Al Sorenson's bilding technique

Discussion in 'Metal Boat Building' started by MarkC, May 31, 2005.

  1. MarkC
    Joined: Oct 2003
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    Location: Germany

    MarkC Senior Member

    Ken Hankinson used to run a web-site that featured quite a few interesting boats. Alas he has retired - the site is no more, and there has been no word on further supply of plans. :( My fault - if I had just bought the plans I wanted.

    One section of this site was devoted to small Tugboats plans and featured metal-boat-bilder Al Sorenson and his technique of very-light steel boat building - using 'tempering' I believe for fairing (or strength??).

    From my memory it looked like 'longitudinal stringers' in the form of flat-bar on a jig, with thin steel-plate welded/attached to these stringers, then this plate heated in 'spots' - I cant remember if it was one, two or three 'tempering spots' per plate.

    I have seen 'similar' spots on other, much larger steel boats under construction - also 'tempering'?

    Question: Was this process used by Al Sorensen and featured on Ken's web-site really novel - or is it something that most steel-boat manufacturers have a good handle on?

    Was there a book/info pamphlet offered by ken that outlined this process?

    In effect, this process looked interesting and I would like to keep it circulating here for interest sake - and for my information too!
     
    MarkC, May 31, 2005
    #1
  2. kmorin
    Joined: Apr 2005
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    kmorin Senior Member

    technique for steel hulls

    I believe Boatbuilder magazine had a series of articles by K Hankinsen that showed a small steel tug in build and described this technique about four years ago. (not sure of dates of issues)

    Cheers
    kmorin
     
    kmorin, Jun 1, 2005
    #2
  3. CDBarry
    Joined: Nov 2002
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    CDBarry Senior Member

    The article was by Mike Kasten, who has a website.

    The technique of heating is called "line heating". Google it.
     
    CDBarry, Jun 2, 2005
    #3

  5. MarkC
    Joined: Oct 2003
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    Location: Germany

    MarkC Senior Member

    Thanks for the answers and the info -

    googled up 'line heating' - one site from MIT Ocean Fabrication Division or so.

    'line heating for forming flat-plate into three-dimentional forms - used in boat building for 30 years - very much a 'hands-on' process, experience etc.'

    Not much more info that I could find. Maybe I missed something - but I did spend some time.

    I read Kasten's articles:

    (an excellent PDF - a Metal boat society quarterly about all metals) - found a very little on tempering and annealing.)

    I didnt find anything on line heating or Al Sorensen.

    I will email 'boatbilder' and ask for the correct copy.

    and short of disturbing Kasten Marine with an email - is there anything else?
     
    MarkC, Jun 2, 2005
    #4
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