Building a Glued Lapstrake Tirrik

Page 13: The Ridge Pole

The Tirrik's ridge pole

The buyers of this boat asked that we build a ridge pole for the boat, so that they could keep the boat under cover when not in use.

The ridge pole slips over the stems

The pole has two slots mortised into each end of a length of Sitka Spruce. These holes slip over the stems at each end of the boat.

The leather protects the paint against chafe

The holes are leathered to prevent chafing on the paint.

The central support for the ridge pole fits over the centerboard trunk

A removable central suport is tenoned into the ridge pole, and fits over the centerboard trunk.

The finished cover

The owners had this cover custom made.