> One last question. Can you tell me in a few simple steps how the panels
> are attached? I think the Maroskes' loosely sewed the top hull panels to
> the gunwales, then wrapped the two bottom pieces over the keel. Then as
> far as my understanding goes these were sewed to the upper pieces, kind of
> laced like a shoe, tightened, and then the middle pieces were glued in,
> and the lacing and extra material removed. Then the ends were done
> seperately and then glued to the strips.

The required finished product may have had some bearing on the method of installation. Mine was a simple Greenland hard chined boat. The process is not all that simple but here goes anyway.

The only way I could get a strong waterproof joint was to apply glue to both sides of the lap, let set similar to contact cement, place the laps together and then heat the laps in 15 to 18 inch lengths and rolled them together with a hard roller, again like contact cement. This meant there had to be a hard surface to roll on. This was supplied by the keel, chines, gunwhales etc. The skin is a permanent unmoveable installation.

My panels were installed starting at the keelson with one edge stapled to the side of the keelson, going over it out to the chine wrapping it and stapled to the upper edge. This panel was then masked and glue painted to the keel lap seam. The next bottom panel was layed and stretched in place and then the keel seam glued, heated and rolled. Once joined the panel was stretched over the chine and stapled in place. The hull side panels were then attached at chine (glued) and gunwhale (stapled only). The deck was done similar to the keel. The gunwale joint is only stapled and covered with a rub strip. Allows for future fixes or alterations.

All panels were stretched very tightly in the long direction of the boat similar to the method used for canvasing canoes. They were carefully layed out and marked on the boat, removed and trimmed with a sharp knife on a large worktable. The panels were again carefully stretched when placed on the hull to ensure a good fit to the hull and the other panels.

Hope this helps.

Bram