Glen-L.com

Hello ,
Its been nearly a year since I have begun my Belle isle build. I have been building a new lap strake 28' Lyman Custom Sportsman for a customer and have not been able to put much time on the Belle Isle until recently. The frame work is now complete and we are going to begin skinning the hull. I have chosen to go with 1/8 ply for the first layer and 1/8" Sapelli for the remaining layers. I have a really nice batch of book matched boards to spile my outer layer from.
Before I begin planking I wanted to cut limber holes in the frames to get any water (rain or spray) that may work its way into the boat to the foward bilge pump bt I dont want to weaken the structure too much to get the water to drain inboard in the front of the boat. Do any of you have any thoughts about this?
I have also purchased a raptor plastic staple/ nail gun to tack the layers together. Have any of you used this method ?What are your thoughts as to how the staples look in the finished product. Should I not use this method for the final layer?
Thanks,
Jeremy Goldstein
I will up load some pictures shortly

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Jeremy Goldstein

Jeremy;
On my Titan framework it called for a fairly narrow inner keel, which would leave a "ledge" for any water to get over in order to find it's way to the bilge. I widened the keel ( in some spots at the lowest point to almost 8 inches) so that it tapers out to nothing where it meets the hull, thus providing a free path for the water. I put my limbers in the frames at the center of the keel where I figured there was more support. Don't know if this will apply to your build or not. You may be able to see something on my last Titan update pics.
Doug

I have been using the plastic staples with great success on my build. I would not use them on the finish lamination as they would show. There is another builder that is using the plastic nails and I think he is planning on using them on all the layers. I think that is Davelott. He made a sample board that looked pretty good.

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John Amundsen
Monte Carlo
Winter Haven, FL

Maybe it will be done by G6 and maybe not.

Doug ,
Thats a good Idea about wideing the keel to meet the inner planking. Regarding the limbers , I am thinking about cutting small limbers just outboard of each Batten (on each frame) and then through the battens only in the foward section where I need to get any water that collects up higher down to the keel area.

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Jeremy Goldstein

John,
Are you using removable staples on your last layer?

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Jeremy Goldstein

Hi jeremy
Yes I am using steel staples on the mahogany layer and will be removing each and every one. I am using a staple from Sears in a Craftsman air stapler as it is the smallest wire I could find. I plan to staple thru another piece of wood so as to make the removal easier and not mar the mahogany.

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John Amundsen
Monte Carlo
Winter Haven, FL

Maybe it will be done by G6 and maybe not.