tree nails

[DetectorGuy]

Trunnels were used in timberframe construction as well for houses and barns up until the mid 1800's. I heard once that in the early 1700's iron nails needed to be shipped in from Europe. These iron nails were in such short supply, that outdated/unused buildings were burned and the iron nails were pulled from the ashes to be used on the next building. This shortage of iron nails extended the use of trunnels quite a bit in America compared to Europe.

As far as planking the inner layer first... The inner planking was the structural layer, and the outer layer of planking was a sacrificial or expendible layer that ship worms could bore into and not effect the structural layer. This sacrificial layer could be replaced every so often as needed. In the late 1750's they started using copper sheathing instead of this second layer of wood to prevent worm damage. Lead was also used to clad a ship but not that common as it had bad reactions with the iron fittings. So if you find a ship that has copper cladding, it was either built or re-fitted with copper cladding after the late 1750's.