: I am looking for a way to make a smaller plywood frame in a Yost style boat.
: I want to thin down the frame at the front of the cockpit but still
: maintain adequate strength. I made a mistake and cut one thin and broke it
: on another boat, so I know that there is a lot of force on these two when
: you get in and out of the boat.

: I am loosing a lot of 'knee room' under the cockpit and I am find that the
: frame is a bit tall under my legs too. I hate to make the cockpit longer
: and would prefer to just make the opening in the frame larger. So I have
: been thinking about ways to "thin' the frame.

: The simplest idea I can come up with is make the fame thicker, therefore
: stronger. Maybe make two identical frames and glue them together as one.

: Another idea is cut the frame off at the top stringer and then build a masik
: for the cockpit support out of wider solid wood. That would take up less
: space. But I would still have the issue of the frame in the back of my
: legs, but that is less of an issue.

: I tossed around the idea of plywood laminated (the flat way) frame but the
: bends would be hard to shape. the bends at the chines would just be to
: sharp.

: So, anyone have any other ideas I have not thought of? Making a thinner
: double thick frame seems like the best idea.

I've used a combination of making the fore deck a little taller (like an inch) and thinning the top of the frame and using two layers on the top of the frame only to get more room, works fine.

When I modify the shape of the deck, I've done it a couple times now on Yost boats, I make the frames two piece, leaving the sides and bottom of the frame as per Tom's plans and then glue on the top frame cut separately. Just run it down the sides a little so the frames are still strong.

Bill H.

Bill H.