C17 single side panel possible?

[Sayn3ver]

The P/OP21 is very similar to the C17/19/21 hull shape aside from the single hull side panel. To account for the strength lost there the P/OP21 adds a half round stiffener glassed to the inside of the hull panel. It would not be impossible to use the same detail on the C17. Obviously this would be done a the builders risk.

Thanks that's the information I was looking for.

[Cowbro]

Yes a stiffener may work, or adding extra side frames between the existing ones. Another issue is to draw the single side panels, the plans don't specify the overlap between the 2 side panels so it's not trivial to extrapolate the dimensions of the single panel.

This is definitely a factor. i have the C17 plans and I've played around with the idea of a single side panel. I replicated the side panels in CAD and overlaid them, matching up the bow and transom lines, they fit together well, but based on what has been posted by lots of builders, i am not confident that it would be tall enough as it often seems that the upper panel is a little short of meeting together at the bow. My plan would be to draw the one panel as best i could, but leave it long on the top (gunnel) side and trim the shear line to match the frames later.

[TomTom]

I guess me question is “why”?

I doubt you will save much time. I doubt you will save plywood. And you are probably borrowing trouble if your single side panel doesn’t fit.

Aside from acting as a stiffener, the second side panel adds some aesthetics.

To glue a stiffener inside like the P series strikes me as nearly as much work!

But would love to see how it turns out either way!