Covestripe on a skiff

[Clinton B Chase]

We have a skiff with a fair amount of freeboard that I think would look nice with a covestripe. Anybody done one on a skiff and have examples of color combo's. I am envisioning a off white hull and green stripe or a teal hull and red stripe. To make the cove would be easy, by router with a guide following the top of the sheer. Would love to see examples if they are out there. I don't want to glue on a sheerstrake to the outside of the ply. The idea is a very shallow cove in the ply.

Clint

[Peerie Maa]

We have a skiff with a fair amount of freeboard that I think would look nice with a covestripe. Anybody done one on a skiff and have examples of color combo's. I am envisioning a off white hull and green stripe or a teal hull and red stripe. To make the cove would be easy, by router with a guide following the top of the sheer. Would love to see examples if they are out there. I don't want to glue on a sheerstrake to the outside of the ply. The idea is a very shallow cove in the ply.

Clint

Experiment with some low tack tape before you cut. Parallel to the sheer strake might not look right, whilst lifted at the ends might look better.
WB has run articles on using colour on small craft, but a quick search of the index failed me. Are there any other Forumites with a better memory than mine?

[ishmael]

I'd think twice, three times, before cutting into ply planking that way. You'd be opening up a way for water to get in.

Why are you against the alternative, which has much the same effect visually, an applied small rail.

[David G]

Clint,

You've seen our GIS, haven't you? I'm not suggesting the Heron Blue with Midnight Blue stripe combo... I'm afraid I was outvoted by the kids on that one... but I think a sheerstripe looks really good on a high freeboard boat. We didn't bother to scribe a groove in, just taped off and painted. Having that reference wouldn't hurt, but I didn't want to compromise the skin of some very skinny plywood (6mm).
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2386/1548680228_d07c3e3eee.jpg?v=0
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1337/860322944_fb5cc3a6aa_b.jpg

[boylesboats]

Hey Clinton,
How about this?

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p182/boylesboats/DCP_00021.jpg

[Clinton B Chase]

Maybe to those ideas, but not "right" to my eye. The suggestion to line it off with tape is a good one. What I read is that covestripes actually look better if they ever so slightly droop! How is that for counterintuitive.

More photos, ideas. A 1/16-3/32" groove in the ply...is that really so bad. That is a judgment call! Good Q for an experience designer.

Clint

[ishmael]

Clinton,

I'm not a designer, but I have worked on boats with problems. A large part of plywood re its water resistance comes from the surface veneer. Cut into it, and you are opening it up to water intrusion. No matter how deep the cut you will be exposing end grain. Not good.

That said, a lot depends on intended use. If this is to be a little jewel of a boat, and will be stored under cover when not in use, kept well painted and sealed, it's not a big issue. I'm agin it on general principle, but hell it's your boat, and if you want to cut a cove and line it with gold leaf, who am to object?

[Clinton B Chase]

No I see your point, and you are right. I was seeing it more structurally...we can seal the heck out of it with epoxy and paint and, yes, it is well cared for and under cover often. But it may be a stress riser waiting to happen. I just emailed the designer. Thanks for thoughts.

Clint

[ishmael]

Write back when the designer gives his opinion.

The issue we haven't addressed is the weakening of the ply at a rather critical point near the shear. Again, in regular use it probably won't be an issue. But get a good bang, either from another boat or a pier, and it might become one.

Good to have a chat with the designer. They've usually walked through possible scenarios and incorporated them into their thinking, even on a simple skiff.

Best of luck.

P.S. I have a Whisp, by Steve Redmond, that I built maybe twenty years ago. A not completely dissimilar boat to what you are talking. The design pushed the edge of acceptable strength, was intended as a rowing skiff that could be portaged by one. A young man's design. A great rowing skiff. Fast and quite able for the type. It rows with great pleasure. Amazingly dry, I doubt I've ever taken more than a quart of water in mixed swells, maybe four or five feet high.

It has fallen on a bit of a hard time, but probably nothing that couldn't be fixed. I wonder about the planking, I haven't looked closely. Ocumme, which doesn't seem particularly resistant.

Cheers, Jack