Frames
A frame lies across a boat. It is made up of several pieces of timber. Its base, over the keel, is called a floor. In each side, there is a futtock that overlaps the floor. Together, these pieces are known as a 'frame'
Click on the photos to enlarge them...
A flexible mould (vrangbue) is used to take the shape of the ship, precisely there where the floor timbers should lie.
The crooked oak timber is chosen so that the fibres follow the line of the flexible mould, and therefore also that of the ship itself
When the fibres follow the shape of the timber, it greatly adds to the strength of the finished floor timber
The ship's shape is plotted directly onto the timber, which is then sawn using a band saw
When the timber fits, the upper edge is cut, so that it can be secured
Bulkheads are a type of 'gable' or plate inside the boat, and therefore they require straight-grown rather than crooked timber
Futtocks are also laid so that the wood's fibres follow the lines of the finished piece
After the plank has been planed to the correct thickness, it is adjusted to the fit the boat's shape, taking account for any small cracks or flaws in the wood
A special bevel gauge is used to make sure the timber maintains the same angle from the lowest to the uppermost planks
The futtock is drawn up and cut on the band saw, now there are just a few small adjustments to the made, before it fits to the boat
The whole frame can now be seen; the floor against the keel with a futtock on either side