Hi Frank,
Of course every analogy breaks down. It's too bad some of the pulpits don't seem to realize this.
I'm not sure that you got the point. The shipwright released the stress and tension in what appeared to be junk with one, well placed cut, thereby producing a useful board. God, many times, does the same with us. Given the choice, I'll take the precise, instant surgical cut over hours in a steam box every time.
I grew up as a wharf rat, hanging out around the boatyards. I'm intimately acquainted with the steam box, which is used to produce produce bendable framing stock. Planks are not steamed. They naturally bend and conform to the hull shape, if the designer has done his job. L Francis Herreshoff makes this clear in his writings.
I'm including some links which you may find of some interest. I owned and raced (with some modest success) an "S" boat for 25 years. In the process I had to perform some major rehabilitation, and, trust me, I'm intimately familiar with both the steam box and the surgical cut.
Maranatha,
Bob
Frank R Molver (15 Sep 2012)
"Bob re straightening crooked board"
Ouch!That would hurt.You forgot to mention the steam box.You put an oak board in it and it comes out like rubber so it can be shapped to fit the hull of a boat.Every analogy breaks down after a whileThe point being is that we can not force certain things.God's has his ways and timing.However, time is running out isn't it!
