Atkin "Russell R."

Discussion in 'Boat Design' started by Nordski, Mar 9, 2019.

  1. Nordski
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    Nordski Junior Member

    I have Atkin's outboard boat plans for the “Russell R.”, it’s a 20’ flat bottom low power skiff. The construction method calls for either a lapstrake or smooth planked batten seam hull. I’m wondering if this design can be modified for sheet plywood planking? I know the weight would change some but I can possibly overcome that with reasonable ballast. It appears that from amidships forward the bottom could be widened just a bit and the sheer narrowed just a bit to accomplish this. Can someone assist me in the modification of these plans or recommend someone that can do a modification for me?
     
  2. Angélique
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    Angélique aka Angel (only by name)

    Jeff Hutter built a Russell R. of ply, she was in WoodenBoat Magazine #226, May/June 2012, here's a PDF of the article*

    * from the Newport Beach CA Wooden Boat Festival website

    The same ply boat is also on the Atkin photo page (clickable pics), and in an Atkin PDF.
     
    Last edited: Mar 9, 2019
  3. Nordski
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    Nordski Junior Member

    Thank you so much for the info!! I saw this boat on Atkins web site but didn't realize that it was ply. Thanks again.
     
  4. Angélique
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    Angélique aka Angel (only by name)

    From the post #2 WoodenBoat article page 43 . . .

    Jeff Hutter Plywood Atkin Russell R WoodenBoat Magazine 226 May June 2012 page 43.jpg
     
  5. Mr Efficiency
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    Mr Efficiency Senior Member

    The sheeting won't exactly fit the topside frames, but there would be ways and means to fix that.
     
  6. kerosene
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    kerosene Senior Member

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  7. Nordski
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    Nordski Junior Member

    Thank you.....a ton of information!!
     
  8. DCockey
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    DCockey Senior Member

    Are you referring to the straight frames with varying flare resulting a not exactly developable surface?

    If so my guess is the plywood can be pulled against the frames without too much difficulty. And plywood does not bend in exactly developable shapes. Bend a sheet of plywood into part of a cylinder, and lines across the sheet perpendicular to the direction of the bend will not be exact straight but will arc slightly in the direction opposite to the bend due to Poisson ratio effects.
     
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  9. NoEyeDeer
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    NoEyeDeer Senior Member

    "due to Poisson ratio effects."

    Nice point. Hadn't thought of that.
     
  10. Mr Efficiency
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    Mr Efficiency Senior Member

    OK. his plans are for planking, I'd say he can substitute with ply without too much problem, still using straight frames, by just packing out his longitudinal battens at the frames, where there is a gap.
     
  11. DCockey
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    DCockey Senior Member

    It looks like the boat in the links was planked with plywood over straight frames. My guess is the gap between plywood and straight frames would be small enough for screws would pull the plywood to straight frames. No need for any packing or similar.
     
  12. Mr Efficiency
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    Mr Efficiency Senior Member

    Possibly, unless it causes a local distortion.
     
  13. Angélique
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    Angélique aka Angel (only by name)

    For this ply conversion to get a fair hull, maybe loft the boat, stitch all completed panels together, put some spacers between the top of the sides to get the right curve, and then build in customised angled chine logs, and then custom shape each frame before being build in ?
     
  14. Angélique
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    Angélique aka Angel (only by name)

    Some pics from the post #2 plywood Atkin Russell R. built PDF . . .

    Jeff Hutter plywood Atkin Russell R pic 1.jpg

    Jeff Hutter plywood Atkin Russell R pic 2.jpg
     

  15. Nordski
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    Nordski Junior Member

    I'm wondering if I can move the keelson and sister keelsons to the outside of the hull without problem?
     
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