GUNNING-PUNT CONSTRUCTION 265 



because in the former case special lengths not usually stocked 

 are necessary, whereas single punts can be made from boards 

 of common sizes. It may be noted that a single punt can be 

 built for very much less than a large double punt. 



The bottom planks of the punt are the first boards to be 

 assembled. A single punt may have one sound plank only in 

 this part, and by this plan joints may be saved. The planks 

 are jointed by half lapping, which permits of light caulking at 

 both sides. A tonge and grove is unsuitable, as the tonge will 

 be sure to break off when the punt has been in use for some 

 time. When the bottom planks are fitted (three in a large punt), 

 they must be given their requisite "kammel" and "spring." 

 Kammel is the slight round across the bottom, and spring 

 is the same thing lengthwise. A large double punt should have 

 3 in. spring ard i^ in. kammel on a bottom f in. yellow 

 pine. This is essential in making a punt workable when 

 aground. "Spring" is secured by fixing the planks down to 

 a strong wooden floor. The kammel is gained by screwing 

 down several of the floor timbers which have been given the 

 necessary round. The floor timbers in a double punt should 

 be made of oak i^ in. wide and placed 16 in. apart, their ends 

 reaching to 3 in. from the sides. Through rivets in the floor 

 timbers are to be substituted later for the screws (see Fig i). 

 The bottom is now ready to receive the stem and stern chocks. 

 These are made out of solid English oak (per sketches), all 

 planks butting into them. The stem and stern pieces along 

 with the centre plank of the bottom are the most important 

 parts in a gunning-punt, since they take the main strain of the 

 punt-gun's recoil. The bottom must now be cut to its proper 

 sweep. Care should be exercised here in cutting the bevel, 

 which takes the side strake at its proper flare. To assist this 

 a line may be scribed, and the gun-beam attached by its under 

 knees in their respective positions, and also by some of the knees 

 which are to secure the sides. These, likewise, assist in hold- 



