: I'm about to install the ribs in my "Brinck" baidarka. I'll be
: steam bending green oak. I recently tried using green twigs I found
: growing near my apartment with disasterous results. From my experiance so
: far I have found the temporary keelson to be a total pain in the butt! I
: understand it is there to give the ribs uniformaty and to establish the
: sheer but could I try something else? I'm thinking a mixture of
: Cunningham's, Boucher's and H.C. Petersens techniques. I'll cut the ribs
: two hand spans bigger than the gunwhales. Bend them them at a point two
: fingers inside the gunwhales initially, one finger later, and just keep a
: close eye on things to maintain symetry and balance. Does this sound crazy
: or am I writing off the keelson too soon?

I don't think you're crazy at all. Having the main orientation tool always in the way sounds backwards to me.Like how do you fit a rib without making sloppy mortices- and in the main structural member too? I'd make a temporary INSIDE keelson. then none of your work is interfered with, easy to clamp to, and since it's on the workbench side of the yak, could even be pinned to that to.

(i don't have experience w/ this, but its my reaction to the procedure) either that or make the o/s one really stiff and on a hinge - lift out of the way to place rib, lower to measure etc etc.

-mick