of course come out at the same height. In the photo the right-hand one seems to sit slightly lower, but I think that’s the shadow: measuring from the top, they’re level.

The first plank of the second planking
The first plank of the second planking
Both sides at equal height, despite the shadow
Both sides at equal height, despite the shadow