Ribs??

I'm Restoring a Charles Hankins built Barnegate Bay Sneakbox

there is a few ribs that i would like to replace i'm not worried about makeing it origional

would bandsawed ribs be as good as steambent what are my material choices?

 

Original NJ boxe's used Cedar as it was cheap, easy to work and most important, did not rot quickly, when soaked, if allowed to dry out. The inside does get wet due to type of use it gets.

 

origional BBSB's were made out of white cedar with oak ribs
the boat i have is built this way i have 2 or 3 ribs that i would like to replace was wondering if i can cut oak ribs as opposed to steam bending them..

 

No they are not. Stem bent ribs or frames have grain that follows the curvature. A sawn frame is heavier and weaker. It is also more difficult to fit.

 

Are you talking about sawing the whole frame out of one
or two chunks of wood, or are you talking about
bandsawing strips to be laminated together with
epoxy "in place?"

 

Sawn frames are cut of the least amount of pieces. Rarely can you make them in less than three, including the futtock. Laminating frames out of thin pieces takes more time, money and patience than steam bending.

 

"Laminating frames out of thin pieces takes more time, money and patience than steam bending."
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I am guessing that the gentleman does not have a steam box
handy and would have to construct one.

For just a "few" ribs (frames) I would laminate.

 

There are other ways of steaming. For example a torch and a brush. With small pieces is just as easy to boil them too.

 

Rowdy, Are you referring to a flat bottomed duck punt type of craft ? How are the existing frames built? If there is virtually no bend and the frames are light enough, then it would be very easy to make and install steam bent frames. You could also laminate them in situ as well if you do not wish to built a small steam box. As Gonzo has stated, sawn frames are by the nature of their construction, heavy in comparison to steam bent or laminated frames. They are also more difficult to fit due to the need for matching the bevels and curves in the section of hull you are addressing. Sawn frames are, however the way to go if you are building or repairing frames for a large, robust type of boat such as a commercial fishing boat over 50' in length.
When I am scarfing in new sections or replacing frames on smaller boats, I prefer to employ the steam bent method due to the ease in installation and effectiveness in matching the hull shape. Laminating new frames in situ (in place) via the strip method is also handy if you are able to work well with epoxies and are confident that you can achieve a solid lamination. One must be aware, however, that poorly laminated frames are prone to water ingress (promoting delamination...)and breakage upon heavy impacts.