Spiling (boat building)

This is often used for creating planks on traditionally built boats that have complex shapes.

This is then temporarily attached to the boat in the place of the plank required.

The shape of the plank required can then be traced onto the spiling batten using a compass, or a dummy stick.

[3] When spiling a complex shape curved in more than one direction, it is important to keep the dummy stick in the same orientation, and not allow it to follow the curve, otherwise a distortion of the shape will result.

This process enables more complex shapes to be built in wood than in sheet metalworking for example, would require stretching by hammer/mallet and sandbag or the use of an English Wheel.

Spiling batten in use
Spiling step 1 : transferring the shape from the hull onto the spiling batten using the dummy stick.
Spiling step 2 : transferring the shape from the spiling batten onto the new stock by following the mark on the spiling batten using the same dummy stick.
Spiling step 3 : cutting out the new plank following the mark made in step 2.
Spiling step 4 : new plank being fitted