Hi All;

I had classes over the weekend (8AM - 7PM Sat & Sun, 11 hours/day!), so I did not get a lot of time with "Betsy," my new kayak. But I then spent most of Monday with her. I have made some observations about stapleless strip building that I think are important:

1.) As we add strips, we are building panels that are getting larger by the strip. The complex shape of these panels is important - all else is not.

2.) To produce a fair surface that follows the design lines, we reference both the last existing strip (current bevel guide of the panel we've built thusfar) and the station form.

3.) It follows that the panel must be tight and true to the station before the rolling bevel is determined. It does not matter much what the state of the panel is before or after you make the bevel measurement. For our purposes, it is important only that the panel is in proper contact to the stations at the time of the measurement, or subsequent fitup. Thusly, the hot glue adhesion of strips to form is inconsequential. You clamp, measure, bevel, and install the new strip when the panel is supported - - who cares what it does (or did) before or afterward? - - The strip is in the proper 3D space as intended by the designer, and you will adjust it to fit the forms when you need to.

In a nutshell, we're building panels, and we must strive to make the panel proper above all else . . . If the bevels incorporated into the strips comprising the panel are correct, the panel will assume the shape dictated by (and derived from) the forms.

Duct tape, a "surform-like" bevel cutter, and an assortment of clamps and homemade clamp assists have made my day . . . Isn't it funny that with a shop full of power tools, the good old hand tools (and a stupid roll or 10 of duct tape) seems to do the job best . . . ;-)

New pix up at

http://www.dbeweb.com/kayak

under "construction."

Best Regards, Spidey