Bottom Planking Question

[Dennis Marshall]

Can someone clue me into to what it means for a crossed planked bottom to have a "slight outguage"? I'm looking at Atkin's skiff Lark and contemplating the possibility building her in the traditional manner, but this has me puzzled.

Thanks, Dennis

[holzbt]

The "slight outgauge" refers to the caulking bevel that you would plane on the edge of the plank. Ideally the 3/4" planks should fit wood to wood for 3/8" to 1/2" of their thickness and be bevelled the other 3/8" to 1/4" to show a seam of about 1/16". On 3/4" planking I'd probably go for making the bevel 1/2 the thickness (3/8"). You might consider a tight laid bottom which would not require caulking except at the chine seam. One caution on cross planked bottoms- if you fit dry planking too tight it will either buckle or push either the transom or stem out a bit. Take a sample of the stock and mill it to width and record this measurment. Immerse the sample in water for about a week and measure again. This should give you a good idea of what size seams you should be making.