Shellback dimensions

[TGreaves]

I'm about to install inwales on my Shellback dinghy. I'd be grateful for some suggestions about the correct dimensions. The knees and breast hook are 7/8" thick; the outwales are 1- 1/4". I'm thinking 7/8" would be fine. I'm building from plans and Eric Dow's book but I can't find this documented.

Thanks, I've been a lurker for years. This site is incredibly valuable.

Tom

[Three P's]

I don't know how much help I will be, but I am at about the same step in the building of my Pooduck. In the plans it calls for 1" inwales. I was able to score some 15/16" mohagany for many of the parts of the boat. As such, I have decided that I am going to finish it as 7/8" rather than 1" which gives me some room to plane it and sand it. (no, I have not contacted the designer). I honesltly can't see what difference it will make in the long run, with the shape of the sheerstrake and all. The Pooduck is the "big sister" to the shellback so the designs are very similar. I have already changed the dimensions of the quarter-knees and breasthook to 7/8" rather than 1" for the same reason, I scored some wood and figured that, in the end, after it is epoxied, screwed and finished, it wouldn't really matter. In fact, I just came in from gluing the quarter-knees and rough cutting the breasthook so I am practically in the same boat as you, no pun intended! I literally had the same conversation with myself not more than 6 hours ago. Besides (now, I remind you I know not nearly as much as others here and am on construction of my first boat) to the best of my "knowledge" the inwale has minimal structural influence on our boats, especially when we talk of 1/8"!

Good luck, post some pics!

P.S. It is entirely possible I am wrong, but I wanted to at least let you know there are others out here having the same discussion with themselves!!

[willmarsh3]

Here's a picture of mine that I built in the mid 90s

http://www.willmarsh3.net/ch/log/102609_0775.jpg

I made the inwales of 1/2x1" white oak strips separated from the hull with 1/2" spacers for extra stiffness. The gunwales are fashioned from 1 1/2 x 3/4 white oak.

This has held up quite well and made for a stiff hull.

[cap'nRod]

Nice job on that dinghy. Although I fail to understand the rationale behind taking the time to make it look so nice, and then simply drilling a hole all the way through the stem to pass a tow line rather than installing a proper eye bolt?

[Thorne]

Cap'n Rod - that hole is a very traditional way to attach the painter to small boats -- plus there is nothing metal on the bow to chew up /mark other boats.

[willmarsh3]

Thanks Thorne.

Cap'n Rod: Thanks for the kind compliment. As for the eye bolt I remember seeing it done the way I did it in some publication - I don't remember which. I was as always trying to find the traditional way of doing things - or trying to make modern things look traditional.

[GRussell]

Eric Dow's article, which appeared in WB116-118, lists the inwales at 1/2 x 7/8 x 12'.
Cheers

[TGreaves]

Thanks all. I'll get some progress photos up on the weekend.

[TGreaves]

I finally made some inwale progress. Careful inspection of Eric Dow's book revealed his suggested scantlings. 7/8" x 1/2" x 10'.

The port inwale is curing while the mirror image, starboard inwale is dry fit just to have a look. All clamps on deck!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2803/4470278513_19813d77af_o.jpghttp://farm3.static.flickr.com/2684/4471056134_659a8e929a_o.jpg

[Dave Gray]

Suggestion - try to figure out where your oar lock pads will be placed so that the shank of the oarlock doesn't need to drilled through the spacer pad for the inwale. Voice of experience....