Does my melonseed need ribs?

[BrianR]

I've embarked on a cedar stip Melonseed. The Barto plans I have call for ribs - but the plans contemplate the glued lapstrake construction method. Its a 14 foot vessel, a little over four foot beam, shallow hull - and the cedar strips will be sandwiched between fiberglass and epoxy. Do you all think I still need ribs? I wrote to Barto - but no response. Thanks all.

[Jack Heinlen]

It's a little difficult to say, but seat of the pants, yes, though not as many perhaps. With the beam of the boat there is going to be a lot of wracking pressure on that hull as compared to a strip built canoe for example. The technique is pretty good against wracking, but in larger strip built boats you'll see a reduced number of frames.

Really just a bump, maybe someone with more experience in this type of boat and construction will chime in.

[Venchka]

Originally posted by BrianR:
...- and the cedar strips will be sandwiched between fiberglass and epoxy. Do you all think I still need ribs?

Yes. Otherwise, you won't be able to tell that it's a wood boat. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[Jon Etheredge]

In my opinion, the need for frames in a strip built boat is dependent on the hull shape, thickness of the strips, and the material.

I have built a Melonseed to lines from Joe Liener (the Barto lines are very similar) so I am familiar with the shape. I did mine lapstrake with 6mm Sapele ply. I used sawn floor timbers but only one frame.

I have also built a 12' catboat (based on a Beetle Cat) that I strip planked. I used 1/2" x 1 1/4" western red cedar strips with a cove and bead edge glued with epoxy and no edge nailing. Epoxy and glass sheathing inside and out. After fairing, the cedar hull skin ended up about 3/8" thick on average. The design has almost no deadrise so I used sawn floor timbers (3/4" sassafras) on 12" centers to support the large area of almost flat planking and to provide good support for the floorboards inside the cockpit. I made the floors deep enough so the top edge was slightly above the turn of the bilge. Again, I only used one frame.

The single frame that I used on both of these boats was laminated for strength and stiffness and was located just behind the mast step. There was a deck beam that tied the top of the frame together and the frame was mechanically fastened to the heel of the stem. This structure ends up being *very* strong. Of course this structure is most feasible on a cat rigged hull like the Melonseed or Beetle Cat where the mast is very close to the stem.

The only other "framing" in either of these boats are deck beams and some knees to support the side decks in the way of the cockpit. Both boats have held up just fine for a number of years.

If you are thinking of using 1/4" cedar strip planking like canoes are built from, I would say that yes you will want to use lots of frames and some very, very heavy glass on the outside. Thicker planking would be much better.

Hope this helps [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Steve Lansdowne]

Jon -- is the Melonseed in Austin? Myself and another local wooden boat fan are interested in this design.

[Philip Maynard]

I know it's not anything similar to glued cedar strip, but here is a photo of the melonseed I built (and since have since completed) with 3/8 okume plywood with an external layer of polyester cloth/epoxy just for waterprofing, the inside is paint only. It has 3/8" x 2 1/4" stub ribs except for the first couple that are full. I have probably overbuilt it.

framing

[Jon Etheredge]

Steve -

The melonseed that I built is in North Carolina now. The only boat I have in Austin is the catboat based on a Beetle Cat. If you would like to discuss the melonseed feel free to send me a private email.

[brian.cunningham]

Originally posted by Philip Maynard:
I know it's not anything similar to glued cedar strip, but here is a photo of the melonseed I built (and since have since completed) with 3/8 okume plywood with an external layer of polyester cloth/epoxy just for waterprofing, the inside is paint only. It has 3/8" x 2 1/4" stub ribs except for the first couple that are full. I have probably overbuilt it.

framing

Nice looking boat Phillip!

[JimD]

Phillip, how about a pic of her finished?

[Philip Maynard]

Here are some photo's, the first just as she was finished in August, (this past weekend I cut back the leading edge of the daggerboard some and I've yet to try it with the new smaller board). The 2nd shot is from Aylan Lake in Ontario where I took it for a weeks vacation and the first sail. side view

[Philip Maynard]

I hit the post button to quick, here's the other photo. I also have many construction photo's on a link towards the bottom on my web site http://www.pmaynard.lunarpages.com/ and I'm planning on getting at least the basic dimension drawings finished in November and posted there as a couple of people have expressed interest.sailing