I built a Yare in '95 from Chris' book, too. The sheer clamps are an indispensable element of Chris' designs. On a strip boat they would be optional, but not on a Yare. When you tie up the bow and stern the sheer clamps spring against the hull, establishing its shape and giving it strength. IMHO you're best off following instructions the first time out, before improvising. That said, most builders find improvements, innovations, jigs, tricks and other ways to "stretch the envelope". Before that though, you need to find out where the edge of the envelope is.

Boatbuilders tend to be a maverick bunch to start with, and we have all learned from our mistakes. Generally I say something like "try it and see, then get back to us with your results", but this is a clearcut case. It would be a builder's nightmare, and probably a safety issue as well.

The sheer clamp is not as intimidating as it sounds, and it's not that difficult to get it right. Stitch up the keel up to about 1 ft. or so from the end, and use a clamp to try-fit the sheer clamp. Use a handsaw to cut right down the middle of the two pieces, in the plane of the keel. You take little bites at it this way, only one saw kerf-width (1/8" or so) at a time, reclamping as you remove material, and eventually it will be good enough. Maybe not perfect, but not much in a boat really is. Though they may not be evident to most people, we know where the warts are in our own creations. But you know what? If you don't confess, nobody will ever know!

Good luck and happy building.

> I am building a yare from chris kulziykis book the kayak shop and I am
> wondering if it would be a terrible sin to just leave the shear clamps out
> and fiberglass the seams inside and out. would it be OK to only glass the
> seams on the inside about 4 feet in each direction rather than the whole
> inside.

> Thanks for any advice you can give

> Dave