Bow Stringers
This entry was posted on 1/28/2007 7:24 AM and is filed under Build the Vaka Hull.
The design calls for two bow stringers from the forward bulkhead to the stem. They are 3/4 by 1 inch and bonded to the hull about 8 inches above the top chine. Seems simple enough, right? Wrong.
I was having a devil of a time figuring out how to install them. I couldn't get the wood to take the curve and fit tight against the hull without a tremendous amount of pressure. But normal clamps could not be used. I would have had to make some sort of reverse Spanish windlass type of thing - or something. But I finally worked out a much simpler solution.
I decided to laminate the stringers in place. I ripped the stringers into two roughly equal thicknesses. Each piece would now take the curve without much pressure. In order to hold everything in place I pinned the stringer near the bulkhead and near the stem (as close as I could get with the drill). Then I used 8 inch cable ties to hold the stringers in place.
This shows the two stringers in place before glueing. You can just see the dowel used to pin one end near the forward bulkhead and the cable tie holding it in place. There is another setup like this at the other end of the stringer. The center is pulled into position using a cable tie but no pin is needed. The holes have to be drilled from inside to outside in order to make sure everything is lined up. This means at the stem there is no cable tie. I wedged in a block of wood to apply pressure there.
Again I used System Three GelMagic in the U-TAH cartridge and it worked great. I had to apply to glue to four surfaces. Without the cartridge that would have been a stressful job. With the cartridge I had plenty of time to get it done properly.
This is what the outside looks like. The dowel is glued in place and will be cut off flush with the hull using a wood chisel. The cable tie will be removed and the holes filled with epoxy. Make the dowel pin at least 2 inches long so it is easy to work with. Then cut if flush both inside and outside after everything is cured.
The job turned out to be easy once I decided to laminate in place. The stringers are a bit less than 1 inch now due to the saw blade cut down the middle, but a laminated stringer is stronger so it should be fine.
