I just ribbed my boat this weekend and it turned out just as I planned. I did not use either Morris' or Cunningham's measuring stick technique. I avoided this technique on purpose because even though it gives a fair curve, the keel profile and rocker are created relative to the curve (sheer) of the gunwales.

I had a specific curve and rocker in mind for the boat. I established the profile and rocker I wanted by securing the keel stringer to four vertical supports beneath the keel stringer. Then I used strips of Formica (mini-blinds would work great) for individual measuring sticks. The trick to making these ultra-flexible battens work was to use a three-inch wide by about 10-inch long piece of plywood with a three-inch radius cut off the corner of one end.

To use the combo I put the Formica strip in a mortise (secured with a short scrap of rib stock) and flexed it under the keel stringer. Next, I held the plywood with the radiused corner representing the bilge beneath the stringer and Formica strip. Then I pushed it out toward the gunwale (keeping it horizontal) until the leg of the Formica strip projected from the mortise at the sheer angle (17 degrees.)

At this point the strip rises from the upside-down gunwale, makes a smooth curve over the end of the plywood, and runs straight (horizontally) for a short distance to where it runs under the keel stringer. I then traced both sides of the keel stringer on the strip and I was done. I made individual strips for all ribs. If a rib broke while bending (three did), I had the Formica strip ready to mark another.

All of this can be done in much less time than it's taken me to type it. The results were remarkable. My ribs not only exhibit a very fair curve, they fit my keel-line perfectly. In the future I can't imagine doing it any other way.

I'm art-challenged, but I'll try to work up a simple illustration if you're having trouble visualizing my description.

: Try as I might, I just can't understand Morris' nor Cunningham's instructions
: about laying out the length of the ribs. Awhile back, someone posted about
: using pieces of formica top to form rib mockups. In cleaning out the
: basement (to ready for this project), I found a venitian blind. I took the
: plastic louvres and cut them to size for mock-ups. They are flexible
: enough and sturdy enough to give a good indea of what the ribs will look
: like on the boat when done. The only other thing to make the louvres work
: better was to cut short pieces of wood weather stripping to hold the
: plastic against the side of the gunwale mortices to ensure the correct
: length and fit. Also the wood pieces maintain the gunwale angle. At the
: point where you want to see the rib bend, you cut the wood pieces slightly
: lower that that point to allow the louvre pieces to take nice curves.

: I am glad I got measuring the rib lengths out of the way. I was really
: dreading this point being as numerically challenged as I am.

: sing.