HOWB 106 – Interview the Expert | Boat School Instructor Bruce Blatchley on Strip Planked Boat Building - 10.03.13

Today’s podcast is an interview with Strip Planked building expert Bruce Blatchley, instructor at the NW School of Wooden Boat Building in Port Hadlock, WA. This is the fourth of my Interview The Expert series of podcasts focused on 6 methods of boatbuilding: Carvel, Lapstrake, Cold Molded, Stitch and Glue, Strip Planked, and Skin-on-Frame.

With Strip Planked construction, a strongback (think of backbone) is constructed first and then molds (section shapes) are attached perpendicular to the strongback. The edges of the molds are beveled to the correct angle for each station in the hull. Next, the transom keel and stem are attached to the strongback, and narrow strips of wood (commonly cedar) are laid over the mold and glued to each other edge to edge. Once completely planked, the hull is faired and then sheathed with fiberglass cloth.

During the interview, Bruce discusses the following points on Strip Planked construction:

Description and history

Skill level required to utilize this method

Cost of this method versus other building methods Time to build versus other methods

Special tools and materials required

Pros and cons

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You can contact me at [email protected] to share you comments, feedback, stories, and wooden boat adventures.

Keep the bright side up and the barnacled side down - Wooden Boat Dan over and out :D

PS  Please note this podcast was recorded several years ago - some of the links, email addresses, phone numbers, and promos mentioned are outdated and no longer valid.