: yesterday 3 out of 3 ribs went in successfully

: well today...
: my batting average was only 2 out of 9

: back to the drawing board....

Don't get disouraged. Last year, I had zero breakage after I started using a pre-bending jig. This year, I broke 5 out of 16 using a more sophisticated jig. Remember, you're dealing with WOOD, which is not a uniform material. Sometimes it bends effortlessly, other time it's a struggle. It may not be you that's making the difference, so try to relax and analyze the situation methodically.

- What kind of breaks were you getting?

- Could the breaks be due to grain orientation?

- Are you supporting the wood on both sides while bending (form and bending strap)?

- Are you trying to bend too fast?

- How long are you steaming?

- Are you getting sufficient steam output from your steam generator?

The answer is there and you will find it. Rib breakage is frustrating, but in the end, no one marvelling at your boat will ever know how many ribs you broke in making it or that it took you an extra day or two to sort things out.