Planking the Squirt

Outboard designs up to 14'

Moderator: ttownshaw

Post Reply
User avatar
GiveATry
Posts: 20
Joined: Mon Mar 09, 2015 11:58 am
Location: Pittsboro, NC

Planking the Squirt

Post by GiveATry »

Need some advice. I am ready to apply planking to the sides and bottom of the Squirt. Have read boat building with plywood and so have some ideas on how this works.

Bought 1/4" Okoume plywood in 8 ft sheets. Am planning to use a butt joint on the sides and bottom of the boat to get the full 10 ft length of the boat covered. I can picture butting the sheets on a frame member; however the book says that attaching planking to frames is not advised.

What have others done in this regard - especially on the sides.

Thank you!
User avatar
gap998
Posts: 386
Joined: Wed May 20, 2015 5:40 pm
Location: Wales, UK

Re: Planking the Squirt

Post by gap998 »

Butt joints should be done on a "flat" section BETWEEN frames - Check out Josh Burkes's "Building the Zip" videos on Youtube; I think it shows it on one of the clips.

You can see the position on this pic: -

viewtopic.php?f=29&t=27058&start=30#p168125
Gary

Planning a whole fleet, but starting with a Zip...I think.

"Just when you think you've made something idiot-proof, someone builds a better idiot!"
User avatar
BayouBengal
Posts: 1143
Joined: Tue Jul 31, 2007 7:29 am
Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Re: Planking the Squirt

Post by BayouBengal »

You don't want to try and seam it like nailing paneling to wall studs, this won't work. You need to use an extended plywood joint to make the butt joint.
DanielS
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Sep 03, 2015 2:16 am

Re: Planking the Squirt

Post by DanielS »

Hi GivATry,

I would personally recommend giving scarf joints a try.
I was initially nervous about the difficulty but I am very glad I did them because the results are great!

Refer my blog.
http://schipperboatbuild.blogspot.com.au/

regards,
Daniel
DanielS
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Sep 03, 2015 2:16 am

Re: Planking the Squirt

Post by DanielS »

Hi GiveATry,

I would not recommend butt jointing the plywood on the frames.
You need to make the butt joint between frame 1 and frame 2. The butt joint should be close to frame 1 but certainly not on it.

I would recommending giving scarf joints a try. With some careful work I got really great results and I wouldn't hesitate to do more scarf jointing.
Please see my blog:
http://schipperboatbuild.blogspot.com.au/
User avatar
BarnacleMike
Posts: 1262
Joined: Wed Sep 21, 2011 7:47 am
Location: North Georgia / Chattanooga Area
Contact:

Re: Planking the Squirt

Post by BarnacleMike »

Here's a photo showing the butt joint construction on the side of the hull.

Image

There is a little more detail on the rest of the process in my blog post here: http://barnaclemikeboats.blogspot.com/2 ... lmost.html

You'll want the butt block to extend 3-4 inches on either side of the joint. I hope this is helpful!
Completed Builds:
Glen-L Utility, "Perseverance"
(2) MBW Hiwassee Wanderer canoes

Abandoned Builds: Glen-L Squirt, Glen-L Zip

Currently Building: Jim Michalak AF-4
Post Reply

Return to “Small outboards”