battens & ducks

Discussion in 'Boat Design' started by Raymond Batkin, Aug 21, 2019.

  1. Raymond Batkin
    Joined: Aug 2019
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    Location: Plymouth

    Raymond Batkin New Member

    Are there any old-style battens & ducks available anywhere.
    Interested in acquiring the same for lofting lines etc.
    Aware of MacSurf-type software which I have used but am more interested
    in using pre-software methods.
    Would appreciate any feedback advice. Thanks in anticipation
     
  2. Richard Woods
    Joined: Jun 2006
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    Location: Back full time in the UK

    Richard Woods Woods Designs

    I don't have any ducks any more but do have a couple of splines. In Torpoint/Millbrook if you are in Plymouth UK and not USAetc

    email me on woodsdesigns@gmail.com for phone number etc

    Richard Woods
     
  3. TANSL
    Joined: Sep 2011
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    Location: Spain

    TANSL Senior Member

    I have a software that, using the old techniques, allows to carry out the fairing of the hulls. Instead of the battens, he uses the splines which, after all, are nothing more than the mathematical expression of the battens.
    If you are interested, I can send you information.
     
  4. messabout
    Joined: Jan 2006
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    Location: Lakeland Fl USA

    messabout Senior Member

    Wooden battens are perfectly suitable if the grain of the wood is parallel and straight. With a good table saw and the right wood you can produce good battens of any degree of limberness. The wood should be softwood only. That gives you plenty of options for selection. Hardwoods are less satisfactory.

    For ducks...whales...or whatever, all you need are some weights. They need not be made of lead. A short section of round steel shafting with a sheet cork cover on the bottom works just fine. For laying out a full size loft, the ideal is to have a wooden floor and a selection of ice picks.....Or tin cans filled with sand.

    Two and half inch diameter steel shaft weighs 16.69 pounds per foot. About three inch lengths are more than satisfactory for most drawing board use.

    If you are determined to have traditional ducks, you can make your own with a bit of Plaster of Paris for a mould, and some lead. You can often get used lead alloy wheel balancing weights for almost nothing, from your tyre seller. The lead will melt in an ordinary sauce pan placed on the kitchen stove. I'd go for the shaft weights and let the machine shop or scrap iron dealer cut them to length. One caution! If you pour lead into a mould, the plaster MUST be thoroughly dry with no hint of water content. Molten lead and water do not get along well. Molten lead is also not friendly to human flesh. Use focused caution.
     
  5. DCockey
    Joined: Oct 2009
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    Location: Midcoast Maine

    DCockey Senior Member

  6. Raymond Batkin
    Joined: Aug 2019
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    Location: Plymouth

    Raymond Batkin New Member

    Many thanks for that. Since posting I have found some likely solutions but you can't know too much - at least at my level.
    Wary about working with lead but your suggestion of steel shaft weights is a good option. There is an Aladdin's Cave-like marine salvage store nearby. I'll
    ferret around there for inspiration as a startiung point.
    Your mention of using softwood to fashion my own battens - any specific type that is readily available in a timber store? pine, yew, redwood??
     
  7. Raymond Batkin
    Joined: Aug 2019
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    Location: Plymouth

    Raymond Batkin New Member

    Thank you for that. Yes please.
     
  8. DCockey
    Joined: Oct 2009
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    Location: Midcoast Maine

    DCockey Senior Member

    Desired properties:
    Clear (no knots or defects) and straight grain
    Grain aligned with spline. If the grain runs off the side splitting is more likely.
    Tight grain with distance between rings smaller than the width or thickness of the spline.
    Does not form splinters.

    In the US square and rectangular section "moldings" are available in clear pine and other woods at most lumber yards. Solid Pine Archives - Garden State Lumber https://www.gardenstatelumber.com/moulding-material/solid-pine/

    For small battens I have used thin basswood strips from a hobby store.
     
  9. JSL
    Joined: Nov 2012
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    Location: Delta BC

    JSL Senior Member

    Be aware- lead is a heavy metal and somewhat toxic. Once your ducks are done, paint them.
     
  10. W9GFO
    Joined: Dec 2014
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    Location: Olalla, WA

    W9GFO Senior Member

    And retire the sauce pan from food preparation.

    I have found that a ladle (metal of course) makes a good mold for lead weights.
     

  11. Thomas Cunningham
    Joined: Apr 2020
    Posts: 1
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    Location: Galway

    Thomas Cunningham New Member

    Greetings Ray,
    Good to see you're still in Plymouth
    Regards
    Tom
     
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