The Baidarka Building Process Illustrated

Hull Stringers and Keelson Lashing

After all the ribs are in place, we add stringers to the hull. But first, we want to center the keelson and lash it to the ribs. We want to space the hull stringers evenly on either side of the keelson, so we want to make sure the keelson is centered and lashed before we put on the hull stringers.

We are using a file to notch the keelson where the lashing will cross over it.

We are using a running lashing. This saves on knots and time over lashing each joint separately.

Side view of a lashed keelson to rib joint. Note the string hidden in the notch.

Top view of the lashing.

When we are done lashing the keelson to the ribs, we also lash it to the tail. As the boat flexes, the keelson moves so we don't want an overly tight lashing at this point.

The skin is very close to the lashings at this point, so to avoid lumps we don't use knots but use a wooden peg to secure the lashing.

At this point, we also trim the keelson to length

Hull stringers are 3/8" in cross section, roughly round. Length is the same as the gunwales, and generally, we cut them the same time as we cut the gunwales even though we don't need them right away.

Stringers are lashed to the ribs with a running lashing that starts near the gunwales and moves toward the keelson. The lashing is tied off with three half hitches.

Every fifth lashing or so is tied off around the gunwales. This helps to keep the ribs from pulling out of their mortises when the frame is moved around without a skin.

Once all the stringers are lashed, we trim them off at the bow.

And we trim them at the tail as well.

Deck Stringers and cockpit