Wooden Drascombes

The Building of Drascombe wooden boats

by John Elliott

Clinker Boats

Here is a brief description of how a clinker boat is built.

First of all the keel is set up in position, a grown oak crook is then cut to form the stern knee, another one shaped for the stem. These are then fastened to the keel with copper rivets.

Next, the transom is cut from a flat board and fastened to the stern knee, completing the backbone.

Temporary frames, shaped to the hull sections, are then spaced at equal intervals along the backbone and held firmly in position until the hull is complete.

Planks of hardwood, about six inches at the widest point, are then shaped around the frames each one lapping the other by about one inch, and riveted together at three inch intervals.

Owing to the complex shape of a hull, each plank is a different shape to the other.

To get the correct curve for each plank, a batten is fixed roughly over the preceding one and spot measurements are taken from the frames which have the positions of the individual planks marked on them. This is called spiling.

When all the planking has been completed the temporary frames are removed leaving just a light bracing to retain the correct shape.

The ribs, or timbers as they are called, are generally cut from straight grained oak or Canadian rock elm.

So that these ribs can be shaped to the intricate curves of the hull they have to be steamed to make them supple.

Once they are nice and floppy each rib is quickly pushed into position and nailed into place whilst they are boiling hot.

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Last updated: 2 November, 2008

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