> OK guy's, I'm finally to the point of putting it all together on my
> Guillemot. When I took the hull off the form it went in and the deck went
> out. I've got about a 3/4" gap on each side at the center of the
> boat. When nick said it may take some force, I didn't thick it would take
> this much. The tape just pulls away from the seam and I can't seam to keep
> it in place. Is there any tricks that might help?

Dear Kent:

I had this same problem with my Guillemot Expedition Single. The good news is that I was able to close a gap of about an inch to join the hull to the deck, and it's a kayak now and I love it.

The bad news is that it took a LOT of pressure. I used nylon webbing loops that I drew around the boat, then wound tight with a stick, like a tourniquet, or a spanish windlass, as Nick described. I needed LOTS of tape, more than two rolls ultimately. I also needed four hands. My son wound the boat shut as I applied the tape in 2 foot strips. I would close up a section and then tape on each side of the strap, and then move over a few inches and repeat the process.

I am in the process of improving my website where I have several pictures of this part of the process, and plenty textual detail. The address is:

http://sites.netscape.net/evalley

but I must warn you, and apologize in advance for the very long load time for the page. I am in the process of fixing it. But if you're patient, the description of my experience with the problem you're having now is about 90% of the way down the page. The number of the image that starts that section is:

http://sites.netscape.net/evalley/kayak/img/k052-18.jpg

and runs through image number:

http://sites.netscape.net/evalley/kayak/img/k052-31.jpg

I assure you the pictures are there. The web server sometimes fails to deliver them, and I have to reload it. But they're there. I hope you succeed in joining the deck and the hull. It can be done and it can take a lot of pressure. At least mine did.

Ed Valley