> Okay, gang. I need some help.

> I bought a Cape Charles (18') kit a couple of years ago, got the plans,
> got Chris's book and I thought I was all set.

> Oh, by the way, I've never built anything before in my life (unless you
> count a butcher block cutting board in shop class in 7th grade).

> I read the postings as to how easy it was and I'm a fairly avid kayaker,
> so I thought I'd cut my teeth on this "easy" project. Anyway,
> it's now been two years, and I've gotten as far as stitching up the
> panels. I know now is the moment of truth -- time to glue and I'm
> terrified that I'm going to do something wrong and my kayak will forever
> have some kind of right angle in it introduced by my incompetence. So here
> are some questions:

> - How do I raise up the kayak from the sawhorses so I can glue the thing
> in the first place? The sawhorses have flat tops and the bottom of the
> kayak is angled. When I called CLC, they recommended I build some kind of
> curved support to cradle the kayak, but my building skills are presently
> maxxed out! Is there a simple way?

> - They say to sight down the kayak to eliminate twisting. I've read the
> book and scrutizined the plans, and as near as I can tell, twisting is an
> old shipbuilding term which completely escapes me. How can my cockeyed
> view of the world tell if the kayak is twisting and in what direction?

> - How long does epoxy last? I've been storing it in it's bottle (West,
> marine grade) for two years.

> - What are the warning signs that I'm doing a lousy job?

> Thanks!!!!

> - Steve Hi Steve I built a cape charles about two year ago it's a real good kayak I to had never built a kayaks before but if you can handle a jig saw you have it made.Get a buddy lift the kayak off the saw horses and gently put it on the floor. Take some 1x3 or 2x4 or what ever you have around and screw a piece about a foot long to each end of your saw horses then screw some strips of carpet ,nylon webbing or canvas or anything strong to the 2x3 so they form a craddles on both horses then place the kayak in it. To check for twist Itook two thin pieces of wood about 4 foot long 1x1 and placed them 1/3 of the way from the bow and the same distance at the stern then kneel down and look down one side of the kayak look at the point where the sticks rest on the boat let your eyes follow the sticks out to the ends if they appear like one stick you have no twist if one is high and one is low get your buddy to hold one end of the boat firmly while you twist the other end until the sticks line up as close as possible. If your epoxie is real thick just place it in a bowl of fairly hot (NOT BOILING) water and it should be fine.Now Steve put all the apprehensions up on a shelve and get the boat built your missing out on a lot of great fun things will all fall in to place as you go and when your done you'll be strutting around proud as a peacock with yourself. hope this helps John Delin