Go Fish!
Backbones, bulkheads, and stringers
The stringers are the biggest change between the Tiki 38 as originally designed by James Wharran and the Tiki 38 we’re building.
To meet USCG regulations both the number and size of the stringers has been increased. The original design had two 3/4″x 1 1/2″ stringers in the lower hull section. Our boat has four stringers in the lower hull section, and they’re a beefy 1 1/2″ x 2″.
The next step is putting the skin on the hulls; 9mm BS 1088 marine-grade meranti plywood, the first time meranti plywood has ever been used in this way in a USCG inspected passenger vessel. This has raised some unexpected, but not insurmountable regulatory issues; which in turn raises some questions about innovation, economies of scale, normalization, and the meaning of “conservative.”
Once the skin goes on, it has to be glassed and faired. Lots of time doing repetative work, and lot time for thoughts to ferment; my intellectual version of a thermomix, if you will. Thoughts on plywood and conservativism soon!
“Thermomix” will forever be a part of my vocabulary, thanks to these posts (which I am thoroughly enjoying).Report
Second 12 hour day in a row, but we finally got both courses of stringer glued in, including the tischy compound bevel where the stringers meet the stem and stern, made *extra* fun by the fact that there are two courses.
But man oh man does she look fine!
With both courses in, the stringers are flush with the bulkhead notches that receive them, and the fair curve of the hulls really emerges. It’s exciting. Really really exciting.
Now I have to go shower and then fall flat on my face.Report