Beetlecat Pictures
Above and below: Slings and required rigging for lifting and turning the boat over prior to repairs. Use great care in choosing and installing the hardware for this operation!
Note in photo below sufficient cushions under the boat; the boat will be raised and layed on edge on the cushions prior to being “tipped” over in the slings. The stem scarf is located just aft of the curve of the bow below the waterline. Yes, it falls directly under the mast step!
The splining process requires fitting the spline so it is tight on the inside and allows enough space for cotton caulking. Once satisfied with the fit, the spline is glued to the edge of the plank using a series of small wedges. Do not butt the joints of a spline; a tapered and glued scarf is preferable.
Photo below shows a typical reefed and damaged seam far too open to caulk. This seam will require splining. Note layers of bottom paint not quite stripped.
The splining process requires fitting the spline so it is tight on the inside and allows enough space for cotton caulking. Once satisfied with the fit, the spline is glued to the edge of the plank using a series of small wedges. Do not butt the joints of a spline; a tapered and glued scarf is preferable.
Some splitting of the cedar bottom planking was encountered. The splits were routed to a depth of roughly a third of the thickness of the plank, the engraver piece was subsequently fabricated, fit, and glued thus avoiding possible leakage through the split. Note the seam spline installed and cut flush.
