Plank repair question

[Todd D]

Two days ago I put a new plank on my boat. That revealed that there is about a 1' long section of the plank immediately above the new plank that is cupped in about 3/32" for about 1/3 of the plank width immediately above the new plank. The new plank is of consistent thickness, or I really need a new thickness planer :) The result is that there is quite a "step" in the hull at that point. Both planks have just been fastened to new frames at this point, so I know the problem is a thickness variation in the old plank. I would like the hull to be fair there. As I see it, I could either plane the new plank flush with the old plank or I could epoxy a thin strip of wood onto the old plank and then plane that surface flush with the new plank after the epoxy cures. I am inclined to adding wood to the hull rather than taking wood off.

What is the collective wisdom on this issue?

[Todd D]

Ok, it is a 32' power boat (top speed around 10 knots). The plank in question starts below the WL and extends above it. The spot is just below the waterline.

[Ron Williamson]

It wouldn't have been planed down 3/32" in the fairing process?
I'd give the new plank a coupla swipes with a plane after eyeballing it with a fairing batten.
R

[Lew Barrett]

If the old plank has a divot in it as you suggest, planing the new one to it is not the solution, as that will simply broaden any depression. Fair is fair, not just for a foot. The addition of a 3/32" veneer sounds to me like more trouble than it's worth. Some fairing compound, like Smith's or Interlux, really does sound like the easiest repair, and there's nothing I hera in this that calls out for a wood worked solution.
Keep an eye on the cupped plank for the future repair it may want.

[Todd D]

Lew,

Why do you think adding a bit of wood is more trouble than it is worth? I think that would be a very easy repair to make, particularly since I have plenty of suitable bits of wood lying around. Could you elaborate?

[Roger Cumming]

Is the hull curved in the vertical plane at this point? If so are the planks at this point backed our slightly so that they lie flush to the frames over the entire width of the plank? Look closely at the plank that was removed - is the inside slightly concave?