A strake is a strip along the side of a boat made of panels, and can be seen in both clinker-built and carvel-built ships. The design of the strands is considered in advance for minimal waste and a uniform appearance. Boats need maintenance to prevent water ingress and maintain buoyancy.
A strake is a longitudinal strip along the side of a boat, usually built by laying panels end to end. Bars are important structural components of boats of all sizes and can be made of wood, metal, fiberglass, and other construction materials. When designing a boat, the arrangement of the strands is considered in advance to ensure that panels of the correct size and shape are cut, with the goal of minimal waste and a uniform, aesthetically pleasing appearance.
The strake can be seen in two different shipbuilding techniques. In a clinker-built ship, the panels are superimposed on each other to create the outer hull. This design was used by the Vikings to build highly durable ships with minimal weight. A carvel-built boat uses an internal frame to support a network of panels laid flush with each other. In each case, the bundle consists of a complete line of panels from end to end.
Typically, the design narrows and widens the strands along the hoof in response to the changing shape. Sometimes two legs are reduced to a single panel, called a crook, if the end of the boat is much smaller than the middle. Many boats have an additional panel at dock height to absorb shock and prevent hull damage during berthing procedures.
Some strands have special names, based on their position along the hull. The top strip is known as the sheer strip, while the panel next to the keel is the board strip. Boating companies may also use the term “strake” to refer to an added strip to increase control and speed. This is not an integral part of the hull, but an additional component that will stick out of the finished boat. These are usually found in the bottom of the boat and can reduce spray, a concern for some recreational boaters.
Throughout the life of a boat, it will need to be taken out of the water periodically to inspect and maintain the hull. This can include replacing worn and damaged panels along with scrubbing the entire boat and repainting to prevent water ingress. Poorly maintained boats will eventually start to take on water and lose their buoyancy. Damaged hulls may also be more vulnerable to catastrophic failure in rough seas and collisions due to their increased weakness and lack of structural support.
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