Building Curlew

[ShamblingBunyip]

I started building this curlew in 2 months back, lofted the frames out of Jeff's book and now I'm assembling everything on the strong back.  The ends of my gunwales don't line up exactly.  They are about 1.5cm out.  Have I done something wrong? What should I do about it?

 

[Kudzu]

You should cut them long and trim them to fit on the boat.  I don't see the bow piece so not sure if you are short or long.

[ShamblingBunyip]

Thanks for the quick reply.  I started with them long and then cut the down to the bow piece so that they were the same length as eachother and just about as long as the bow.  I figure that their still a bit long but I'm worried that its not symmetrical.  I haven't cut any holes in the bow piece yet.

[Kudzu]

Not sure what to tell you. One is short for sure. I guess the only thing to so it make the match.

[ShamblingBunyip]

So I've gone back, re-measured every frame, checked my frames are symmetrical and checked the keel is straight. Put the stringers on, the stringers are fine.  They line up with each other nicely.  So I think to myself maybe one of these gunwales just bends differently to the other so I swap them over: no change. Still the starboard side is longer than the port.  I think I'm just going to have to trim them to fit and hope for the best.  Is half an inch difference in the gunwales going to make my boat lean or go in circles?  I've got to say the plywood pirogue I made last year (my first attempt at a boat) is much less symmetrical than this and it paddles pretty well.

[ShamblingBunyip]

How far back from the bow should I be trimming gunwales and stringers?

[Kudzu]

Gunwale is above the water so no, it will cause it go in circles.

 

If the Gunwales are the same length then something is not right. I would check the frames and see if one is wider on one side than the other. It's an easy mistake to make.

[ShamblingBunyip]

Sure enough frame 8'2" was 15mm wider on one side than the other.  After cutting a new one the gunnels were still about 6mm out but I'll live with that.  So far this means errors in lofting have meant I've had to re-cut 3 frames and I re-did the first one I cut as it split when I was removing the centre.  50% messed up; maybe I should have bought the full sized plans.

 

Oh well.  Every thing is sanded the gunnels are trimmed and I've ordered my fabric, sinew and foot rests.  I'm pretty excited to get this finished.

[Kudzu]

I spent many years working on the drawing board and worked with coordinates most days and I still make mistakes. Lofting is not hard, it is just hard to do accurately. I have always said that full size plans are a bargain!

[ShamblingBunyip]

Lashing nearly completed. Just the bow to go.

[ShamblingBunyip]

[ShamblingBunyip]

 

[toddn.robinson]

Pretty frame!

[ShamblingBunyip]

Here is a FROG

 

[ShamblingBunyip]

Frames are marine ply the stringers are Queensland Maple.  Start oiling this arvo.

[ShamblingBunyip]

Frame oiled

 

[ShamblingBunyip]

skinned and varnished.  Skin was tight after stitching and ironing but seems to have relaxed a little after varnishing.

[ShamblingBunyip]

Double corded stich going in.

 

[ShamblingBunyip]

Stitched up.

 

[ShamblingBunyip]

Took the pirogue out waiting for the varnish to dry. Saw this guy on  the bank.