I'm not sure you can measure it with a tape. But by eyeballing it, it should be in line with itself from the tips all along the keel, and it should be perpendicular to the sheer. Picture two planes, at right angles; one plane has the keel and the bow and the stern in it, and the other passes trough four symmetrical points in the sheer. The tips of the boat should line up with the keel. The sheer should be perpendicular to that. In addition, the hull panels should each be symmetrical to each other, especially at the transition from the bottom to the sides. It's much easier to picture than to try to describe it; perhaps someone could find a link to a good drawing? Also, it is not hard to cut the panels apart if you make a mistake. I did, on both a Cape Charles and a Tred Avon. It's a little scary the first time...

> I'm getting ready to s&g the keel of my first kayak ever, I can figure out
> how to stitch it & how to glue it, but I still don't know how will I
> be able to mesure it's simmetricity. In other words: I want to make sure
> the keel is simmetric before gluing it. I'm sure it will not be simmetric
> on the first shot, it's my first kayak, & I'm not that perfect. I will
> be able to fix it if I'll be able to measure it.

> any help appreciated.

> erez