Completing the Boat

19. Seat Risers

A single 8” pine board (about 7³⁄ 8” wide) sawn into short lengths will make the seat risers, which do double duty by stiffening the boat’s sides. Cut the seat support notches beforehand if you’re sure of their location, or after installation with the aid of a marking batten. The forward pair of risers twist appreciably from top to bottom and call for laminating in place out of three ¹⁄ 4”-thick layers, or otherwise shaping them from thicker pieces that, when placed to fit against the boat’s sides, will end up a uniform ³⁄ 4”. Either epoxy or 3M 5200 can be used to glue the seat risers to the sides, with temporary drywall screws providing the squeeze.

20. Decks and Trim

Short bow and stern decks, glued and screwed to the sides, avoid having to fit quarter knees and a breasthook. They can be either cedar or pine—the leavings from the bottom, perhaps. A transom crown piece provides protection against chafe as well as simplifying construction. For this, a spruce 2 x 4, cut to the appropriate shape, works fine. It, too, should be epoxied in place as well as screwed.

Plan Detail: Transom

9 • BUILDING THELUMBERYARDSKIFF