Planking
Replacing a piece at a time is not very efficient way to build a boat. Three steps ahead and one or two back. Each piece is fitted to the next, so it is much slower than just building the boat, especially being a rookie. With the shape of the boat stable, I removed the chine planking and chine log in one piece. The chine log is an area that Aces frequently rot - and this one was bad.
The chine has a twist and I knew I could not force it into place; I would have to steam the wood to get it to bend. I learned the best way to bend white oak is to soak it for three or four days and heat it up for 45 minutes at 180-210 degrees. I built a small wood box out of junk cedar just slightly larger than the pieces I needed to bend, and tapped into the hot water heater drain with a garden hose and used a tea kettle to raise the temperature and watched a thermometer. It worked.
Hot water bending box for the chine logs, carlins, and bilge battens.
Taking care of that hole in the bottom.
Chine and side planking went on next using hot water, old towels and nylon tie down straps to bend it into shape. After drying, the straps held it while the epoxy set up. After the sides were on, I used a hand plane to trim it all down. Next, the outside molding was cut, soaked, heated and installed. I was amazed at how flexible the white oak would become after being in the hotbox.
