Hull Assembly Methods

We use different panel assembly methods for our stitch and glue and composite boats: from the simple sharpie to the basket mold for larger hulls. You can use almost any method for any boat but each system has its advantages and is better fitted to a certain type of boat.

Sharpie method: Well adapted to the building of small boats, very easy and fast.

Basket mold: For short production runs of small boats: ideal for professional building of small boats

Traditional building: Around molds on strong backs: for those who learned boat building the traditional way . . .

Self Aligning Jig System: Fast power boats require a straight running bottom and should be build on a jig. Our system makes it easier with self-aligning stringers and frames.

Baseline Building: Planking around molds, molds are on deck or cockpit sole. Very fast and easy but requires a boat designed for that method. Used for the Phantoms and OD16.

Basket mold for one-off building of larger hull: Build a large hull without complicated set up. Requires accurately developed panels drawings.

The Sharpie Method
The sides are wrapped around a mold or, as in this case, a mid-frame

The Basket Mold
For short production runs of small boats, our basket mold system is ideal:

• No fasteners
• Fast assembly
• Low cost
  
  
  

The Jig Method
Building the traditional way on a jig is also possible and made much easier: no lofting and all panel dimensions are given on the plans. No need to bevel, no delicate assemblies.

Self Aligning Jig System
This method is derived from the traditional building on a jig method but uses precisely cut notches shown on our plans.

Molds (=frames) and stringers interlock and automatically correct possible alignment mistakes. Very little bracing or leveling is required and the assembly progresses very fast.

See detailed description of this method in separate tutorial.

The Baseline Method
Using the deck as the base for frames and stringers. The frames are used as molds and cut later to frame dimensions.

Using the cockpit sole as the base. The stringers are in the keel (not visible). The frames are used as molds and cut later to frame dimensions.

A Vagabond+ hull taking shape

A Serpentaire hull with very visible stitches . . .

Note the spreaders that keep the panels in the proper shape.