The next major job was the installation of the waterway timbers. These heavy planks, finishing 7 inches in thickness by 11 inches in width, run along the perimeter of the deck, just inside the bulwark stanchions, from the stem post to the transom. The individual lengths of waterway timbers are joined together by long scarf joints. The waterways are vital in establishing the strong upper rim of the hull girder. In the original hull, the waterways were laid in lengths of 80 feet or better, but in replacing them, we were limited to 42-foot lengths. This had to be very high quality material to resist its exposed position on the exposed deck. The waterway timbers could not be bent, but rather were sawn to shape out of wider stock. In the bow of the vessel, where the curves are most extreme, the 11-inch finished pieces were cut out of 7-inch stock, 24 inches wide. For maximum strength, the waterway timbers were notched over the deck beams and into the bulwark stanchions that rise above main deck level. This made it a very tricky piece to fit.
With the hull planked up, the original bottom planks can be clearly seen. 2006-01-18(17)
With the waterways in place, the laying of the main deck planking got underway. The deck planking was 4 x 4-inch material, most of it in lengths of 40 feet. This was, again, very fine material — vertical, tight-grained fir with virtually no knots. A standard caulking bevel was planed into one edge as the
planks were initially milled out. The first of the planking was laid down along the centerline of the deck, and was then worked toward either side. As the main deck planking began to go down, the reconditioned hanging knees were installed under the deck beams. The knees were fastened per
The deck beams are laid in place prior to final installation. The beam ends rest on top of the new shear clamps on either side. 2005-09-13(3) 20
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