Posted by Jonathan Labaree on March 29, 2002 at 14:15:10 from 207.5.198.231:
In Reply to: Re: Thanks all . . . posted by Bob Hollis on March 29, 2002 at 05:38:11:
Actually, in the US the term "scarfing" also refers to making an overlapping joint -- at least it does in boatbuilding. An overlapping joint is called a scarf, a joint that's end-to-end is called a butt and, when used in planking, has a butt block behind it (on the inside of the hull). Scarfs are now quite common in planking while before the advent of epoxy and other strong glues, butt joints were more common for planking. You find scarf joints in keels, deadwood, and other large structural pieces dating back thousands of years. There was quite a good article in WoodenBoat a year or so ago about various scarf joints found in ancient ships. They weren't just simple matching slopes, but intricate notched affairs as well.