Dutchmen on Lapstrake lands

[Anastasia]

Is it legitimate to place dutchmen on lapstrake lands? I'm find wood splintering away and bondo fixes on or close to where some of my pitch pine planks overlap. Could I take out the copper rivets, epoxy in a dutchman no deeper than half the thickness of the plank, and then re-rivet the plank?

[JFH]

If you just did the patch where the plank lands on the rib, that would be stronger than what you have now but, you really should take a longer section out and repair that.

Why not go back a coulple of ribs on each side of the troubled spot and scarf in a new section of planking with epoxy? That would really do the trick.

[nedL]

Anastasia, Certainly as JFH says it would be stronger to replace a section of planking if things are in rough shape. That said, with your nice 17' daysailer that doesn't see much stress put on the planking I don't see any problem with your approach (especially if you go no deeper than half the plank thickness). Also confiring with JFH, I think I'd scarf in longer sections, if the damage is 4" long, then taper the replacement pieces over maybe 10"-12" or so. The longer repairs will tend to flex with the planking better. (I believe this is something that John Smith had to do on "Lulu".)