: Kelly,

: I have a couple of questions if you don't mind.

Don't mind at all, but I did not know what I was doing. I just tried to follow the instructions as well as I could - I still ended up with a few things I would do differently next time...
: What did you use for your masik? solid or laminated?

I went with a piece of 2x6 and cut it out as per the article. I had never laminated anything before and it sounded kinda scary...And I was trying to do it inexpensively (I am cheap).Next time I would definitely laminate.You have to for the cockpit rim, anyway.It would be stronger and lighter.My kayak is on the heavy side.
: What did you use for glueing? i.e elmer's, epoxy, etc.

I used a thick epoxy-type of glue/putty.I searched for a poly-type waterproof glue but got tired of getting 'that look' at the home-centre places (I live in Japan).I finally found some '30-minute epoxy'(after I had finished the frame and skinned it) which I used for the cockpit rim.

: What kind of wood did you use for your ribs?

Uh, this one is really embarassing...the guy that I bought the gunwales from just gave me a bunch of scraps that were more or less 1/4" thick. I ripped them to the correct width, around 3cm if I remember, and planed the thickness at the ends so they would fit into the mortises in the gunwales.I soaked 'em and measured/cut/steamed and broke most of 'em :> So I guess that was where I got frustrated on my boat. Hint: use the same kind of wood for all the ribs:> Some of my ribs are Japanese Cypress, some is Cedar,Spruce...

: I think thats it. ( i hope )

: I glued on my bow block yesterday, and will glue on the stern block tonite.

Make sure that everything is square and will stay that way while the glue dries-I ended up doing the bow block twice :> (I can smile now, that was close to a year ago).

Good luck,

Kelly T