> For lack of a better term, how does one blend the sheer clamp on a
> Patuxent between the deckbeam surrounding the cockpit. Getting it correct
> at the bow was easy, the radius template does not change. But shear around
> the cockpit needs to change to accomidate the two different radii.

> Also on SWIFTWOOD the top of the stern is flat so I'll have to continue
> this stragety all the way back.

> Thanks in advance.

Brian - I don't have any good advice - because I must have screwed up royally in my attempt to blend the sheer on my Ches. 17. I thought I was carefully fitting the bevel to the form I made from the deck beam. According to the plans all the deck beams are the same radius - so I merrilly went at it with my nice sharp block plane. After about 45 minutes I thought I had done quite a nice job and was patting myself all over the back. Well now I'm done except for the varnishing work. Things turned out OK - but the foredeck doesn't touch either deck beam. It barely misses the little one up close to the bow (1/4 to 1/8") - but it misses the long one near the cockpit by about an inch at the center. I must have brutally overdone the radius of the sheer clamps starting close to the bow and continuing back. The rear deck fits nicely - so I guess I wasn't so aggressive back there. As near as I can tell - all has turned out well in the end. I just puttied the gap and now I just have a bit higher deck than I should. I haven't paddled it (can't wait!) but I don't expect problems.

I was amazed that such a seemingly innocuous error could have such repercussions. Oh well - I'm just amazed that such an inept person (I'm a software engineer and don't have to deal with the physical world unless I want to) can create such a nice boat. This Chessy is my second S&G. I built a Glen-L Rob Roy from plans from (gasp!) Home Depot Luan panels last year. It's a REALLY fun white water boat.

Happy building and paddling, PC