In compression, the plank skin of a caravel hull spreads the loads of crashing waves directly through the fasteners to the underlying timbers. The fastening schedules and timber structure must be strong enough to hold the planks against their own compression forces and against the wracking forces of the seaway. These wracking forces include the loads centered on mast, oar locks, and engines, as well as wave action and grounding. Building a boat begins with the choice of design or type. With the design in hand we need to choose and find materials for the required parts.
Different designs require different setups.
We need the space to build. We need the dry strong stock for the molded structural elements, and fresh sawn green stock for steam bending. We need lofting space and mold stock if we are building a boat that requires lofting and molds. Plans in hand and lofting done, the backbone parts are made, fastened together, and set up with whatever molds are required for the hull we are building. Every boat and builder is different.