USS Constitution - "Old Ironsides"
Our involvement with this great ship was to establish, in the early stages
of her most recent refit, her configurations at two points in time, the
first in 1803, after her first yard period after construction, and the
second in 1812-14, at the height of her career. We were also tasked
with recommending a method of hull reinforcing to arrest further hogging,
and to otherwise strengthen the hull. Based on Humphries' original
specifications, we designed additional structural members called diagonal
riders, large timbers laid onto the ceiling planking, diagonally from the
keelsons up to the underside of the berth deck. The Navy's engineers
then fine-tuned these designs and made them an integral part of the restoration.
Drawings by Iver C. Franzen, and copyrighted by ICF, TCG, and
International Marine.
Contact Information:
Iver C. Franzen, NA
P.O. Box 4044
409 Washington Street
Annapolis, MD 21403
Ph: (410) 268-2105
Fax: (410) 267-7809
Email: iver.franzen@comcast.net
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for comments and changes / Last Modified: 11 April, 2005.