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Problem attaching stringers to bow and stern
Thomas Burke
6/23/2023 1:08 PM

Hi

Building a B.K 22 15' 2 person Kayak by Percy Blandford.

The build is coming along great but recently hit a snag attaching stringers to bow and stern. Stringers are 1/2 x 3/4 inches of Western Red Cedar. The stringers are highly resistant to any twist. There are 3 stringers on each side. I feel I can twist the stringer closest to the gunwale, but the middle and bottom most stringers will not twist more than maybe 5-6 degrees. The bottom most stringer (adjacent to keel) needs to twist easily 90 degrees in order to end up parallel to the vertical bow/stern. The length from the bow to the 1st rib is only about 28". I am fastening with #7 and #8 brass screws and epoxie.


I can only see 2 options:


1 - Wet or steam an 18" mid section, in order to obtain the twist. Might work for the 2nd stringer, but don't see a possibility of twisting the keel rib that far. Already broke one twisting only about 10 degrees and have repaired it.


2 - Attach 2 of the gunwale stringers by twisting parallel to the bow/keel. The other two can be attached without twisting at all and planing the outside square edge parallel to the bow/keel and reinforcing each of these stringers from the inside to make up for thickness and strength loss....


I will try to attach a picture that clearly shows the issue as soon as I can find out how to do that...


Thank you. I have found the expertise here excellent... Any advise will be welcomed... Tom

Christopher Crowhurs
6/23/2023 1:18 PM
Soaking to saturate the wood, this will help transmit the heat quickly deep into the wood, them steaming or a heat gun. Then twist away!

Tony Schmitz
6/23/2023 3:50 PM
Something recommended by the guy at Laughing Loon kayaks is to get out the old heat gun and blast away for a while before bending. In my experience this actually works, though of course your mileage may vary., 

David Dawson
6/23/2023 4:26 PM
This is how I do it, but getting that much twist won't be easy. I grab the end of the stringer with a short bar clanp for leverage and apply torque and heat at the same time. It becomes obvious where more heat is needed as the wood begins to give.
-Dave



Sent from my Galaxy


Something recommended by the guy at Laughing Loon kayaks is to get out the old heat gun and blast away for a while before bending. In my experience this actually works, though of course your mileage may vary., 

Thomas Burke
8/8/2023 1:01 AM

Re: Twisting Western Red Cedar stringers


Previous posts asked how to twist the stringers to be parallel with the bow and stern. Having soaked for multiple days and applying heat made no difference. Not sure if the cedar I have is kiln or air dried, bur know it was dried. Bending just a few degrees ended up in immediate splitting with absolutely no warning.


Solution found: Since it was only about 30" of length, made the job even harder. I purchased a Wagner steam machine, a 24" length of 3" stove pipe and 2 - 3" pvc fernco's. I cut the rectangular stringer profiles in each of the fernco's. Steamed for easy bends 1 hour, the nearly 90 degree bends for 1.5 hours. Twisted easily. No cracking at all. Let the stringer set slightly more than the twist needed for 24 hours.


Fantastic tip possibly someone else may benefit from.


Thank you... Tom Burke Glens Falls, N.Y. Making 15' BK 22 via Percy Blandford design.

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