Deck planking approaching stem - Decrease in width?

[knightyo]

Hello,

 

I'm tinkering with the HMS Triton in my free time, and am thinking about the deck planking patterns.  I understand that the deck planks would narrow as they approached the stem.  Does anyone know to what degree the planks narrowed?  

 

Alan

[mtaylor]

If I remember correctly, it was 1/2 the width of the plank.  The planks would be nibbed into the waterway.   

[paulsutcliffe]

Hi Alan

I'm not sure the planks would be nibbled into the waterway as Mark suggested, this was a later arrangement with the advent of power saw mills etc, Druxey mentions this in his comet book

If you have twenty planks amidships you would need to taper them to fit at stem and stern where they come down the side if their width would be less than half the plank they were scarfed into the next plank, hope that makes sense see below at the right of the windlass 

And here in the bow

Hope that helps

Regards

Paul 

[druxey]

Paul is correct for the era of Triton. The 'dropped' planks at the sides were hooked, as shown nicely above. You will, as master shipwright, determine the layout and taper yourself.

Edited September 29, 2018 by druxey

[knightyo]

Thanks guys!  I'm good to go with the hooked plank concept, and have already drawn out a planking pattern.  Now I'll re-draw the pattern incorporating planks narrowing towards the stem.  I'll post in this thread when done. (I'm also going to tell my wife tonight that I'm a master shipwright). 

 

Alan

[knightyo]

I'm also now debating my plank width in general. What general width do you guys things the king plank should be, as well as the standard planks?  It looks like gundeck planks could be up to 12', but that king planks were also 12'?  

 

Alan