lapstrake rails

We just finished the last strake on our glued-nailed 14 ft. lapstrake boat and have turned it over. We are beginners. The craft has 1/2 by 3/4 inch ribs about 9 inches apart. We don't know the best way to attach the inner and outer rails. Do we attach each separately ore put something through both, including the rib? Thanks in advance for your experienced advice.

 

Can you provide a photo of your boat? Most of the time I install inwales first. If you ran your ribs or side frames all the way up you will need to either cut them down or install short pieces between them. Up foward if this boat is a pointed bow you will need to ease the back sides of the short pieces foward to get them to fit the sheer shape unless you use small laminates or soft woods that will pull into the sheer. You can do with glue and even some temporary fasteners until the glue dries and then remove it. Then when I install the outer rails I run fasteners through them and into the inwales. If you are planning covering boards and leave the ribs tall, you will need to install rails to the faces.

I do have some shots if you need them. But will need to post later. Post a shot of your boat upright and we can get a better idea of what we are working with here.

 

attaching rails

I know how to fit the rails. We have ribs all the way up and will cut them off even with the rails. So, we will have rail-rib-rail. My question is, what are some good ways to attach all three together at any one rib? Is there something that can run through all three at one time? If you suggest just putting on the inner one first, how is it attached to the rib and later to the outer rail? I think that this is a hardware question. LEE

 

If you are saying that you plan on leaving the ribs flush with the top line of the sheer, then just cut a small notch out along the sheer and just let in the inwale batten which runs along the inside of the top plank. If you want to tie all the rails together, wait until you get all the rails installed on the outside and then counterbore from the outside and install a fastener, sized proportioned through all the pieces finishing up in the rib. You should not need any more than around 6 or 8 x 2 to 2 1/2" fasteners tops since you are only building a 14 foot boat.

 

Roved copper nails through both rails and the ribs would be nice. Or you can add fillers between the rails and ribs, and add a hardwood capping piece.

Sailing or rowing? If you don't have full construction details, you will need to plan for oarlocks and/or rigging points.

I'm assuming you have an open boat, decks and coamings would be another matter entirely.

 

There is no need of fillers between the gaps on the frames. That is usually a good place to tie things to. You can screw the inwhale from the outside through the frames. Then screw the outwhale the oposite way. Either one can go first.

 

We nail the inner, glue the outer, will look like this: