Subject: RE: [baidarka] New boat photos, and seat question
From: Cicotello, Gina (GCicotello@finsys.com)
Date: Tue Oct 30 2001 - 15:40:58 EST
~ > Gina, thanks for posting those great photos. It's a beautiful boat.
~ >
~ > How did you go about shaping the ribs so accurately?
Thank you!
Ahh, steam-bending. That day of the building process was truly the most gratifying for me.
The ribs were shaped by eye.
With each rib hot out of the steamer, we bent it into shape and clamped it inside the gunwales and keelson. Then while they were cooling we'd
micro-adjust them so they'd match and form a nice overall hull shape. Looking from the ends of the boat, it's readily apparent which ones are out of
whack. You have to work fast, and it helps to have two people.
Especially with the flatter ones in the center, we initially hyper-extended them a bit so they bowed out to a (shallow) W-shape. Then as they cooled,
we let them out to form the flat, stable hull. Obviously, the ribs to the bow end are more V-shaped; and to the stern, more U-shaped. It helps to
have the mental picture before you start bending.
Finally after the ribs were cut and inserted into the gunwales, one or two looked misaligned and we actually replaced them (pic #12).
Good luck, hope it goes well for you!
- Gina
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