Yes, the boat will be a little weaker at the joint, but with a good tight fit at the joint, the difference should not be enough to worry about.

> 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