He beat me to it. Floors, even on a glued lap help transfer hull shell loading, typically from the rig to the keel batten or keel proper. It spreads the athwart loads, making all the structural elements in the vicinity accept lighter, more evenly distributed strains. This said, if you use a thicker garboard, with a deeper rabbit, you can often lose the need for structural floors and even ribs entirely, in a glued lapstrake build, of course assuming plywood planking.

I wouldn't worry so much about the asymmetric board shape. You might notice a couple of degrees difference close hauled, from one tack to the other, but it's unlikely it'll be a big difference. On the other hand, with the board and case yet to be installed, now would be the time to handle this issue.

This discussion on floors got me thinking and wondering if I'd missed something as I can't see on the plans or in the photos any floors or half floors/brackets along the centre case. In the trad build the frames/ribs overlap the hog and are fastened to it with the floors fastened along side while the glued lap the riblets (my term) are short of the hog with the floors fixed on top. I've checked Captn Nats original plan and can't see floors drawn along the trunk/centrecase while he even details the specific dimensions of each floor at the various stations.

I have not studied other plans but I do recall reference to brackets bronze/galv metal anyway used to brace the frames to the hog and centre case on this type of construction, OK larger boats anyway.

I now understand the purpose of floors so my question is why nothing along the trunk especially as the loading from the board may cause stressing along the garboard?

BTW on the glued lap Coquina the garboard is sandwiched very well between the hog and keel so there is plenty of support for the joint.

__________________
Mike
"Working to a rigidly defined method of doubt and uncertainty"

I am not at home at the moment but the sole beams provide the stiffness by connecting across to the centreboard case. This triangulates the keel frame and sole beam with the case as a brace between the long side of the triangle and the apex at the keel I fitted a small ledge to the side of the case and the sole beams tie into this

Just as long as you don't let the boat fill with water and fall off the trailer...

Not much chance of that at the moment Alex there is a big hole in the bottom.

Now continuing on with my very disjointed build process tonight I glued the floors finally I've been avoiding that, my aversion to epoxy continues.

Meanwhile the breasthook has been fitted and crowned. Denis/Paul I assume the term in this instance refers to continuing the inwale angle to the centre line of the breasthook rather than shaping a rounded surface. My thinking is the deck plank still needs a flat surface to land on.

Breasthook crowned.jpg

Been fiddling with the trunk cap and trim which brings me to another issue. I thought I was being clever and only cut a short opening for the board think a better look would result and I was about to glue the cap down when it suddenly occured to me having done that the board would need to be installed from below causing just a little inconvenience. So I've decided to glue the cap after the trank has been fitted (tomorrow nights job).

Trunk 1.jpgTrunk and Board.jpg

The other bit of woodwork employed to delay glue jobs was the cut the deck beam joints and shape the transom, now that was fun taking a deep breath in trepidation to commence cutting the transom with pull saw. Anyway all was well after butchering the thing with the saw my trusty #4 put things right and I'm pleased with the result.

Deck beam joints.jpgDeck beams fitted.jpgTransom shaped.jpgDeack beams and transom shaped.jpg

__________________
Mike
"Working to a rigidly defined method of doubt and uncertainty"

I went shopping today for hole cutters to finish the mast step I needed a 2 1/2 and 3 inch. Some time ago I set myself a policy to only buy good quality tools as I was fed up with poor performance and durability but recently I ignored this a bought an el cheapo set, what a waste of money. So today I lashed out a got a full set of Bosch cutters with a quick change set up. The difference in price like 10 times is substancial but I reackon it's worth it they will outlast me.
I think you can tell which ones are which.

Hole cutters.jpg

While I was at it I also renewed my respirator. The old one was a single filter poor fitting uncomfortable wreck and the other day I think I felt the affects of epoxy for the first time headache slight breathing difficulty etc so it was time to get serious about both dust and vapours as I'm soon to paint the bilge with two part paint.

Here is my new respirator set up twin combination filters with pre filters comfortable mask straps etc.

Respirator.jpg

The last item to report on is the 14" bandsaw blade I bought a while ago it's a Woodslicer that Andrew Denman suggested for resawing. All I can say is wow I've used it for cutting lot's of bits for a few months now and it still cuts like a hot knife through butter. Today I gave it the ultimate test resawing some Ironwood for the mast toggles it is hard and heavy. The result is amazing this pic shows the wood straight off the blade a straight clean cut that barely needs planing, fantastic.


Mast toggle stop.jpg

__________________
Mike
"Working to a rigidly defined method of doubt and uncertainty"

I'm on roll of enthusiasm at the moment so some more pics.

Centrecase is fitted, floors sole beams all done.

Sole beams 4.jpg

Bilge pump mounting.

Bilge pump bracket 1.jpg

I scrounged some copper pipe and fittings for the bilge pump outlet.

Bilge pump pipe.jpg

And last thing is the alternate mast step. Now I have often seen the pros mark the bits and position of things to the extreme and thought it is an overkill, surely a bloke can remember how things go 5 minutes after making it. Well after carefully hand cutting rebates in the step for a perfect fit I stood back a to my horror I'd fitted the flamin thing to the wrong station. So the pros do know what they are doing. Fortunately it was a small practice set back the second fits even better.

Mast step fault.jpgMast step.jpg

__________________
Mike
"Working to a rigidly defined method of doubt and uncertainty"

From a roll of enthusiasm to nearly a full stop where does the time go.

Some small jobs have happened like thwart supports/risors not sure what the correct term is.

Riser glued 2.jpg

Mizzen thwart

Mizzen thwart.jpg

and the sails have arrived to spur me on.

Sails.jpg

__________________
Mike
"Working to a rigidly defined method of doubt and uncertainty"