: After years of cutting centerlines on boats with chisels, small planes, and
: utility knives, I decided to try and find the perfect tool to do it. Not
: being able to find one, I decided to make one, and thought I would share
: the idea for those that are making multiple boats.

: From a block of solid ash, I shaped the underside to have a 1/4 in. dado (the
: thickness of the strips I use). The plane will slide on the bottom of the
: boat with the blade cutting along the centerline without hitting the
: forms, thus leaving a nice clean centerline. For the blade, I simply took
: the blade from my block plane and fashioned a wedge to hold the blade in
: place.

: Tried it today for the first time and it cut the job down to ten minutes
: after roughly cutting the centerline with a pull saw.

: Maybe a patent is in order? or a call to Lee Valley with the idea. Something
: like Newfound applying for a US patent on a routed edge in forms?

Hi Rod,
You can also just build up to the centre line, set up a fence on the planked side braced off the strongback (if you use an external one)and use a router to cut it. Otherwise you could make a fence with an L shaped cross section and set it up on the exposed form side and then use the router. Another way of skinning a cat.
JohnK