> Hi Dale,

Looks great so far! On the boat I'm working on now I'm doing the deck no staple as well. I also have been using tape, but packing tape. I don't think the last strip will be a problem. As long as you taper the edges a little and are careful when you fit it in. when you go to test it do one side at a time so you can get a hold of it. That's how I did the last strip on my last boat and the last strips on the bottom of my current project. If you do have trouble you could always take the deck off the form very carefully, put the strip in and then put the deck back on the from while the glue drys. It should come off pretty easy with no staples. By the way what did you do for the shear strip to keep it in place? I've been holding it down with tape wrapped around from inside to outside, over the top of the strip so far but am not sure what I'll do as I work my way up the deck.