Offsets
- Thread starter Bill T
- Start date
JeffCassat
Active member
someone that is more knowledgeable might be able to explain it better, but basically you draw lines every X inches on the wood... then each of those is numbered. You'll then have a list of what your offset should be at each station line. so basically you might get a 1.) 13.5", 2.) 4.6" etc etc... and those amount to how far you should measure up your station line from a certain point, make a mark, and then later use a batten to connect all your points. i only mentioned it in the original post because a lot of plans are either full set, or have parallel lines for the sides (in the case of the uncle john's plans). I know the first time i opened plans that had offsets, i wasn't prepared and it took me a minute to figure out what the heck they were talking about.
if it helps any.. i glanced over the bluebill plans and to me, the offsets make absolutely no sense. One of these days, i'll READ them and figure out what they are getting at... or i might ask here (much quicker
)
Jeff
if it helps any.. i glanced over the bluebill plans and to me, the offsets make absolutely no sense. One of these days, i'll READ them and figure out what they are getting at... or i might ask here (much quicker
)Jeff
Bill Burruss
Well-known member
On Sam's plans, offsets correspond to 1 foot station lines (with a minor exception). Every foot you draw a line (so a 4x16 foot board would have 15 lines on it). Each station has a corresponding offstet. Offsets are listed in the format: feet-inches-eights. So (2-1-4) would be 2 feet, 1 inch, 4 eights, which equates to 2 foot 1-1/2 inch. Once you mark each offset, you put a small nail in it and bend a flexible "batton" to make a smooth line connecting the dots. Trace, and you have the shape of the part to cut out.
The exception on the 1 foot stations is that since the two ends of a bottom/side panel may not be square, there may be additional "in-between" stations. This really is hard to describe with words and easy to visualize with plans in hand.
Again, 4x12 sheets WILL work for a Broadbill, which equates to 3 sheets of ply (you still need one more sheet of 1/2" for bulkheads). Layout of the sides/hull uses less than 11 feet of 4-by, but you will need to be careful on the "remanants" as they are used for the top deck. You only loose the length of one scarf joint length (because they overlap), which is not a problem.
Check out Eric P.'s "Building Devlin's Scaup"- it really is instructiona.
-Bill
The exception on the 1 foot stations is that since the two ends of a bottom/side panel may not be square, there may be additional "in-between" stations. This really is hard to describe with words and easy to visualize with plans in hand.
Again, 4x12 sheets WILL work for a Broadbill, which equates to 3 sheets of ply (you still need one more sheet of 1/2" for bulkheads). Layout of the sides/hull uses less than 11 feet of 4-by, but you will need to be careful on the "remanants" as they are used for the top deck. You only loose the length of one scarf joint length (because they overlap), which is not a problem.
Check out Eric P.'s "Building Devlin's Scaup"- it really is instructiona.
-Bill
Last edited: