The guesswork on what questions I might ask is wrong.

My questions to George will be directed towards specific experiences which I suspect that George might have collected doing things the way he has described in doing it in his messages, and which seems to be different from what most other builders seems to do. (He seems to start out with thinner strips, for one thing...)

Teaching math at a college where my colleagues teach composite technology and ship design, I *do have* other sources for info.

Nevertheless, I believe that George do have some specific experience on small boat strip building well worth paying USD 20 for.

In most areas where knowlege is available and where different views do compete it is not usual to sometimes pay for information, other times getting it for free. When the offer is there, it is up to the may be customer to decide to buy or not. It is as simple as that, and not funny at all.

Relevant for me would be if USD 20 was too high a cost for the info I seek. For me it is not, if I really do want the info.

Could I get the info for free other places? Answer is "No", as the info is "what George is thinking about this ...". Why should I be interested in what George thinks? Answer: I have read his messages and find that his thinking is relevant for me. Other persons may feel that the info will not be relevant for them. This is ok for me. What is not relevant for one person may be relevant for another, and it is not funny. For me it is that simple.

By the way:

I also tend to think a bit like George on the market value of the first kayak I am to build: It will have value for me, knowing how careful I will work, but as far as no testing through real use or otherwise, built by a first time builder (me) without supervision, I would not want to sell it as a vehicle which might be of importance for another persons life or wellbeing.

After having used such a kayak and compared it with commercially available boats, one migth start to think otherwise. After having built and tested/used several ones one may start to feel like a professional, it may be correct to feel this way, and the products may be sold.

Now, I will not have a tooth repaired by an amateur trying this new tooth repairing hobby for the first time, following instructions in a book, and I will never buy a kayak from an amateur learning by doing for the first time this way.

If kayak building is something which a fresh newcomer will do perfectly the first time without supervision, then this is really a very unusual activity, and I do not believe that it is.

Jan Gunnar

> I can just imagine the possibilities...

> Question 1) What's the best way to wet out fiberglass on my hull, with a
> foam roller, or a squeegie? Response) You're an amateur builder, so you
> can't possibly do it right. Your best bet is to buy a $20,000 kayak from
> me.

> Question 2) I tried using a dry foam brush to knock down the air bubbles
> on my saturation coat, but it's still bumpy. What do I do? Response)
> You're an amateur builder, so you can't possibly do it right. Your best
> bet is to buy a $20,000 kayak from me.

> Question 3) Which is better, one layer of 8 oz. cloth, or two layers of 4
> oz. cloth? Response) You're an amateur builder, so you can't possibly do
> it right. Your best bet is to buy a $20,000 kayak from me. That'll be
> $20.00 please!