: I'm starting to plan my winter build: an SOF adaptation of LF Herreshoff's
: 18ft sail/rowing "Carpenter" design (the popular Sea Pearl 21
: sailboat was adapted from this design). The original design has a flat
: bottom which is about half the width of the beam at midship and tapers to
: within a few feet of the bow and stern.

: I would like to use marine plywood for the bottom with steam bent white oak
: ribs and 1050 denier ballistic nylon for the topsides. The bottom will
: also need a slot opening for the centerboard.

: I need help on how to skin this baby. I'm assuming its best to use a single
: piece of skin from gunwale to gunwale. Do I want to adhere the skin to the
: bottom or let it "float" or "slide"? If yes to adhere,
: then with what? Epoxy? One of the many types of marine caulks? Something
: else?

: Any help or redirects would be appreciated.

Sounds interesting. I'd epoxy the bottom to the frames and stringers. The centerboard creates alot of thrusts on the boat and I'm not sure a conventional SOF will have a long life done conventionally. With an external plank keel it might though. The frames also can't be complete frame in the way of the centerboard trunk and that creates it's only problems with conventional SOF construction. For me it would be easier to make a relatively rigid center of the boat with the ply epoxied together and the trunk then can be carried with this structure. Mast and rigging loads too can be carried on it.

Yes I've seen it done with SOF, but how long it stays waterproof is a question.

Bill H.