: hello all,

: I have a missing link in the process of constructing a sof.

: I understand how to make a sof the way George Putz describes in his
: book (the walrus), but he is doing it without any bent ribs.
: he just uses stringers & few ribs that are made of wood or plywood
: & are cut to the form, but he doesn't bend anything.

: but the boat seen on this thread is made of many bent ribs that forms
: the "width of the boat", & few long ribs.

: how is it possible to bend the ribs to am accurate & symmetric form ?

: any link describing the process ?

: Is it done with steam bending ? so how is it bent to an accurate form ?

: doesn't the wood wants to bend back a little ? (towards its original form)

: any help appreciated,

: Erez

The ribs are steam bent. First they are soaked for a minimum of one week. Then they are steamed for 8 to 15 or more minutes (depending on the thickness and type of wood.) some wood is soaked and then boiled (Alaskan Yellow Cedar.) After the wood is steamed or boiled you pull it out and quickly bend it into the shape you desire. You have to work quickly because you only have a few brief seconds to work the wood. Once the wood cools it mostly keeps its new shape.

The bending process can be done over forms or freehand. Forms will give you the exact shape but you’ve got to build all those forms. If the keel stringer is in place, you can use this to butt the steam bent ribs up against. Jim and I learned the process by trial and error.

I find Jim’s Greenland to be sturdier than my Walrus. Just think of all those holes drilled all the way through the Walrus’s western red cedar. Every one of the holes has a brass screw stuck in it. I lost count while building my Walrus just how many screws are in it, but I think it’s over 200. That’s a lot of weak points.

For reading, I recommend:
Building SKIN-ON-FRAME By Robert Morris
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0881791911/qid=1002175100/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2_2/103-0326674-8383060

The Aleutian Kayak: Origins, Construction, and Use of the Traditional Seagoing Baidarka By Wolfgang Brinck.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0070078939/qid

On the Walrus you’ll end up torturing the stringers into submission. Sure wish I new how to bend wood when I built my Walrus. The pic below is my Walrus. Almost evey place where 2 pieces of wood cross paths there's a hole. Kinda scary!

Roger