Construction Set-Up

[Bob BT]

The boat is Corvus, Wittholz's 15' plywood catboat. As lofting progesses, I'm starting to think through building up the frames on the lofting and then setting them up on the strongback. The floors on two frames are separated by the centerboard trunk, as shown here:

http://i330.photobucket.com/albums/l412/Nuttershell/DSC02198.jpg

http://i330.photobucket.com/albums/l412/Nuttershell/DSC02197.jpg

My thinking is to build up the frames with the floors full-width, set them on the strongback, bend the keelson over the frames, plank the hull, then cut the floors to take the centerboard trunk. This seems to me to be the most stable and accurate approach to getting these frames positioned on the strongback. Any thoughts on this?

Thank you.

[dorydude]

..first thought is that cutting the frames for the case later in construction will be more difficult.

I would set up the frames with the slot already cut and then dry screw a 1/2' ply butt strap over the gap. Use packing tape around the edges to make sure it doesn't stick to anything at any stage.

[almeyer]

I'm thinking along the same lines as dorydude. Build in two halves, temporarily join together as dorydude suggested until you're ready to install the trunk. Cutting the full thickness of the floors after the boat is planked doesn't sound like too much fun. Another option, I think I saw in the how-to-build book on the Haven 12-1/2, is to build the trunk early on and install it with the frames when they are set up on the strongback. Might make it a little easier to cut the bevel on the left-side trunk log.
Al