Deck stringers

Now its time for the two sets of deck stringers. Two behind the coaming hole and two in front. The two behind ones were pretty straight forward, two wider beams that will help displace the weight when entering and exiting the kayak. These are the two front ones getting lay out for measuring. I then made a recess to fit them against the masik. Then the front ends are filed to rest on the 3rd beam. Finally they are packed where needed and fixed into place with trunnels. Next up floor boards and the end of the frame :)

Making and installing the Masik

Now on to the last deck beam the masik. I choose to
make it from a pine branch which has the riight bend
which allows me to make a thinner but just as strong
beam.


First up finding the right height and curve by making some
batterns and getting in and out and test sitting.


Now to find a nice piece of pine to make the masik
with. Thats my baby in the middle :)


Here is the branch I choose from my father-in-laws
summer home. The template I made from the measurements
I got from the batterns.


Next fleshing it out with a power-planer and sawing
and and chiseling to get the rough form.


Here it is with most of the rough wood removed.


Next a box to get the angles against the gunwhales.


And then adding the marks to the masik.


The finished masik.


And here it is in place fixed in with two trunnels on either
side.

Next up the the deck ridges..

Stem plates

Now on to securing the ends with stem-plates.


First Setting up the Japanese saw with a stop and sawing
out to help with chiselling the recess for the plates.


Then on to cutting the plates and planning them to fit the slot.
After that the upper surface is planned and filed to make a
nice transition between the gunwales and the cutwaters.

Finally the plates are fixed in place with dowling and trunnels.


Then the plates are trimmed and planned on the edge
and the whole piece is sanded.


Both plates in place and sitting pretty.

Next up the masik, the last deck beam.

Deck beam mortises

Next the mortises for the eleven deck beams. All the joints are mortises that sit at 17º and
together with that each beam will sit against the curve of the gunwales this sounds like the
job for a new jig.


This jig keeps the holes 1cm down from the edge and the holes at 17º.


This is what is left to clean up after drilling with jig.

Then theres a bit of chiselling to clean up and square the joint
and finished off with a file heres our first deck mortise.


One down 21 to go :)