: Rehd Rehd Rehd,

WHAT!! Oh, it's you Rezzzz!! Howdy

: I don't know what I'm going to do with you !

Probably not much from 2,800 miles away.

: I ment to say "YUP !" meaning your craftsmanship looks great, but
: then
: you posted that message in between & messed everything up.

: anyway, it does look good. THANKS

: to business: I also have sof thoughts floating in my melon, here's one of
: them: I didn't see any holes in your forms to verify their alignment.

I have a different train of thought on that. The reason my bench is built the way it is, is that I won't be moving it around, nor WILL it move around after I set it and start building. I built the strongback very square all over, then when I installed the top, I didn't attach it perminantly. It is screwed down with paper shims under the top to be sure that the top was absolutely level. Then, I built the bench as true as I could. Then, when I installed the beam into the bench, I did so with little blocks under the beam, on the legs and then shimmed them to get the beam all level and square. Then, when I put it in the living/dining room, I put adjusters on the bottom of the legs to adjust to the floor to keep the whole thing even. I used a centerline down the top and a square to mark the intervals of the form stands and forms. The forms were marked with centerlines. And so, with all of that, I was able to come up with a very square set-up. My problem was finding wood that was as straight as my bench and forms. Couldn't, but what I found has worked out very well.

: I mean those little holes on certain reference points so if a thread goes
: thru them without touching the edges then the forms are aligned & you'll
: not
: get a banana, but a kayak !

: so anyway, I was thinking of just drilling the holes & then light thru
: them
: with that little red laser pointer. if you see the beam on the wall after
: the last form then you're ok. for this purpose the holes should be small
: enough.

: It's not my idea. I learned it here from somebody.

Yes, I remember the threads on that idea from the past. And I agree that it's probably the BEST idea for aligning all the forms and double checking them throughout the construction. I will probably use it on the Great Auk and others down the road, but for this boat, I believe I'm safe without it. The bench and forms are heavy enough to hold their own here.

: & make sure you have 2 reference points on each form. one is not enough
: for
: an absolut alignment.

I believe I have achieved the same thing this way, but, If my work surface was not as square or sturdy, I would also opt for the method you have mentioned.

: (I know you know it, but remember, you're not the only one reading)

: build less paddle more,

: Erez

Now, back to work....... BUILD NOTHING, PADDLE NOTHING !

Rehd