Speaking of planks...

[mrthethird]

Why couldn't I think of these questions sooner?

I would like to plank the deck with 1/4" cedar strips. Should I cut the deck out of 3/8" ply (which I already have...), or should I scale back to 1/4" ply for the deck, then add the hardwood on top? Is the cedar going to weigh enough to matter? Am I overthinking this? Is that a slice of processed cheese under the saw?

I want to be sure that the deck is strong enough to walk on, but I've heard that the weekender is a little top-heavy anyway. Any thoughts on this?

[Wild_Dingo]

Mate why not?? Plans are in essence guideposts... while some would no doubt say "DONT DO IT!! YOU MUST under pain of death doom and destruction stick truely to the plans and only the plans nothing but the plans"... I personally take it that they are guidelines of what can be done and there is within that some leeway for differences

Personally... and remember here Im like Schultz from Hogans Heros "I know Nuffink!"... Id say go for it... first it will look great second you will enjoy the ride more having given it the personal touch third it will look great... need anymore reasons? Okay It will look bloody brilliant!!! Imagine the looks of awe and longing you will create at the launch ramp 8)

And hence my reason for annoying the hell out of Oyster Mike about putting a fantail stern on my weekender!! :cool: And my long ago discarded now being resurfaced ideas of making it into a schooner!! AND Ive even had weird thoughts of makin it into a strip planked round bilged boat!!! :eek:

SOMEONE STOP ME!!!! :twisted:

Ignorance the blessed space between knowing not enough and knowing too bloody much!! 8)

[Frank Hagan]

The cedar won't add that much weight to the boat, so stick with the 3/8 ply on top. You want the stiffness up there.

I don't think the Weekender is especially top heavy, not if you keep it with a gaff rig and the standard sail size. The Weekender does do better with a bit of ballast down on the floor of the cabin, but it isn't especially "tippy" even with all the mods people do to the topsides.

[mrthethird]

ALRIGHTY THEN, I'M GONNA DO IT!!!!!

...and the solar panel in the forward hatch for recharging the battery, and the tinted glass in the port holes, the custom flamin' paint job, and maybe even the flyin' jib up front!

Whadya think about a mizzen-sprit?

[mrthethird]

That's it, I'm goin' t'bed. (One too many grape knee-hi's)

[Barry Pyeatt]

I too would stick with the 3/8" ply for the deck. I would also be certain I got a 5 ply 3/8" plywood rather than the current 3-ply in the construction grades.

Topside weight on the hull/deck/cabin isn't an issue at all. Stick with the sail plan as Frank suggests with a gaff rig and you won't have any challenges with balance. A little larger headsail, such as a Lapper will balance out the helm a little better under most conditions.

If you are going with Western Red Cedar it is fairly brittle and also a bit soft. But it should last a long time anyway on a Weekender deck. I would make a grate to fit the cockpit instead of a laminated sole. It will take the wear and tear much better and is a lot easier to replace down the road if needed. You can let it age naturally and go gray or keep it oiled down with boiled linseed oil a couple times a year. It makes for a tougher surface and a nice warm appearance.

Instead of tinted glass, go to an automotive supply house and get tinted lexan instead. Won't break or shatter like glass.

[Barnacle Jim]

Ahoy,

You may want to take a look at the boat built by Chris Gerkin which has a beautiful planked deck. The Stevenson site includes a picture of Chris' boat, and the BYYB magazine, Gaff Rig, has run a number of articles featuring the boat and how it was built.

http://byyb.org/gaffrig/ond05/cover.htm

___________________________

Wild Dingo,

Yes, you are right. The Stevenson designs can be modified, but of course, there are limits and parameters. If I may say so, whatever changes you envision, just be sure to keep the chines hard and everything in balance. Other builders helped me immensely with their kind suggestions, and often saved me from a sea of woes.

A rounded hull (complete with tortured plywood) can be seen in Chris' fine boat. I also did something similar. Both of our boats have a modified fantail stern.

Here are some links to my boat with an accompanying explanations of what we did and how. Let me caution, however, that any modification will necessarily require more building time and sometimes what you plan just doesn't work. At any rate, here are the links

[P Doug (WA)]

Talk about modifications to the Weekender, what about that Snuppy boat that gentleman was building. ( He passed away before he got it finished). I did a forum search but didn't get any hits. I must be spelling it incorrectly. Oh, found it, it was the Snupi gentleman's name Graeme.

I sure hope someone takes over and finishes that one. Wasn't his daughter working it?