Gussets and Ribs 2024-12-13

[Richard Lathrop]

Richard Lathrop submitted a new resource:

Gussets and Ribs - Creating Gussets and installing ribs

Once the side planks are installed it was time to make up the gussets for the rib assemblies. The plans call for a gusset on each side of the ribs notched to accept the keelson. I drafted the gusset in Fusion360 and cut the gussets on my CNC router. The gussets could easily be made on a table saw or with a jig saw. There are 10 ribs so I cut out 20 of the keelson gussets. The text and the plans are different. The plans state 1/4" gussets but the text says 3/8". I plan to fiberglass...

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[Eric Patterson]

Richard

You mentioned you half-lapped the gussets instead of scabbing them on the ribs (your way will make it stronger). In the last picture it looks like the gusset is sitting on top the rib face and not flush. What am I missing?

 

[Richard Lathrop]

Eric,

The gusset sits on the rib face since the rib is 3/4" wide and is half lapped to the 1" rib riser. I half lapped on the 1" rib riser so the gusset would be level across the face. If you look at the midships section on the resource the Ribs are 3/4" wide by 1" deep, the Rib Risers are 1" square. I half lapped to account for the differences in width.

Successful Waterfowling page 135 paragraph 2. "Ribs and deck frames are connected at stations 1 to 10 with 3/4" to 1" rib risers (see midship section) and joined by small 1/4" plywood gussets glued and screwed (only one gusset to each joint) "

The issue is the difference in width between the ribs (3/4" by 1") and the deck frames (1"). The rib risers act as adapters to the different widths.

Rick