Amgine wrote:
Working on a jargon article for SailWiki (http://wiki.saewyc.net)

From Hiscock's "Cruising under Sail" - Scantlings: The dimensions of
the members used in the construction of a vessel.

I always thought scantlings were primarily the dimensions of the
skin/deck planking, not just the frames? And of course with other
materials like fiberglass there might not be *any* internal structure.
So what would a one-sentence overview definition of "scantlings" be?

The hull & deck planking is definitely included in "scantlings." It's
usually one of the first specs. This may seem odd in an abstract
philosophical way, but the empty air is also part of the scantlings...
in other words the spacing between frames!

Anyway, a useful definition of "scantlings" for fiberglass boats should
include the type & weight of the heaviest cloth and the thickness of the
overal laminate, specifying this for various parts of the hull such as
at the keel root & stem as well as overall; ditto for the deck. The type
of resin used. Type & thickness & location of coring, if any. The number
of bulkheads, their material & thickness & how bonded, should also be
part of the scantlings. The hull deck joint type, bond, fasteners &
spacing, should also be included.

The "scantlings" are not necessarily a detailed builders specification,
but it should definitely include enough info to get an idea of how the
boat is built; it should be far more info than in the usual sales
brochu 'hand-laid woven roving' is *not* a scantling.

I'll leave it to you to boil all the above down to one sentence...

Fresh Breezes- Doug King