Jonas and Matt have each been working on one side of the catboat this quarter. In a production boatshop the planks would be done two at a time, one for each side from the same spile or pattern, since in theory the two sides of the boat are identical, but in a school setting spiling and fitting each plank individually gives you a lot of valuable experience. The trick though, when working each side independently, is making sure all your plank lines line up. Especially at the stem, where any inaccuracy is particularly noticeable.
Looks like the guys are doing a great job.
When we started planking, one of the hardest areas to fit was at the rabbet. Thankfully as the rabbet moves up the stem the planks get a bit easier to spile, fit, and hang.
The port side planking is a little further ahead of the starboard. Over on the port side the sheer strake is the last one left to do. Here on the starboard we're at the turn of the bilge, where the bottom planking transitions into the topsides. Since the topside planks are the most visible, it's nice to have all that planking practice behind you, so that these look perfect.
The plank lines overall look pretty sweet. When lining out the planking we spent a lot of time fretting over the smallest adjustments, but this extra attention to detail pays off when you see the planks on the boat.
Back aft, the planks are left long and trimmed later. By leaving a little extra material past the transom, you reduce the likelihood that the last row of fasteners will split the plank. You can also be assured that all the planks will line up evenly since they'll be trimmed all at the same time.
Below we see the final topside plank ready to be installed on the port side. Just the sheer strake left after that.
Behind the catboat, you can see the planked hull of the Trap Skiff another of the ongoing projects in the shop. This skiff is the same length as the catboat, but in beam there's no comparison. On first walking into the shop that's what struck me the most: the sheer scale of the catboat's hull. When we were lining out the planks with battens we could get an idea of the eventual size of the finished hull, but it's not until the planks are hung that it's really evident.
Jonas and Matt have a few more planks to hang before the catboat's ready to be flipped and moved out of the boatshop, but when that happens there'll be a big hole to fill in the shop.
