That's a damn good idea Mike! Can't wait to give it a go. And by the way, what the hell are you doing out paddling after 11:00 at night? Have you come up with a "night-glow" fibreglass?

> On surfyak, I have 4 football shaped areas that I am filling w/ long tiny
> strips (hopefully decorative - but sometimes I wonder). I've backed up
> these areas betw/ the forms w/ 1/2" ply going from form to form in
> order to have a good surface to work against. I've used some usual ways of
> holding and clamping these areas as follows:

> -stapling either thru, beside or over the strip(s) in question

> -dressmaker pins - usually beside and inserting little wedges for side
> pressure

> -lots of 1" (opening) spring clamps - I bought about 30 real cheap
> (75cents ea) - these are invaluable

> Anyway you get the idea - finicky little time consuming stupidity!
> (Especially in something that's going to get thrashed.)

> So late last night, as I was out for a quick paddle in the beater ( seems
> I only get out after 11 these days ), and looking at the stars - an idea
> formed that could have saved me about 25% of the time I spent on these
> areas. Its too late for me but maybe you can use some form of it.

> Firstly back up the decorative area as usual but use a stiff material like
> 1/2" ply or part. bd. Then drill a million 1/4" holes all over
> the approx area that the decoration will be - right thru the ply - but
> don't clean up the hole - or just stop short if you have drill stop. Now
> cut a 1/4" dowel in 1" lengths - a bunch of them.

> Voila - Now basically you have a bunch of little 'dogs' that you can use
> to define the edges of your pattern (- just push the dowels in the closest
> holes that define the decorative strip location), to clamp or wedge
> against. You can place spacers below for when the pattern wants to deflect
> too low. You can place dowels as you build the pattern and afterwards
> weave string all around to firmly clamp in place.

> Anyway, I've got 1 more place on the surfyak to maybe try it out on.

> And maybe I should paddle more and strip less.

> -mick