Clinker Boats

I’ve started some further work on Redwing no. 30 ‘Talofa’. She still needs a fair bit of work doing and there is quite a list of jobs. For now I have started some work on replacing a couple of planks that had split at a weak point – along the line of the fastenings where the plank ‘lands’ on the adjacent one. At the turn of the bilge the plank lands are bevelled and are thinner here making them a bit more vulnerable to splitting.

The section of split plank is marked and the heads of the rivets ground away on the inside, roves levered off and the nails driven through and pulled out. Then the plank is carefully cut through from both sides and old section gently eased out.

Using a sharp chisel a tapering scarf about 2.5″ long is cut in the end of the remaining plank. To continue the scarf across the whole of the width of the plank I have removed fastenings beyond the working area and carefully wedge the seam open to let the chisel get into the joint.

In between this planking work I have continued stripping her old varnish.