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  1. #1
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    Mar 2010
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    Default Requesting information on building large strip plank boats - Was Herreshoff method

    Hello, I am looking for some information, preferably a book or a website, which explains the strip planking method of boat building.

    From what I understand from Googling, this method involves laminating thin strips of wood with epoxy. In some cases making several layers to build up the required thickness. The wiki is only 10 lines long and I am sure there is more to the technique than that.

    The benefits seem to be that I can use thinner wood, so less heavy, easier to work with and it gets waterproofed as it goes along. I can use different woods for the lamination so I can have an expensive wood on show and a cheaper one hidden away.

    I am not interested in books on boat design at this stage as I intend to stick to the plan but I would be interested in reading up on the technique. I have seen numerous book recommendations but as some forum members claim to have over 1500 books on boat building, I would prefer a shortlist!

    I also understand that this is an evolving technique with improvements in the epoxy being made and so I would prefer a more recent book than one of the older out-of-print books that are harder to find anyway.

    I have seen a photo of the technique and it was not as I thought. I expected more of a 'plank' where the wide side would be showing but from the picture it looks more square in cross section.

    I am sure the plans come with all the necessary information on how to perform the technique but I would like to see if this method is suitable before I buy the plans.

    Thank you in advance.

    Mark

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  3. #2
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    Default

    It's unlikely you'll find one book that will give you the answer 'you' want. Much of boat building comes down to personal experience, personal preference and the materials to hand. For example, Paulonia (which you can buy milled and shaped ready for strip planking from a forum member) is pretty soft and my limited reading on the subject suggests that some methods are preferable to others with softer woods. To use a related example (different method though), Ougthred's 'bible' on glued lapstrake boat building uses some techniques that, when compared to how I was taught, are doing things the 'hard way'. No book is perfect.

    However, there are a lot of threads on this forum where people discuss their strip plank boats, how to achieve what they have and the pros and cons of each - staples vs fishing line vs strapping tape vs the wife's new stockings vs etc.

    I'd strongly suggest you do a detailed browse of this place (the search term 'strip planking' might work for starters) and see how you go. You'll probably find books suggested as well and if one is suggested often, you'd think it'd be worth looking at.

    I can't actually suggest a book to look at because although a strip plank boat is in my future, the operative word is 'future' and so my 'research' has been limited to reading stuff on this forum as it comes up (and not always then).

    What are you planning to build?

    Richard

  4. #3
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    Nov 2007
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    Fremantle
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    Default

    Glen L gives a brief overview of some construction methods.
    Boatbuilding Methods: How its done

    There isn't much detail there, but you it could remove confusion over some of the methods.


    Cheers

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    Kettering, Tasmania
    Posts
    492

    Default Strip plank books

    Hi Mark,

    Two of the best are Gougeon Brothers on Boat Construction (see Marine Adhesives | Epoxy & Resin | Boat Repairing - WEST SYSTEM by ATL Composites for further info) and Paul Fisher's book is great for info, particularly on calculating quantities of glass and resin and timber for thiis method. See Catalogues/Manuals

    regards,

    AD
    www.denmanmarine.com.au
    Australian agent for Swallow Boats, Bruynzeel Multipanel Plywood and Barton Marine Products

  6. #5
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    Mar 2010
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    Brisbane, Australia
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    Default

    Thank you for the replies, I have done a search for strip planking on this forum and the boat design forums, lots of hits unsurprisingly! Most of the ones I had a look at were on other subjects with just a passing reference to the technique.

    I will slowly work my way through every post on the forums but I generally read the ones with a good title first and once I am done with those I start to read all the ones I haven't read.

    It just takes a while and at the moment I am focused on trying to get my head around what is involved with strip planking so the rest, while interesting in their own right, are not what I am looking for at this moment in time.

    I have been able to do a bit more research on the internet, the Gougeon brothers had 2 books of interest according to eBay, one with a blue cover that looks like an up-to-date version of the brown covered book. I also came across Paul Fisher's book Strip Plank Boat Construction which if it is worth a read I will get a copy.

    Daddles : I am looking to build a Jonque De Plaisance Jonque de Plaisance® | Welcome a modern take on an old style. I will hopefully be looking at a large version but starting on a smaller one for practice. They are keen to sell me the hull, deck and cabin kits but if I finish it too soon it will sit in the shed as I won't have much time to do anything until I retire, and that is still a few years away. I think they are a little concerned that if it takes too long I will give up half way through.

    I have managed to find out a few of the differences between the building types, the plans I am after specify what woods and techniques to use and I don't think they are that flexible.

    Thanks for the websites, I prefer to read paper books for deeper understanding and contemplating but for instant answers you can't beat the websites.

    Mark

  7. #6
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    Mar 2004
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    Kettering, Tasmania
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Jislizard View Post
    I have been able to do a bit more research on the internet, the Gougeon brothers had 2 books of interest according to eBay, one with a blue cover that looks like an up-to-date version of the brown covered book. I also came across Paul Fisher's book Strip Plank Boat Construction which if it is worth a read I will get a copy. Mark
    Mark,

    The blue Gougeon book is the 5th and current edition. I would check in at your local library first as most have a copy or two of Gougeon Bros. The library can also search any other library in Australia and see if a copy of Fishers book is held and they can get in in for you (sometimes for a small postage fee).

    A small strip plank boat would be great to start with and a great little dinghy is Australian designer David Paynes 3m stripper - whch would also make a pretty stable tender for your bigger boat and allow you to get used to the strip plank method.
    www.denmanmarine.com.au
    Australian agent for Swallow Boats, Bruynzeel Multipanel Plywood and Barton Marine Products

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
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    Eustis, FL, USA
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    Default

    Herreshoff (Herreshoff Manufacturing Co.) developed a few different "methods", but none had anything to do with modern strip planking techniques and certainly no epoxy use.

    About strip planking methods, there are over a dozen distinctly different types (including one of my invention). They are related, some by name only, others by technique, engineering principles, materials, etc.

    So when attempting to discuss strip planking, it's best to refine your needs or directly identify the specific strip method you'll be employing. Of course each has it's own merits and bad points, so generalities can only be of the most basic nature.

    As far as I'm aware, none of the 14.5 m JDP's have been wholly home built (none by novices) and all are from kits or semi custom professional builds. Well executed, professionally built examples of these do not command much market value respect. I know of a 12.5 JDP that is currently for sale around 70 K (USD) and can probably be had for less. It's less then 10 years old and professionally built (India). This of course assumes that these builds (Ultramarine) are professionally done. By south central Asian standards they are quite good. Compared to a HMC, or other modern traditional US, European (or Australian) builders (such as Brooklin Boat Yard, Gannon and Benjamin Marine, Rockport Marine, etc.) , not so much.

  9. #8
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    An up date to my last post. After contacting the designer, they admit that no one has built a 14.5 m JDP from scratch, all have been built from kit, bare hull or professionally.

  10. #9
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    Well I wasn't intending to be a trailblazer!

    Thanks for checking that out for me PAR, I am in weekly contact with the architect by email but I have yet to catch up with them on Skype, we have missed each other a few times.

    I guess it helps to know what questions to ask!

    Cheers

    MArk

  11. #10
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    To continue the update on this issue, they openly admit that only one boat has been built by the owner and it was from a kit at that.

  12. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by PAR View Post
    To continue the update on this issue, they openly admit that only one boat has been built by the owner and it was from a kit at that.
    He's no trailblazer, he's an out an out pioneer.

    Paul, wouldn't this sort of situation be normal for a boat this size? Lets face, few home builders are going to tackle something this size so the chances of a number of a particular design being built are going to be fairly low.

    Richard
    got the flu so my brain's not working so the words are coming out wrong so if I'm more incoherent than usual, that's the reason

  13. #12
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    Feb 2008
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    Yes, it would be quite unusual for a home built of this scale, let alone one as a first build, by a novice builder. This is the type of build, that many small boat shops wouldn't feel comfortable doing, even though they may have dozens of small craft under their belt. I just find it unreasonable (I'm being polite) that the NA is pushing the plans on someone, that at first blush seems less then qualified to attempt this comprehensive of a project, as first shot out of the gun. I would never attempt to make this type of sale, so maybe it's just an ethical conflict on my part and I'm over reacting. Then again, maybe they just want to sell a set of plans.

  14. #13
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    Mar 2010
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    Default

    Well, we were looking at getting the bathroom at home done so we decided to measure up to see how many tiles we would need. So we went out and bought our first tape measure.

    We quickly discovered that the length of the bathroom was 3m, as the tape measure went up to 8m we decided to see how big the boat would be. We were half way across the house by then. Our house is only 12m in length, the thought of steering a boat 2.5m longer than our house now makes me understand why everyone is recommending something smaller.

    It appears that my attempts to convert feet (for some reason all the boats we go on are measured in Imperial measurements not metric) to metres in my head is fundamentally flawed. Apparently I am no good at estimating sizes in metres either.

    It has been a bit of an eye opener and I can now see why there is room for 3 double beds in a 14.5m boat.

    We went out on a Bavaria 37 this weekend which was the size of a whale so we are re-evaluating what size boat to build.

    Thank you to everyone on the forums who told us to go out and sail a few different types of boat before we bought a plan.

    I am still keen on a junk but maybe not such a large one, I have been told to buy a cheap trailer-sailer which I can sell on once I have done with it and that way I will get out on the water straight away.

    I am still going to have a go at strip planking a boat but it will now be a 4m one to start with.

    Mark

  15. #14
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    If you are still keen on a Junk rig, then have a look at a swaggie.
    John Welsford Designs


    I only know of 1 that has been built. It looks like a tough little boat.
    John Welsford Designs

    You might want to give John Welsford a call to see what Building options are available.

    Cheers


    Mickj

  16. #15
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    Default

    Thanks for the link Mickj, they look very interesting. Also thanks for prompting me to look outside of my junk tunnel vision.

    I have started to look for Junk-rigged boats rather than Junks in order to get a quick start on learning to sail a junk rig. I have quite a few good leads. There is a boat called a Goat Island Skiff (GIF) that has a Lug rig which I think is similar to a junk rig, similar enough to get me started at least. And it looks very nice too! I will order the plans and see how far I get. I don't think I will modify the boat to make it more junk looking either.

    I see that there are forum posts about this boat so I will look them up as well.

    Sorry this has gone a little off topic but the overwhelming advice is to look for something a little more manageable for a first project.

    Cheers

    MArk

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