After seeing Susan Van Leuven's book, Illustrated Guide to Wood Strip Canoe Building, I decided to try her technique for stapless stripping. It worked very for building a canoe, but will probably be a little more difficult for a kayak.

It is a pretty simple process. She cuts half-inch plywood about a half-inch thick to match the forms. This is glued to the forms to create a lip so that spring clamps can hold the strip in place while the glue dries. Be sure to put the strip on the side of form facing the center form.

The webbed belts with ratchets are used to pull strips in place when the spring clamp will not hold them.

Equipment requirements are for at least one spring clamp per form and five or six of the webbed belts with ratchets. You can easily put on two strips on a side, wait an hour for the glue to dry and then place two on the other side.

It sure worked well for me on a new solo canoe I am building. I will probably try it on a kayak sometimes.

Email any questions.

Mac