Boat Building: Strongback & stringers & stuff
The next step in the kayak build is to set up the strongback so we'll have something to attach the frame members to. Basically the strongback is a temporary backbone that holds the cross frames and keel in position while the stringers are fastened in place. Stringers are frame members running lengthwise or longitudinal bow to stern. They include the keel, chines, gunwales, carlins, deck beams and rubrails. The strongback is screwed or clamped to a couple of stable sawhorses. A center line is marked on the strongback (I used a chalkline) to help keep things lined up.
Frames #1 and #6 secured.
With the first two frames secured I used a table saw to rip the rest of the stringers out of the two pine boards. I chose to use southern yellow pine for the stringers for a couple of reasons. The first is that yellow pine is a traditional southern boat building material used for planking and frames on smaller wooden boats. Secondly, it is more resistant to rot than most of the other locally native species. Plus, I just like yellow pine..
Once the strongback is set up the positions for the cross frames are marked. The keel, which was ripped to size out of the one of the 16' pine boards is placed on the strongback along the marked center line. It is held in place at both ends with mounting brackets which are screwed to the ends of the strongback.
After the keel is mounted its time to secure two of the six cross frames in place. The frames are marked according to their positions along the strongback. Frame #1 is attached at the bow end to the same mounting bracket that holds the keel down. Frame #6 is attached to the mounting bracket at the stern end. The frames need to be level and square before being screwed to the mounting brackets.
Frames #1 and #6 secured.
With the first two frames secured I used a table saw to rip the rest of the stringers out of the two pine boards. I chose to use southern yellow pine for the stringers for a couple of reasons. The first is that yellow pine is a traditional southern boat building material used for planking and frames on smaller wooden boats. Secondly, it is more resistant to rot than most of the other locally native species. Plus, I just like yellow pine..
The next thing to do is attach the gunwales. Gunwales are the upper outside longitudinal stringers. The gunwales are held to frames #1 and #6 temporarily until the stems are fastened to the keel. I'm using clamps and a few plastic cable ties to hold things together until tomorrow. For the first time the rough outline of the kayak shape begins to emerge. Nice!
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