How to plank a hard chine hull

[owend]

I'm starting a scratch-build of a Thames barge. These have near-vertical sides and for about 3/4 length and a near-flat bottom (for estuary work), with a sharp angle ("hard chine"). It's going to be planked, with a bare wood finish (no paint!).

 

I can't find any clear information on planking patterns, most hard chine designs seem to be for ply or ply strip construction.

 

I'm thinking of a strip along the bottom of the vertical side chamfered at the bottom, and planking up and down, with stealers towards the bottom, then turning over and doing the same to the bottom, with a plank at the chine chamfered to the bottom strip of the side, a garboard strake, then planking in and out with stealers.

 

Does this sound right? Can anyone advise a more correct method? ANY help gratefully received!

 

Owen

[druxey]

Interesting question. I imagine that the side planking would overlap the bottom plank at the chine, similar to a ply hull. This means planking the bottom first, then the sides.

[wefalck]

Owend, my literature (and consequently knowledge) on Thames barges is rather limited. The only book in my library is this little one:

 

COOPER, F.S. (1967): A Handbook of Sailing Barges. Evolution and Details of Hull and Rigging.- 111 p., London (Adlard Coles Ltd.).

 

Cooper says that the floor planks were rabbeted and pulled together during construction with a chain and a tightening screw. After putting in the floor timbers and errecting the frames the side planking was put on, which also was rabbeted. Top and bottom of the sides finished in a plank twice the thickness of the other planking, the outer wale and the chine plank respectively. The side planking was around 3" thick, with the wale/chine having a cross-section of 6" by 12" to 18". To the chine plank a keelson of 13" by 6" was bolted.

 

My literature list came also up with these books:

 

FREESTON, E.C., KENT, B. (19??): Modelling Thames Sailing Barges.- 96 p., London (Conway Maritime Press).

 

LEATHER, J. (197?): Barges.- 235 p., London (Granada Publishing).

 

MARCH, E.J. (195?): Spritsail Barges of Thames and Medway.- 

 

but as the incomplete bibliographic references suggest, I don't have them in my library. I think there are many more publications on these craft, as quite a few are still around.

[Jaager]

From:

 

WORKING BOATS OF BRITAIN                                         
MCKEE,ERIC                                                       
CONWAY MARITIME PRESS                       
LONDON                   
1983
BOATBUILDING             
224                                                                                                                                                                                                             
                                           

Edited October 13, 2015 by Jaager