Wale and Strake question

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Guns286

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Hello all. I’m in the process of scratch building a 17th century Frigate. This is my first time attempting this, so I’m sure I’ll have A LOT more questions.
Today I’m asking about wales and straks. I’m not sure of their exact placement on the hull and how many are supposed to go on. The attached picture is something I found online. The text with it said that straks are thicker then the regular planking and wales are thicker then straks. It appears like there is a strak on the top and bottom of the wale. They seem to be situated in line with the deck, just below where the deck gun ports are. Is this positioning and set up correct? I was under the impression that there should be 2 wales. One under the deck ports and one about an inch below that.
I’d appreciate any help.379AEC61-F11E-4827-9808-0B81906A366C.png
 
the sheer or curve of the wales don't in most cases follow the sheer of the deck.

you can see this on models where the port is cut into the wale
 
I see what you’re saying Dave. What determines the sweep of the wale then? Is it just the look that you want it to have? Or does it just follow the curve of the planks in the area that it’s in?
By the way, I’m following your Adventure Galley build log and am building one of my own. That is why I’m asking about the wales.
 
Guns286 said:
I see what you’re saying Dave. What determines the sweep of the wale then? Is it just the look that you want it to have? Or does it just follow the curve of the planks in the area that it’s in?
By the way, I’m following your Adventure Galley build log and am building one of my own. That is why I’m asking about the wales.
Click to expand...


Wales are set by the master shipwright who designed the ship and drew the plans. Exactly where they go and the sweep is a design element.
 
Wouldn´t they follow the widest ("thickest") lines of the hull? As they are meant to
a) protect the ship from any collision with an object..
b) stiffen the hull itself
they would be best at the most far "outwards" point of the centerline.
In that case the ships lines do determine the position and the sheer of the wales.

1685504334025-png.377104


What I am very much interested in:
I do understand the interlocking of those wale planks - where the planks have those "hook-like" appearance.
This is perfect for tension stress .. the stress would be transferred from one to the next plank.
But in case of pressure? In that case the beveled longer join between the pair of wales - would lead to a "spreading" of the wales. Why did they do that? What would be a mechanical (or any other?) reason to go for that design?
Anyone an idea?
 
Marcus.K. said:
a) protect the ship from any collision with an object..
b) stiffen the hull itself
Click to expand...
From Peter Goodwin's The Construction and Fitting of the English Man of War, page 53.
The purpose of these strakes was to stiffen the hull fore and aft in an attempt to overcome the problem of hogging...........they were not laid parallel to the gun deck but to the designed sheer of the ship........top and butt and anchor stock, these being preferred because of their strength and resistance to stress.
You wrote: But in case of pressure? In that case the beveled longer join between the pair of wales - would lead to a "spreading" of the wales. What pressure are you referring to? How would this cause the wales to spread when everything was treenailed in place? You may be right, but if you can explain with pictures or more text that would be super. Regarding the bevel are you speaking about the top edge of upper strake of the wales and lower edge of the bottom strake of the wales. See picture below
Thanks Marcus, your questions and help are very much appreciated

Allan
1736879338975.png
 
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