Elf Question

[jgerber]

Ian states in the Watercraft article that the ranks do not attach to the keel to keep the boat flexible.
How about the two frames, are they attached to the keel?

Jack Gerber

[LLaver]

Mine do :)

Lee

[StevenBauer]

We didn't build the rang frames at all, we went with sealed flotation chambers. It's the only thing we changed from the plans.

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r241/bauerdad/Small%20Reach%20Regatta%202007/IMG_1217.jpg

Steven

[jgerber]

Lee & Steven,

Thanks for the reply. I decided on the Elf after seeing your boats on line. Luckily I saved the pictures to disk so I can still view them after Lee's hosting station went bust.

Steven, I like those flotation chambers. Did you attach your 2 frames that are at mold station 3 & 5 to the keel?

Lee, did you just glue the frames to the keel or did you fasten them in any other way?

Thanks,
Jack

[StevenBauer]

I think they're glued. I don't remember making any attempt to keep glue out of that area. As far as fastening in any other way, no. There are no fastenings in the boat at all.

I've got to get over to my friend's house and pick her up so we can install some floor boards and give her a few more coats of Deks #2.

Steven

[Tom Robb]

What's a "rank?"

[Jay Greer]

Unless I am mistaken and the builder has coined his own terminology, they are referring to "Ring Frames".
Jay

[StevenBauer]

I think he means the rang frames. At each end of the boat is a canted frame that takes the stresses usually carried by the breasthook. The breasthook is tiny in these designs. Or even smaller like this one:

http://www.woodenboatrescue.org/Picture%20004.jpg

[StevenBauer]

Here's another:

http://www.masfjorden.kommune.no/batsamling/batar/bilde/einestrand/fering2x.jpg

[jgerber]

Sorry for the spelling. I ment RANG.
Fortunatley I teach cabinet making and not spelling.

[LLaver]

Hi Jack,

Sorry for the delay, haven't looked at the forum for a while.

My frames were attached/clamped to the side of the relevant mould stations before planking and the keelson is screwed into them.

I need to find a new hosting site for my pics, however they are on the oughtred Yahoo forum in the photo's section. I think you can see what I mean in the first picture, I have cut holes in the station moulds and clamped the frames on from the inside with the clamps passing through the holes so that I could do the planking and then remove the clamps prior to turning the hull and the frames would already be attached.

The rangs are however free from the keel/stems and only attach to the planking and gunnels

Cheers

Lee