Apparently, clinker planking gets its name from a Scandinavian word, clinking – the sound made when iron nails were being hammered in to fix planks to the hull. We use copper nails now, that don’t ‘clink,’ but the etymology is interesting.

Our task, as we move on to ‘Small Boatbuilding’ is to plank up the hulls of the two Deck Boats, finishing at least one, so we can ‘fit out’ the hull with thwarts, and knees (brackets) etc.

Deck Boats like these were one of the smaller, if not the smallest boats ever commissioned by the Royal Navy. Originally from the northern coast of France, and used as fishing boats, the story goes that they found a role in WW2, transporting spies/commandos, and supplies, to and from ships to the shore. They would have been of carvel construction, but clinker is lighter and in keeping with the traditions at the time.

That switch from carvel to clinker brings some considerable difficulties as the turn of the bilge on these boats does not lend itself to clinker construction – as we are finding out!

We are learning a whole new load of terminology: Jerrolds, browing, broddling sticks …; and the associated techniques, including the use of twisted nails.

Of course (!) before putting on more planks, we had to remove some already in place, trying to get a better fit against the transverse moulds. Then, we could start to add new planks. We are supposed to do a practice plank in pairs, then do a test plank for the IBTC Diploma. However, the main goal is to get one of the boats fully planked for ‘fitting out.’

It seems as if it’s a bit of black magic, getting thin strakes to fit tightly against each other in a complex curved shape. How on earth can this be watertight?

The trick is to make the plank/strake fit like a glove, as if flopped on fluidly against there plank below. To get that fit, we use a spiling batten, which readily adopts the required position and shape, and then transfer the shape to a plank, and cut to size. Basically simple, but rather tricky at first.

Once the stock plank is cut to size, reduced in thickness to 9mm, a jerrold (type of joint) is planed in, so that at the bow and stern the planks form a smooth line, rather than a stepped profile.

The planks are steamed to help get them to fit at the bow.