In boat-building terminology, I want to model a clinker-style wooden boat. The overlapping horizontal planks run from the front to the back . Think clapboard siding of house, except applied to a curved hull shape. The planks would be wider in the middle of the boat than at the ends.

How would I go about this?

Here's a shaky drawing of profiles:
http://screencast.com/t/yuyyIUpmtM

and, a photo:
http://screencast.com/t/jpaHCFyI4p