My question relates to a strip canoe project - I apologize for being slightly off subject, but I think the group here is best qualified to answer my question. I am stripping a design into the canoe hull that consists of two white pine strips that start a few inches from the keel (at the stern) and follow the keel for about 8 feet, then taper down to meet the gunnels at an angle of about 45 degrees. I am then stripping on either side of these strips with different colorations of red cedar.

I have become concerned that the 45 degree butt joints from the gunnels to the waterline will be a sinificant weak point (from the waterline to the keel the joint tapers to a true scarf). All of the designs I see on your kayaks are in the deck, and I am not sure if that is just for visibility or if this type of a joint in the hull is a serious strength problem.

Should I:

a.) stop being paranoid and not worry about it b.) cover the joint with an extra layer of cloth c.) scrap the work to date and start over before my boat snaps in two somewhere in the middle of the boundary waters