The shelf is a major part of wooden hull construction. It stiffens the hull by connecting the deck planking (at upper left) to the hull via the clamp. The shelf is wide in the horizontal dimension and flat. You can see the shelf in this picture because the decking which usually lies on top of it has been partially removed. The clamp lies underneath the shelf; it’s wide dimension is in the vertical plane. The clamp, which also helps to stiffen the hull, connects the frames (not seen in this picture) to the deck planking via the shelf. Also seen in this picture is the hardwood guard, at right, which runs along the outside of the planking and which protects the hull from bumps and scrapes.
WESTERN FLYER is the boat author John Steinbeck chartered to take him, his wife, scientist Ed Ricketts, and several others to the Sea of Cortez. Steinbeck’s 1951 book, "The Log From the Sea of Cortez" is the story of the trip. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Flyer_(boat)
WESTERN FLYER was built in Tacoma, Washington, by the Western Boatbuilding Company in 1937, primarily of douglas fir. She was originally powered by a 160hp Atlas diesel engine.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8Ha-woqRH0
