Reverse Clinker Construction

Discussion in 'Wooden Boat Building and Restoration' started by ancient kayaker, Aug 20, 2010.

  1. ancient kayaker
    Joined: Aug 2006
    Posts: 3,497
    Likes: 147, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 2291
    Location: Alliston, Ontario, Canada

    ancient kayaker aka Terry Haines

    While recently reading "Clinker Boatbuilding" by John Leather I found a brief description of reverse clinker construction, in which the planks are added from the sheer down, ending with the garboard. Some enthusiastic claims are made or reported by Leather.

    I also found some refences on the internet but only a few fuzzy pictures which show the planks laid horizontally. However, Leather states the planks are laid from the transom to the sheer, so that the planks are diagonal, although no picture is provided.

    Does anyone have any experience, images, or other information on this concept?
     
  2. TeddyDiver
    Joined: Dec 2007
    Posts: 2,614
    Likes: 136, Points: 73, Legacy Rep: 1650
    Location: Finland/Norway

    TeddyDiver Gollywobbler

  3. waikikin
    Joined: Jan 2006
    Posts: 2,440
    Likes: 179, Points: 73, Legacy Rep: 871
    Location: Australia

    waikikin Senior Member

    The most common examples I've seen are on clinker built ski boats but only for the No. 1 plank & the garboard, the rest usually planked from No. 1 up.
     
  4. ancient kayaker
    Joined: Aug 2006
    Posts: 3,497
    Likes: 147, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 2291
    Location: Alliston, Ontario, Canada

    ancient kayaker aka Terry Haines

    ]The description in Wiki is incorrect, it merely distinguishes between straight nailing and clenched nailing and misses the point about the order of the planks.

    The claimed advantages and my comments are:

    1. No standing water inside the hull - but lots of it outside?
    2. For sailing, more resistance to leeway from hull - but more drag
    3. Additional lifting force leading to reduced wetted surface - presumably this applies to diagonally planked hulls
    4. Easier to clean out - I don't get this
    5. Easier to see the planking lands doing during construction - I don't get this either

    Frankly I think the idea has earned its obscurity, but I thought there might be something in it. Of course, I haven't owned or built a lapstrake boat so I don't have a practical perspective on it.
     
  5. peter radclyffe
    Joined: Mar 2009
    Posts: 1,454
    Likes: 72, Points: 58, Legacy Rep: 680
    Location: europe

    peter radclyffe Senior Member

    4, the dirt does not lodge so badly
    5.you can see the edge fay to the last plank
     
  6. gonzo
    Joined: Aug 2002
    Posts: 16,790
    Likes: 1,714, Points: 123, Legacy Rep: 2031
    Location: Milwaukee, WI

    gonzo Senior Member

    That would be like making repairs on a clinker. You have to slide the planks under the top one. It is very difficult and slow. SeaSkiffs and other boats had reverse planking on the bottom which made a shingle or stepped surface. It makes the boat have less resistance on a plane.
     
  7. Riccelli Yachts
    Joined: Sep 2010
    Posts: 10
    Likes: 6, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 190
    Location: Eustis, Florida

    Riccelli Yachts Yacht designer & Builder

    I've repaired a couple of boats with reversed laps, but these were powerboats and the reverse was only on the bottom planks. At the turn of the bilge they converted to the usual direction. The reason for the reverse lapped bottom is simple, it offers several "sheering" edges, to get the flow to separate cleanly and quickly. It makes for a faster boat with the same amount of power, compared to a carvel or conventionally lapped hull of similar shape.

    Planking repairs or new construction would be the same, though reversed laps would likely be "planked backwards" too, if new construction. Repairs wouldn't make any difference, as a shutter plank, is a shutter plank and they all suck if you've never done one before. I remember my first and I hung the darn thing 5 or 6 times, before I got it right.

    The reversed lap fishing sailing craft seen in the far east are but a natural arrangement of the planks, to help prevent water, pushing through the seams, in their way of looking at things.
     
    1 person likes this.
  8. nikcross
    Joined: Aug 2013
    Posts: 2
    Likes: 1, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 19
    Location: United Kingdom

    nikcross New Member

    1 person likes this.
  9. PAR
    Joined: Nov 2003
    Posts: 19,126
    Likes: 498, Points: 93, Legacy Rep: 3967
    Location: Eustis, FL

    PAR Yacht Designer/Builder

    This is a perfect example of the idea and they were used as "flow strippers", to squeeze another fraction of a knot out of her. Even the plank line off, was geared toward this goal.
     
  10. dskira

    dskira Previous Member

    The member who asked for the worms problems had a clinker speed boat like that. A reverse clinker so to speak.
    Force of habit, nothing is realy reverse.
     
  11. nikcross
    Joined: Aug 2013
    Posts: 2
    Likes: 1, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 19
    Location: United Kingdom

    nikcross New Member

    I am that person :)
     

  12. dskira

    dskira Previous Member

    I am glad for you nilkcross, I think they were very clever design, and quite eleguant in my opinion.
     
Loading...
Forum posts represent the experience, opinion, and view of individual users. Boat Design Net does not necessarily endorse nor share the view of each individual post.
When making potentially dangerous or financial decisions, always employ and consult appropriate professionals. Your circumstances or experience may be different.