> I wondered about that after I read the other thread. I'll put some
> reinforcement between the cockpits, and behind the aft cockpit. The
> distance between deckbeams is 22". I am really not sure. The 4oz
> glass does not have that much strength, but this deck as is is a lot
> stiffer than plywood. Stiffness and strength are two different things
> though. Adding a layer inside will add quite a bit of weight up where I
> dont want it. Perhaps I should grind the inside back down to wood, and put
> a layer of glass on it.

Don, I think a layer of 4oz. on the inside would make a huge difference in strength. My Wee Lassie canoe has 4oz. on both sides and seams quite strong.

An interesting note on weight: while building my ultralight paddle, I weighed components as I progressed. The strip built blades weighed 3oz each before I applied 4oz glass to both sides and filled the weave with 2 more coats. After the glass and epoxy they weighed 4.5 oz. This is unscientific but might help you determine how much weight will be added. You would probably not fill the weave on the inside deck.

Larry C.