The most important single operation in connection with the planking is without doubt the lining. Upon the man who does this work, called the finer, depends not only the ease or difficulty as the case may be with which the planking goes on, but very often the neat and shipshape appearance of the vessel itself. Poor fining will make hard planking and in addition generally spoils the appearance of the vessel through having seams running in unfair fines.

For the purpose of illustration a definite problem has been assumed.

The first step in lining is the selection of the frame having the greatest girth from keel rabbet to the uppermost deck fine. This is often done on the loft floor, in which case the strakes of planking may then be laid out full size on the selected frame as shown in Fig. 152. This figure shows the frame of greatest girth in a shelter deck vessel, and it will be noted that the uppermost strake, called the sheer strake, is above the deck line, and is not treated as a strake of planking. It would therefore be without taper fore and aft. If, however, it is desired to taper the sheer strake in the same proportion as the other planking it should be figured in the girth.

It should be further noted that this figure shows diagonal planking. If diagonal strapping is used the planks would be laid off on the frame proper. The widths are laid off on the outside of the planking.

Planking in general may be divided into two groups. The first would be the bottom planking, including the garboards, the strakes of which are run either with no taper or an irregular taper, and which are called here untapered planking. The second group, comprising the balance of the hull planking is generally run with a uniform taper, and is here called tapered planking. The point where the change is made from the untapered to the tapered planking is largely a matter of choice and judgment with the liner, and cannot be definitely fixed by any rule. In this problem all of the garboard and bottom plank are considered as untapered and they occupy 190 inches of the total girth of 624 inches leaving 434 inches for the tapered strakes. This, of course, at the greatest girth.

Having laid out the planking as above indicated, and tentatively fixed the point of change from the untapered to the tapered planking, the liner will then estimate the amount of room required by the tapered planking at the ends of ship.

Generally, tapered strakes may have a total taper from their widest point to the ends of the ship of from 1« to 3 inches depending upon the shape of the hull. The taper at the stem, will as a rule be less than that at the extreme stern, but will probably be more than the taper measured at a point abreast the stern post. In this problem it is assumed that the liner has tentatively decided upon a minimum width of 5« inches at the stem and 6¬ inches abreast the stern post, for the 7« inch strakes. Since all of the tapered planking is assumed to have a uniform taper, or percentage of taper, the corresponding width of the entire belt of tapered planking at the two points may be quickly estimated.

Now, 5« inches are roughly 73 percent of 7« inches and 6¬ inches are roughly 83 percent of 7« inches. The the total girth occupied by the tapered strakes in Fig. 152, the widest point, is 434 inches. Seventy-three percent of 434 inches is approximately 316 inches, hence with the above assumed taper the lower edge of the tapered planking would land 316 inches down from the deck line at the stem. Again, 83 percent of 434 inches is approximately 360 inches, and this would be the distance down from the deck line abreast the stern post for the lower edge of the taper planking.

If, after measuring 316 inches down from the deck line at the stem, the remaining distance to top of the keel, is 190 inches or less the taper assumed forward may generally be used. The distance remaining to the top of the keel at the stern post after measuring 360 inches down from the deck line, may very likely be more than 190 inches, which will not indicate that the taper cannot be used, but that a stealer, or possibly more than one, will have to be fitted as shown in Fig. 153. The amount of taper which can, or should, be used on the tapered planking at the stern depends greatly upon the shape of the stern. Very often it is necessary to bring the planking lines up to the tuck very sharply, in order that the tapered plank above may not have too much edge set, and in such cases the liner may disregard the tapered planking at the stern until such time as he sees that the planking will run fair into the tuck on a natural line - a natural line being one that requires little or no edge setting of the plank.

Having established the points at the stem and the stern post which he will attempt to reach with the untapered planking the liner will proceed to run in the garboards and bottom planking, lining, or laying out, each strake individually on the frames. He will in all probability spile the garboard hoods, to throw their upper edges on a more natural line. The balance of the strakes included in untapered planking he will either run with slight taper, no taper, or with stealers as may be required to reach the point where the tapered planking can begin. Each strake will be so lined as to keep it in the most natural position and for that reason they will most likely vary considerable in taper at the ends. Spilings will be taken only where absolutely necessary. After the untapered planking is all on, the line where the taper planking begins should be practically a natural line. The planking will then be at the stage shown in Fig. 153.