Whitehall-ish pulling boat and wooden grating...

[David W.]

Please pardon the ignorance. I was watching Hornblower last night (The Even Chance) and there was a lovely pulling boat in the opening scene. I noticed a wooden grating at the bow of the boat at about thwart height...what is the function? I also noticed the same thing in a photo of Oughtred's design "Tammie Norrie". I'm sure it is common knowledge, but please enlighten me.

Thanks,
Dave

[Don Maurer]

I use mine for storing the bow line, anchor and rode. There is also enough room for a cushion type flotation device or a set of fenders



http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2276/1967673955_d4be80f2bf.jpg

[rbgarr]

Wooden gratings of that design are often used where sure footing and quick drying of moisture are needed. Some examples: they can help where an anchor, waves/spray and wet feet from getting aboard come over the bow. For the sole of a sailboat cockpit when spray makes it slippery as the boat heels. At the bottom of a companionway ladder where those coming below during foul weather can shuck off gear.

It's also used where safety and reasonable access are concerns. On the fantail of a tugboat where turnbuckles, chains and a quadrant may be part of a steering mechanism, a grating may be suspended above them that can be removed relatively quickly in case repair or maintenance is needed. The grating allows water to flow through and over the deck whereas a solid hatch might be lifted off or severely strain any latches.

[Tom Hoffman]

Don, I was looking a the nice grates that you have in you sail boat, how are they made? Are the slats mortise and tennon into the frame or are they half lapped into the underside of the frame?

I have a Whitehall, that I am to that stage and was originally thinking of doing frames and caneing, but I like the look of the grates better. I will probably still cane the three center twarts, but the bow and stern seat will be grates.

Does anyone know of a book or have pictues on the grate making process?

Thanks,

Tom.....

[Steve Lansdowne]

This is also handy to kneel on when leaning over the bow, as in hauling in an anchor, I imagine.

[Wooden Boat Fittings]

Like Don, I use mine for warp stowage. The anchor stows underneath, on the burden-boards. There's not much space between the sailing-thwart and the grating, so I don't use the grating as a kneeling-platform. But in any case, being right up in the eyes I don't think it would be very stable.

http://www.woodenboatfittings.com.au/public/al-trailer2.jpg

http://www.woodenboatfittings.com.au/public/al-forward-kevel.jpg

Issue 62 of WoodenBoat carried an article on grating manufacture at Hinckley's which was quite interesting. I've seen an easier method mentioned somewhere (I think using a router,) but I'm afraid I don't have a reference to it.

Mike

[Tom Hoffman]

Is that teak? Thanks for the great pic, now I see how they look. I will still have to figure out how to make them in a trapizoid form. But that will come as I start to half lap the grate it self and then lay the frame over and scribe. Should be fun.