Webmaster Edit: Moved from Issue 61 and Pete's Catamatan' post]
Karlis K wrote:
I have a technical query about Pete Hill's tabernacle design,
the photo of Speedwell's tabernacle on page 32 does not match
the technical drawing on page 33. The drawing does not have the
box foot taper evident in the photo. I'm curious about the
taper details. Is the foot tapered in two dimensions (square
foot) or one (rectangular foot)? Are the box stave lengths bent
or scarfed together with a angle?
David Tyler replied:
I don't think there's a hard and fast rule about this. As Pete
says, he builds a mast first, and then builds a tabernacle to
suit it. I would guess that he tapered Speedwell's tabernacle
to reduce its bulk below, and to get it to land on the top of
the keel neatly. Such thick wood would have to be steamed to
bend it, I think, though maybe a powerful clamp is enough to
pull the sides in. There's nothing to pull against, to pull the
back into a curve. I'm not sure that scarphing is a good idea,
I would rather have the sides and back running straight
through. I've only made two small wooden tabernacles, for a
dinghy and a dayboat, but from that experience, I would say to
keep the sides parallel unless there's a good reason not to.
Peter Scandling said:
If you have a read of Shirley's website
here, she explaiins
that one side was tapered to allow easier access in the
forepeak. There is a detailed piece about her boat refit on
the site.