We have a plan!

After a short wait I received the items that I ordered from Duck Trap Woodworking. The package included 3 sheets with scale drawings and a full size lofting of the hull on a 12' roll of paper.  At first glance it is obvious that the originals were hand drafted, cool!  These might end up on my wall when I'm done with them:

The scaled sheets each include a table of offsets, a boatbuilding standard for describing points of the hull based off of reference lines in various cross sections.  This would allow a well meaning builder to plot out the full size lofting based on these points.  A full size drawing is essential before any construction begins because it confirms that the hull shape will work and becomes a template for moulds and other components.  In my case I chose to purchase the lofting done for me, I consider it well worth the expense as I can begin building moulds immediatly and I am confident in the accuracy of my templates.  If anyone else is reading this and facing the same decision, my advice is pull the trigger on the full size lofting if it is available!

The full scale lofting describes the hull in the 3 most crucial views: Half Breadth (Top view), Profile (Side view), and the Body sections (cross sections at regular intervals.  Imagine a slice of bread related to the loaf it was cut from). 

WORD OF THE DAY:

Scantlings: The dimensions and sizes of all wooden structural parts used in building a vessel. 

Go ahead kiddies, use that one around the dinner table tonight.

The plans also listed the necessary scantlings which means I can start looking at some wood... But that's another day.