Shelter Island Boat Works

After cutting the milled honey locust into ribs I steam bent them to fit the contour of the inside of the hull. Once steamed, the honey locust was very easy to bend into shape. For a few ribs a brace was used to hold the bend until dry. The others were clamped to the shear. A few strategically placed bronze screws were used to hold the other ribs against the hull. These screws were placed at the plank laps. As the laps were only a 1/4″ thick I used 1″ screws to temporarily secure them.

Once all the ribs were dry they were removed and rough cut. A batten was used to mark the final cut.

I used a small dab of epoxy under the contact points, then re-screwed them to the laps.

3/4″ solid mahogany floors were cut to fit and were bronze screwed and epoxied to the ribs. Limber holes were cut at the end of each rib (which had been held back from the keel board 3/4″).

Using a batten the edge of the floor beams were marked on the ribs. Fir floor board beams were then cut and beveled to the ribs. Ledgers were added to the centerboard trunk. The beams were then screwed and epoxied in place.

Next up – making the templates for the cedar floor boards.