Double diagonal planking-cloth between ?--HELP!

[ErikBenson]

I am replacing some double diagonal planks on my Fast Motor Dinghy , and need to know what the Admiralty meant by _ "oiled unbleached sheeting " and where I can get some .
Please help.

 

[2nd_apprentice]

Common practice on lifeboats: oiled calico cloth between the skins

 

[Peterduck]

Unbleached cotton may be difficult to find in these affluent times. I had no difficulty getting some here in Melbourne, but that's not likely to be a great help to you. Ask at a shop which sells fabrics or bed linen, but make sure that you ask someone over 50 years old. The pretty teeny-bopper fresh from school won't know what you're talking about. Unbleached cotton is substantially stronger than the bleached variety. The oil would, of course, be Linseed. Stockholm Tar could also be added to it to good effect.
Peter.

 

[2nd_apprentice]

You can get all you need here:

SKB Sails Limited
The Sail Loft
Commercial Road
Penryn
Cornwall


telephone: +44 (0)1326 372107
email: info@skbsails.com
fax: +44 (0)1326 373792

 

[trouville]

I got my cloth in Stockholm at a price perhaps not worse than UK I can look up the address if your interested,Great shop,board people high prices

 

[ErikBenson]

Thanks guys, . . .how about Duradon ?

 

[Skents]

Way back in my youth, when I was a boat building apprentice (not long after dinosaurs roamed the earth) - we built a pinnace for the Admiralty (triple diagonal construction) and we used calico soaked in linseed oil between the planking. The smell was wonderful and every night you would go home with hands soaked in the stuff.

However....riveting a triple diagonal boat was a nightmare...just so many nails.

 

[ErikBenson]

Yes,. . .the rivets await me . . .! I am contemplating leaving out the cloth and just using 3M5200 between. . . . .any comments on that ? mind you 5200 is a difficult thing to find here in France if you are not a 'professional' boat builder

 

[misty56]

Speak to these guys-- heartily recommended.

http://www.whaleys-bradford.ltd.uk

BTW what you want is "loomstate" cotton-- ie unprocessed.