Question for Jeff re: Lashing strength

[vttramper]

Jeff - I know you have re-skinned boats and in the process found a failed frame - due to lesser quality ply if I remember right.  But have you seen any problems caused by lashing failure?  I am very impressed with the apparent strength of lashed joints and wondered if there is any reason to expect deterioration over time. I saw skin boats in Alaskan museums with what looked like intact lashings that would have been very old. Different material, of course.  My guess is that the lashings will outlast me, but I was just curious.

[Hirilonde]

I would bet that the major cause of lashing failure using synthetic sinew would be a poor, missing or misplaced stopper knot at the start and end of the lashings.  6 wraps of sinew pulled tight is obscenely strong, provided it stays tight.  The problem is that the sinew is slippery and knots themselves do not hold unless a good stopper is tied and right up against the knot.  The sinew is a synthetic.  Water will cause no deterioration, only ultraviolet will.  And even the lashings near the cockpit don't see much of this over the life of the boat.  The sinew is prone to cutting or abrasion damage, but as it is under the skin this really isn't an issue either.

[vttramper]

6 wraps of sinew pulled tight is obscenely strong, provided it stays tight.

Agree - I did an experiment simply lashing two pieces of wood together and then trying to break the joint. - the wood gave first, no contest. Not very scientific, but still impressive. Appreciate your thoughts on the longevity of the synthetic sinew.  And I did obcess over those stopper knots. I think my original notion that the lashings will outlast me is probably right on.

[Kudzu]

I missed this somehow. I doubt there is anything to worry about as long as there is a decent stopper knot. Even loosing one lashing wouldn't be a big deal on almost all the joints. But in all the boats I have built I have never  had a lashing fail.