Hank wrote:

> I agree that thin strips and fiberglass can result in a strong deck. My
> concern about the strength of the wood is due to the grain pattern.

> For example, if you take a board and cut off 1/8" directly across the
> grain, the fibers are only 1/8" long and can be broken (separated)
> very easily. If you would cut an other 1/8" strip exactly with the
> GRAIN (not necessarily along the length of the board because the board
> will probably not be cut "straight" to the tree's growth) the
> strip, with all the fibers intact will be many times stronger.
> If the trees grew perfectly straight and the boards were ripped exactly
> along the grain then 1/8" strips would half the strength of 1/4"
> strips. It is more likely that there are waves in the grain (knot areas)
> and the boards are not cut true. The thinner you cut a strip, the more
> chance there will be that the grain will run out (cross from top to
> bottom).

Thanks to Hank for useful and interesting info!

I intend to pick boards where the rings are parallel or at only slight angle with board surface when looking at the board from the end. Usually this will be so for part of the board only, I may end up using between half and 2/3 of the board for making strips. Now, if you look at the end of the long strip, the ring pattern will be perbpendicular to the longest edge, and so if the grain pattern should run out of the strip it will have to do so running from one side to the other of the slightly less than 3/4" or 5/8" width of the strip. This is theory if there were no knots. If knots, I will make the strips shorter to avoid the knots, I am after practical quality, not looks. Also, if only the wood will hold together until glassed, I guess that weak spots will be unevenly distributed over the hull, so that I can on a tripbuilt dedk can get at least part of the plywood effect.

But I have no experience yet. I am awaiting for my first stitch and glue kit to build a stitch and glue. Then next project planned is a stitch and glue (another model) with a stripped deck, so I am planning a bit ahead for the moment.

Jan Gunnar