Boat decking

May I enquire from the Forum whether deck planking should run fore and aft or abeam or maybe both. (I hope that I have got the terminology right but the little I know about boats I picked up from Hornblower books).

Mick

Deck planking runs fore & aft on all the boats I've ever seen.

Generally fore and aft.

On many, following the curve of the deck edge. For the brave and talented, meeting in joggles at the king plank in the middle.

Some launches had diagonal deck planking, but I've never seen pictures of deck planling going across. When you think about it, the beams holding the deck up run across, so the planks that they support won't.

Thank you gents. . In my case it would be easier to fix cross beam planking but it would look pretty silly so I thought it best to check.

Mick

fore/aft planking has been the way since pre roman times...…….it is done that way to add integrity and strength to the hull, which if planked across the beam would have no longitudinal strength at all, and on a real ship would break in two in a strong wind.

hi there

yes, deck planking in general does run fore and aft on the majority of sailing craft etc., but , like everything else in this world - there are 1 or 2 exceptions. Funnily enough 2 exceptions that spring to mind are The Russian round warship and also I recall seeing a model - I believe it may have been in Newcastle upon Tyne museum of a turret ship which was built in Sunderland and I am sure if my memory serves me right - there was part of the deck planking that went across the ship between the holes in the model. To be 100% certain I will have to look to see if the model is still on display - I need to find some pics of the deck and hatches.

John

Edited By John W E on 23/07/2020 17:28:03

Love the round Russian! It had six props or more..if memory serves.

My flying saucer steers quite well with its centre pump outlet and a big rudder. Wonder how the round Russian would steer with six props and...dontquote me....just the centre rudder??

Ashley

I bet Ashley will build a round Russian next week and make it plane going sideways. Or maybe just astern.

George

The round Russian is a beauty.....but what is the flag she is flying?

Mick