Drifter Notes

Construction Profile drawing

Question: I am building the Drifter and I am confused how to attach the floating battens to the planking. Do I put epoxy on the battens and then put on the bottom planking, followed by screwing through the hull into the battens? Or do I complete the planking, turn over the hull, and glue and screw the battens when the hull is right side up?

Answer: The second option is the way the designer meant it to be done. The battens are screwed to the forms, if you glue the planking to the battens, you could not unscrew them from the forms. After the planking is on, drill through the bottom, into the battens for the screws. When the boat is righted, mark around the battens so that they can later be located and remove the form. The screws will be driven through the planking into the battens, the holes filled, then the outside fiberglassed.

Another option: Glue blocking to the forms and fasten up into the battens to hold them in place. Glue and fasten the planking to the chines, keel and battens. When the hull is righted, back out screws holding battens and remove the form. This second method allows you to fiberglass the hull before righting.
Note: Be sure to put plastic over forms so that they are not glued to the planking with stray glue.

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