: Bill, What's a "sheerstrake?"

: Yes! I totally agree that getting any difficult task achieved can exploit
: strengths from different styles. Does this "sheerstrake" method
: enable one to forego hatches all together? There was a point in my
: building process where I wished I could leave the deck "sans
: hatches", just because I didn't want to interupt my beautiful strip
: pattern, but felt the hatches would enable me to attach the deck to the
: hull more securely. You know those skin on frame boats don't have hatches
: (I can just hear those Inuits, "Hatches?!? We don't need no stinkin'
: Hatches!")

: Cruz, W.F.

Technically a sheerstrake is the top most plank on a wood hull.

Used here it's an internal stringer attached to the inside of the hull at the top, used to allow a wide enough surface so deck can be glued (epoxied) to it.

I use pieces just long enough so that I can reach them thru the holes in the deck for the hatches. You have to plane an angle on them to match the deck so that the deck will sit flush with the hull. Then I epoxy the ends with thickened epoxy and tape (external packing tape) in place. Once that sets up it's relatively easy to fiberglass tape the rest of the deck in place internally.

The external glass tape really provides plenty of strength on the ends. This is just faster for me. Downside is it's slightly heavier than glass taping all the way to the ends (assuming you can).

Bill H.