hillyard rebuild

[pirate]

still rebuilding 7 ton hillyard but have now reached a point where some advice wouldnt go amiss.have replaced rotten floors and mast step and now need to replace numerous cracked frames.i have removed the coverboards on port side
ready to lower new timbers in.my main concern is the gaps between the planks where the boat is dry!from reading the books it would appear the next step is to rake all of the seams
remove every other timber to allow the planks to be pulled back together with straps and then steam in and fasten new timbers!!at certain parts of the hull there is a 1/4 inch gap between planks and at others no gap at all.the boat has been re caulked before which i think may have caused the problem.
if i do tighten the planks back together (remembering they are dry)will they swell when wet to a greater extent than when the boat was built in 1930 and crack frames?if you think its ok to pull all the planks back until the inside edges just touch then i know how to carry on.thanks for any advice

 

[pirate]

any thoughts?

 

[Wansworth]

My only useful thought would be to finfd a wooden boat surveyer to advise on the spot.I had a Mashford 4tonner with gaps between planks in places after being ashore but I just renewed some of the timbers and recalked and it took up no problem.Sometimes in theoriginal costruction in fitting the planks there may of been occassional slipsin craftmanship!

 

[Mirelle]

Sorry. I was hoping that someone with more knowledge than I would answer.

I agree with Mogy; this looks like a case where an expert taking a look would perhaps be the best answer. I certainly agree that the seams should be raked out; as for pulling the planks together, I am not sure. I would be rather more inclined to spline the worst seams, but frankly I am out of my depth.

 

[Peterduck]

One of the things that you might try before spending some serious money is to get a strip of steel, say 3/4" x 1/8" to use as a fairing batten. Hold it vertically against the planking at the point where there is a gap, say the 1/4" one that you wrote of. Is there a slight bump in the planking at that point? This may indicate over-caulking and a possible consequent weakening of the frame at that point. This would also show if the hull has to be "brought in" at that point or not. While you're at it you could check the rest of the hull, too.
Peter.