Why do you want to build the Cape Charles? CLC admits that the Chesapeake is a better design - I think the Chesapeake LTs would be about the same size, dimensions, and weight as a Cape Charles, but are supposed to handle better.

I think measuring and putting in forms after you assemble the hull would be easiest. CLC's designs go together well enough without forms that you really don't need them except for doing the stripping. Besides, by putting the forms in after doing the hull, you don't need to make the whole form match the cross-section of your boat, just the sides and the radius of the top.

> I haven't done it yet, but am thinking about making Cape Charles with
> stripped deck. The problem I have is figuring out how many and what the
> dimensions of the temporary forms would need to be. I think this could be
> figured out once the hull is put together, but I was hoping to figure out
> forms ahead of time and use them to help assemble the hull. Does anyone
> have any input on how to deterimine the deck form dimesions ahead of time?
> I assume that with the deck dimesions on the Chesapeaks curved decks, that
> the top radius of the forms would stay the same along the entire length of
> the boat.

Yes, the radii should remain the same in the bow, and the same in the stern. I think the bow radius (bow to front of cockpit) was 16" and the stern radius (back of cockpit to stern) 24". That would definitely make form building easy.

>Any easy way to figure form dimension at points along the boat
> below the deck line? Also would you need deck forms spaced every foot
> typical of the completely strip build boat?

Since the radius doesn't change except at the cockpit, and building-wise this is a flexible area (Structurally, it's pretty stiff! :) ) you shouldn't need to space your forms that closely. Don said that 22" worked for him, and the Tred Avon has a continuously changing deck radius. I'm sure 20-24" would work for a Chesapeake or Cape Charles.

Disclaimer: I haven't actually stripped the deck for a S&G hull, but I have done it about 50 times in my head, so I'm glad to hear that Don has actually done it, and it has turned out well.

Shawn