Chine Logs

I knew it might come down to this: Build or Blog? Build or Blog?

So, for the last two day's I've been building, with no time to blog. The cause for all this concentration is the hardest thing I've run into, yet: letting the chine log into the forms. Whoever said there are no straight lines, no right angles on a boat, sure was right!


Well, I started off by making a 'fid' for the chine log. A fid is basically a small piece of wood that it just about the same size as the piece you need to fit, only shorter.

In this case, instead of wrestling with an 8' piece of oak, I used a 3" piece.

This is important, because fitting these chines is largely a matter of trial and error, until the dang thing fits.

And 'dang' isn't the word that I've been using for the last two days, in case you were wondering.

Note how the top edge of the fid sticks up above the bottom. This is very important! It is the *inside* top edge of the fid that must line up with the top of the form.

The outside top edge of the chine log will be planed off, so it is even with the bottom. That way, the bottom planking will lie flat on the chinelog.

A Fid Makes Fitting Easier

jalmberg

Once I got the rough outline sketched out on the form, I carefully chiseled it out, repeatedly trying the fid in place, to see if I was getting it right. I imagine there is a more scientific way to do this... in fact, I'm almost afraid to read Greg Roselle's book right now, because I'm afraid to find a simple trick that could have saved me hours of work.

Better leave that till when I'm not holding a sharp instrument.

 

Slow and careful is the trick

jalmberg

The photo below show's something important... probably the most important thing on this page: it is the *inside* top edge of the fid that must line up with the top of the form, as mentioned above.

The Fid Fits

jalmberg

Then it was time to tackle the stem/keelson/chinelog joint. This was such a difficult job that I forgot to take photographs. I'll take more detailed pictures of this joint when I take it apart before bedding all the pieces with bedding compound.

Besides, if I tried to discuss it tonight, I'd probably have a break down. I'll just say that there isn't a single right angle in that joint... A whole bunch of odd angles that somehow come together if you have enough patience, and a nice sharp chisel.

Whew!

A Most Complicated Joint!

jalmberg

Here's what the chine log looks like before being bent into the notches on the forms.

Chine log before bending

jalmberg

Helena and cat are occupying the Moaning Chair, to keep me working, I think!

Well, more pictures than scintillating prose today, but sometimes you get to blog, and sometimes you get to build.

And sometimes (not quite enough, lately) you get to sleep...

>>> Next Episode: Make Mistakes Slowly

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