# Strake

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{{Short description|Structure in watercraft construction}}
{{otheruses}}
[[File:Gokstadskipet1.jpg|thumb|A clinker-built Viking [longship](/source/longship), whose overlapping planks constitute "strakes".]]
thumb|right|Garboard strakes and related near-keel members
right|thumb|Diagram of typical modern metal-hulled ship’s exterior plating, with a single strake highlighted in red

On a vessel's [hull](/source/Hull_(watercraft)), a '''strake''' is a longitudinal course of [planking](/source/Plank_(wood)) or [plating](/source/Plate_(metal)) which runs from the boat's [stempost](/source/stem_(ship)) (at the [bows](/source/Bow_(watercraft))) to the [sternpost](/source/stern) or [transom](/source/transom_(nautical)) (at the rear). The '''garboard''' strakes are the two immediately adjacent to the [keel](/source/keel) on each side.

The word derives<ref>[Oxford English Dictionary](/source/Oxford_English_Dictionary) -"Strake" (from Old English "{{lang|ang|streccan}}", stretch), ''nautical'': each of the several continuous lines of planking or plates, of uniform breadth, in the side of a vessel, extending from stem to stern. Hence, the breadth of a plank used as a unit of vertical measurement of a ship's side,(late Middle English).</ref><ref>[Collins English Dictionary](/source/Collins_English_Dictionary) - "Strake" (also called "streak") ''nautical'': one of a continuous range of planks or plates forming the side of a vessel.</ref> from  traditional wooden [boat building](/source/boat_building) methods, used in both [carvel](/source/Carvel_(boat_building)) and [clinker](/source/clinker_(boat_building)) construction. In a metal ship, a strake is a course of plating. 

==Construction==
In small boats strakes may be single continuous pieces of wood. In larger wooden vessels strakes typically comprise several planks which are either [scarfed](/source/scarf_joint), or [butt-jointed](/source/Butt_joint) and reinforced with a butt block.  Where the transverse sections of the vessel's shape are fuller, the strakes are wider; they taper toward the ends.

In a [riveted](/source/Rivet) steel ship, the strakes were usually lapped and joggled (one strake given projections to match indentions in the one adjoining),<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ward |first1=Cheryl A. |title=The philosophy of shipbuilding : conceptual approaches to the study of wooden ships |date=2004 |publisher=Texas A & M University Press |location=City of College Station |isbn=9781585443130 |page=18 |edition=1st}}</ref> but where a smoother finish was sought they might be riveted on a butt strap, though this was weaker. In modern welded construction, the plates are normally butt-welded with full penetration welds all round to adjoining plates within the strake and to adjoining strakes.

== Terminology ==
In boat and ship construction, strakes immediately adjacent to either side of the [keel](/source/keel) are known as the ''garboard strakes'' or ''A strakes''. The next two are the first broad or ''B'' strake and second broad or ''C'' strake. Working upward come the bottom strakes, lowers, bilge strakes, topside strakes, and uppers also named sequentially as the ''D'' strake, ''E'' strake, etc. The uppermost along the topsides is called the sheer strake.<ref>{{cite book |title =Principles of Naval Engineering |publisher =[United States Government Publishing Office](/source/United_States_Government_Publishing_Office) |date =1970 |location =[Washington, D.C.](/source/Washington%2C_D.C.) |page =19 }}</ref>   Strakes are joined to the [stem](/source/stem_(ship)) by their hood ends.<ref>[http://www.surveyorsforhire.com/boat_facts/general_wood_boat_information  General wooden boat information]</ref>

A rubbing strake was traditionally built in just below a [carvel](/source/Carvel_(boat_building)) sheer strake.  It was much less broad but thicker than other strakes so that it projected and took any rubbing against piers or other boats when the boat was in use. In [clinker](/source/Clinker_(boat_building)) boats, the rubbing strake was applied to the outside of the sheer strake. Many current pleasure craft reflect this history in that they have a mechanically attached (and therefore replaceable) rub rail at the location formerly occupied by a rubbing strake, often doubling to cover the joint between a [GRP hull](/source/Boat_building) and its innerliner. [Inflatable](/source/Inflatable_boat) [dinghies](/source/dinghy) and [RIB](/source/Rigid-hulled_inflatable_boat)s usually have a rubbing strake (typically a glued-on rubber [extrusion](/source/extrusion)) at the edge.<ref>Examples of extruded rubbing strakes [http://www.henshaw.co.uk/categories/12-rubbing-strake]</ref>

A "stealer" is a short strake employed to reduce the width of plank required where the girth of the hull increases or to accommodate a tuck in the shape.<ref>{{cite web |title=stealer, n.2 |url=https://www.oed.com/view/Entry/189468?rskey=uetolc&result=2#eid |website=www.oed.com |publisher=[Oxford English Dictionary](/source/Oxford_English_Dictionary) |language=en}}</ref> It is commonly employed in carvel and iron/steel shipbuilding, but very few clinker craft use them.

==Sources==
{{reflist}}

{{sailing ship elements}}

Category:Shipbuilding

[fi:Laidoitus](/source/fi%3ALaidoitus)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Strake](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strake) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strake?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.