Tom Cat's Cupping Blocks (Wumpers?)

[Bruce Keefauver]

In Bill Garden’s “The Making of Tom Cat” he mentions (page 16 and on sheet #3) the use of cupping blocks (Plank on Frame Construction) to avoid the backing out of the ½” thick cedar planks. Apparently these are clamped on to the outboard side of each plank at each frame after the planks are steamed. I think that the Beetle Cats are planked using these blocks (the wumpers?) as well. Does anybody have any experience with these? Are they worth the effort for a one-off build?

[Pete Dorr]

They are used on Beetle Cat construction.

I'd say making a set would take very little time.

Make a set and try them out and photojournal the process for us smile.gif

[Cosmo Lengro]

;)

[landlocked sailor]

I used 'em while planking up my 'Catherine' whitehall; they worked fine and were a snap to make at the time. Rick

[Tom Jackson]

This was described (and photographed) for the whaleboat construction article in WB No. 171.

[Bruce Keefauver]

Thanks everybody for the replies. I should of figured that if they were used on Beetle's cats they were used on the whaleboats. Great article Tom. I also found a photo of a "whomper" in Willits Ansel's book Whaleboat, page 90.

OT: Tom I also enjoyed your recent article on the rebuilding of the Thayer. I worked on the HAER's Line Lifting project for the Wawona in 1985. Some of the (Line Lifting) crew had sailed the Thayer south on her (maybe not?) last voyage in the 50s. The Wawona is in very bad shape now. Nice to see at least one of these old schooners restored. Hope they have the funds to keep her that way. OT OT There has been some concern in the Seattle area about the longevity of some the newer Doug Fir stock that has been used recently for some boat projects. Should be interesting to see how the Thayer's new wood works out.

[Tom Jackson]

Thanks for the remarks, Bruce. It was a lot of fun working on the whaleboat; I've still got a whaleboat frame hanging in my office. Those whompers work very easily, as long as the hull shape is an simple one to plank and the stock isn't too thick.

(Thanks for the THAYER remarks also. I last saw WAWONA in July, during the Lake Union show. She's been given a grace period for getting out of there, but there's another deadline coming up this fall. I've been watching to see what happens.)