It is planed up, without a rabbet, and to it the stem a and stern b are screwed. It is planed up, the grain pointing aft, as described for a cedar canoe, and is fitted to the scarf of stem, and screwed temporarily to stern, keel and stern, as it must be removed when the canvas is put on. These notches should not be cut across the rabbets. Strips of oak or ash l l , are now nailed lightly to the moulds, five or six being used on each side, and the jogs d d marked and cut in stem and stern to receive their ends, which, like the gunwales, are secured with screws or rivets to the deadwoods. They are planed up, steamed or soaked in boiling water until quite pliable, and then are taken one by one, bent over the knee, and while still hot the middle nailed down to the keel, and then each ribband in turn.
Care is necessary to keep the ribbands fair, without hollows or lumps.
After all the ribs are in they must be looked over and faired up, the nails being drawn out, if necessary, after which a copper nail is driven through each rib and ribband where they cross, and riveted, making a very strong and elastic frame. When this is in, the deck beams o may be fitted. The frame is now taken from the stocks, and all corners that might cut the canvas are smoothed and rounded off, then it is painted all over. The canvas should be hard and closely woven, wide enough to reach from gunwale to gunwale. The frame is first turned upside down, the outer keel removed, and the middle of the canvas fastened along the keel, with a few tacks, then it is turned over, and the canvas drawn tightly over the gunwales.