> I am an experienced wood worker and have just recently started the strip
> building of kayaks. Have you tried using Elmers carpenters glue. Cut the
> scarfs so they will fit tightly together (no appreciable gaps), apply
> elmers carpenters glue and clamp the joint until dry. The glue is
> remarkably strong in normal woodworking (stronger than the woods glued)
> and is workable once dry. Since the joint will be sealed with epoxy
> anyway, there is no danger of it getting wet. Just a thought. Good Luck.

> Brian Barnett

Brian- I would hesitate to do that in a situation like that found on an S&G boat scarf joint. Unless you plan to cover both sides of the panel with fiberglass, a scratch in the epoxy would present the "danger" of getting the joint wet. Of course, the outside of the hull will be fiberglassed, and if you plan to fiberglass the cockpit, you'll pretty much completely protect the joint from water intrusion. (Strip-built boats are built this way all the time, so there are many good data-points!)

I use Titebond II for all my woodworking, but I'm still not sure I'd trust it in water as much as I do epoxy.

Shawn