Striking The Planar Waterline (...continued)

     On December 23rd, I set out to strike Froonie's waterline.  In the previous post ("Staging For Striking The Planar Waterline"), I covered the process of setting-up for the striking of the waterline - a process using two timbers, at bow and stern, set to level at the desired waterline marks, that then supports a weighted length of string used to establish reference points on the hull itself.  The previous post provides a good description of the setup.

     In this post, I will cover the process that I undertook to establish the waterline - the point where the bottom paint will meet the topsides paint.  After thinking more about the option of adding a boot stripe, I have decided that a white boot stripe will no doubt look great separating the topsides from the bottom - that didn't take long to decide.  On to the striking of the waterline...

     Once I had the timbers and weighted string in place, I began with the port side waterline.  I manipulated the length of string on the timbers until I had just the slightest bit of the string touching the port hull amidship. At this point on the hull, I taped the string to the hull and made a pencil reference mark immediately above the string.  Next, I walked to the stern timber, moved the weighted string toward Froonie's centerline to just engage the string again to the hull side...tapped and marked this point.  Back the timber, I moved the string again a bit more toward the centerline of the boat to engage more of the string with the hull... tapped a marked.  I repeated this process until I had the waterline marked all the way to Froonie's centerline underneath her counter.  

     Next, I walked to the bow timber and moved this end of the weighted string to engage it with the hull just forward of my first tape and mark point amidship.  I repeated the process of moving the string ever closer to the centerline to engage it with the hull, tapping and marking reference points until I had reached the bow.  This completed the port side waterline; now to replicate the process for the starboard waterline - hoping both waterline's meet up with one another at bow and stern!  I mentioned in the previous post that I used lengths of chain at the tag ends of the string (both bow and stern) for weighting.  The chain allowed for the string to engage the hull at various angles, as I could extend the chain on the ground in the general direction the string was pointing as it lay against the hull.

     Feeling good about how easy the process was unfolding, I jumped right in to finish up the starboard waterline.  Again, I started amidship and worked toward Froonie's stern, returned to amidship to complete the forward section.  Here's where I got a little cocky and ended up having to repeat a majority of the starboard line.  On my first attempt  at the starboard waterline, I ended at the bow about a quarter-inch higher than the port side waterline.  I immediately lectured myself for working too fast and being careless, and then removed roughly 75% of the starboard waterline string, solvent washed the pencil reference points to remove them from the hull, and proceeded to concentrate on striking a good waterline for the starboard side.  Within a few minutes, I had met the starboard side bow line with the port side line...coming in matched up nicely.

     Here is a picture of the counter (stern section) showing the port and starboard waterline references meeting at Froonie's centerline.  It was nice to finally see some hull definition once again...looking forward to painting the topsides!

     In the picture below, the starboard and port waterlines are meeting nicely at the bow.  I reviewed the waterline from many points around Froonie - port and starboard - and everything look generally level and fluid bow to stern.  I did notice a few sections (maybe two) where the string appeared to take a acute upward path, or downward slope.  I knew that I could fair these slight "bumps" out when I applied the tape line.  All in all, the process for striking the waterline came out great, and I am pleased with the results.   Next will be to apply the tape line for first coat of topsides paint.