Preparing the frames for the gussets

Today's tasks was to prepare the gussets to be mounted to the frames. I began by taking each frame piece, previously marked as left or right hand side or bottom. They were also marked with their orientation. If it was a side, which direction was up and if a bottom piece, which direction to the centerline.

Taking a side piece and its mating bottom frame piece, they were aligned and the gusset placed in it's proper position to hold them together.



Marks were laid out where to place the ring nails, making sure to avoid placing any nails either in the chine strip area or too close to the edge where it could interfere in the beveling process.

The drill was prepared, the frame pieces butted and the gusset correctly positioned. I began to drill 7 to 8 pilot holes per gusset to help make quick work out of gluing and nailing the gussets to the frames.



This particular frame is a little different but serves to illustrate the drilling of the pilot holes.

When the final gluing and nailing is to take place, I can take some slightly smaller diameter nails and use them to properly position and align the gussets after I apply the glue and just prior to nailing the gussets in place.



In preparation for the final assembly of the frames. I chose to rip four eight foot 2X4's in half to use as "spreaders" for the frames. The spreaders will give the frame rigidity during the assembly of the hull, and, because I am building the boat upside down, they will help me attach the frame to the building foundations that I will construct as soon as all the frames are ready!