: Hi,
: I'm building a Guillemot (my first kayak building project), have got the
: forms aligned and am about to start stripping the hull, without staples.
: What's a good way to hold the first strip in place?
: I was thinking of using hot melt glue or clamping it to a sacrificial deck
: sheer strip screwed in place. Any one have a better idea?
: Also, I am going to make some plywood U shaped fixtures to hold the strips in
: place while the glue dries, as shown in Kayakcraft, but I'm wondering why
: they need to be U shaped. I don't see what the bottom of the U is for.
: Couldn't the fixtures just be L shaped? That would make the much simpler
: to make.
: Thanks, Richard.

Richard, have you considered steaming the strips to get them to conform to the bends? Use the u-shaped clamp and for the tight bends, steam or wet with hot water over a towel around the strips and they should limber up enough to pull them into place. Give it a try.

Rehd