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Keeping things straight


GaryMinor

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Jeff,

 

I am building a Mess About 15. I have the frames and stringers assembled, held together with bungee cords.

 

I have done the following lashing.

  • Some of the frames (those without a bracket) to the keel.
  • The gunwale to the forward frames. From the one just aft of the stem (11-9) to the frame in the middle of the cockpit (6-8), on both sides.

About this time, I realize that I haven't been following instructions very well.

  • I haven't leveled the frames.
  • I haven't securely fastened the frames to the brackets. I've only clamped them.

Things seem to be going well. The frames are in the right position fore and aft. Straight things seem straight and curved things seem to be evenly curved and symmetrical.

 

It seems to me (potentially a very dangerous statement) that the final shape of a kayak is strongly determined by the shape and position of the frames and the tension of the stringers. That is, even if the frames are held perfectly in place during construction, as soon as the kayak is removed fron the brackets, it will take the shape of least tension.

 

The questions are:

  • I understand that the position of the lashing to the frames are important to keep the frames square to the centerline, but does that determine the shape of the hull?
  • Should I go back and level the frames and securely fasten them to the brackets? 
  • Should I remove and redo any of the lashings?

Gary in Wake Forest

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Your on the right track about considering the collective tension the stringers place on the frames and thier influence on the outcome of the hulls shape.

When I built the cast-a-way this summer, I wrote in my notes to 1-Lash all frames to the keel and then 2- lash the gunwales to the frames, then 3- lash the remaining stringers to the frames. To keep the tensions on the emerging Kayak Frame even and symmetrical my lashing sequence started in the center of the Kayak and progressed out to the bow and stern. I would try to envision the collective tension and keep it over the keel.

If your think the collective tension is off center, or you think you could have done it better, redoing those lashings is better than risking a crooked Kayak.

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  • 2 weeks later...

My Mess About is all lashed up, and off of the strongback.

 

It looks as straight as I would ever want it to be.

 

I never did securely fasten the brackets to the frame. I tried some hot glue as a temporary fix, but the frames were already oiled so it wouldn't stick. I could have used screws, but I didn't like the idea of holes to be patched later, so the brackets simply held the keel and the bottom of the frames in place, but the frames were free to rotate.

 

Like I said before, I think that the equal tension and equal stiffness of the stringers is the primary factor.

 

Gary in Wake Forest

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Like I said before, I think that the equal tension and equal stiffness of the stringers is the primary factor.

 

Or you just got lucky?

 

Don't want to make a big deal out of this, nor am I am criticizing Gary for what he did. But I just don't want people thinking they can just put one together and expect to it to come out right if they don't do it right.

 

I have had frames twist and try to distort in the jig. If you get s stringer that has a funny grain pattern ad doesn't want to bend smooth it can mess up the boat. There is a reason we build these the way we do and taking short cuts it taking the risk of a twisted boat that wants to turn in circles.Every one I build, I put together just as I describe in the manual. 

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