How is a wooden boat made? Since the planks of wood are straight and boats are curves so how does it work?

Question

How is a wooden boat made? Since the planks of wood are straight and boats are curves so how does it work?

Answer 1

Well the wood is pnt into a steam room where it becomes flexable. The wood is placed into a form. Pressure is applied and glue. It is then left to dry.

Answer 2

it totally depends on the size of the boat  if it is a large enough boat then the straight planks would be used in such a manor along the side of the boat parallel to thee keel to form the shape and the seams between them would be sealed or the boat would be sealed and lined with copper as some 18th century British ships were as for the inside it would be a skeleton work of framing and large beams to form each deck and re-enforce the hull of the ship as for the curves it is simply created by angling the ends of the planks with a plane so the fit together at a different angle

Answer 3

They bend the wood.

Answer 4

Wood IS flexible!

Answer 5

We just make a form and laminate wood together for the ribs/frames. This is far, FAR stronger than steaming.

Steaming is outdated and inferior to laminating.

We bend and fit the planks into place.

Lot's of projecting and shaping (hand planes and patience).

It's tricky to do properly, but it's how it's done.

Answer 6

Yes, the planks are straight... but they also bend very easy.  Most are usually 3/4" - 1/2" or less thick, and therefore they bend (and even twist) into place rather easily.  

Every boat building project starts with a solid boat building form.  These "forms" are built to size (based on the size boat you are going to build) and these "forms" are very sold and steadfast, as well as very level side to side and level front to back.  It is on this frame the boat hull is built; and the hull is built on this form in an "upside down" position.

The "frame" of your boat ie: beams, bulkheads, stems, keel, battens, (basically - what looks like the "skeleton" of the boat) can generally be cut into shape using a jig saw... odd shapes, curved shapes are cut, spliced, laminated into solid pieces... when all this is properly aligned and mounted to your boat building form...  the "planking" is very easy... and of course, even easier if you are using plywood. you just start at one end, glue, clamp, and move your way to the other end... by the time you get there - the plank is already within an inch or two of where you want it...  

I have been building both sail and power boats for over 40 years, and I can count on my fingers the few times (years & years ago) I ever had to "steam" wood inorder to bend it in place and this has always been on the heavier (2x4", 2x6", 4x4") keel or stem - never on any side planking. With newer, better products and techniques, steaming is not necessary anymore.

Boat building is like most everything else... the preparation" is the key to how easy the rest of the job will be, and how well your final result will look...

If you are thinking about building your boat - I encourage it highly... It is a great experience, a learning experience, and

today... especially with all the newer high-tech boat resins and epoxy... and with "stitch & glue" and "one off fiberglass"  methods... it is easier for a real novice to build a beautiful, safe, solid, wonderful boat... even on your first attempt.

check out:

>  www.glenL.com  <

for boat plans and methods, (lots of pics)

also, if you like, I have build "progress" photos on my website at:

>  www.boatwrights.org  <

Happy & Safe Boating!