Sistering in Ballard......

Here's a neat solution to sister framing - usually sister frames are laminated in place (several 1/4" - 3/8" thin oak strips glued together) adjacent to the defective frame (since it's is nearly impossible to install a whole sister frame). Here in Ballard - there appears to be an interesting alternative to laminated sister frames -my survey of a old 1949 Grandy Monk had sister frames installed several years ago - first...the shipwright sawed one piece oak frames of the correct dimensions with a slight bevel on one end in his workshop - took them down to the boat (moored on the Lake Washington Ship Canal) - tied them together, threw the lot into the water - and soaked for a couple of weeks. In the meantime - he removed the covering boards - exposing the frame heads at the sheer - and when the time was right - placed the water soaked (and now flexible) sister frame next to the damaged frame with the bevel against the inner hull surface. Using a large hammer - he drove them down into the hull(bending,contained by shoring and therefore comforming to the curvature of the hull)until they hit home - then fastened in place - and viola - the damaged frame was now sistered.

The phots show the old - damaged frames with sister frames....now 20 years later - the sisters are in good shape - but the leaking side decks has caused a visit by Mr Rot.......