: There is a lot going on in this pic. The sheer strips have been moving around
: some, despite having been hot glued to the forms. A sacrificial strip
: fastened to the forms was an improvement, but that didn't stop the strips
: from flaring out and over the top when the straps were tightened. These
: U-blocks, based on Ted Moores' book are a good solution. They are fastened
: to the forms with two screws each, at the exact elevation of the sheer
: line, and with enough play that a wedge can be inserted to force the sheer
: against the form. They work well with the strap clamps, but at the ends
: more help is needed.

I'm stunned by the overlaying layers of complexity you've made of your building process.

I feel like I'm watching a friend trying to carry a sofa over the roof of his house to get it in the back yard. Yes, you've got it on the roof now. I wish there was an easy way to tell you, you could have gone around the side gate. You're just going to call me a jerk anyway.

I find it painful to look at what you are doing because you've made things so difficult for yourself by picking an idea here and an idea there from someone, without a plan focusing on what will work.

If the method you are using is not working then you didn't understand it. Work methods rely on other parts of the task being done to support that method.

For instance. I use a stapless method with hot glue. First you have to buy the right hot glue. There are many different kinds of hot glue and if you use the wrong one you'll say "I tried hot glue and it wouldn't hold".

I use the hot glue on bare plywood station edges. A small dab of hot glue holds very well. At my stems I drive sheet rock screws into the stations right behind each strip and hold it in place with a spring clamp until the hot glue sets. I want my strips to stick to the stations so each strip will follow the station shape exactly.

I probably use a dozen or more spring clamps with each strip. I align and clamp the strips with spring clamps between stations. I put dabs of hot glue on the strip joint between stations. By the time I work both ends of the strip all the hot glue has set. I remove all the spring clamps and I'm ready for the next new strip.

But, I have to knock out the stations to break the hot glue so an internal strongback won't work. And I have to feel comfortable with the blobs of hot glue all over the wood surface knowing I can easily remove them all with a few quick stroke of a paint scraper.

I'm going into detail here to try to point out that using hot glue to strip with effectively is not as simple as just adding it to whatever you're doing now.

I see a lot of thinking in the picture of your boat and all the jigs you’ve made. I see a lot of over-engineered parts. Without a focus on what the point is.

Experience is in knowing what NOT to do as much as it is in knowing what TO do.

Get the job done in the simplest fastest way cause you got a hell of a lot to go yet. You don't know this cause you haven't done anything this big before. That's why you buy plans and follow directions.

I can get to San Francisco from Boston without a map and convince myself Miami was on the way, or I could just buy a map and read it. I know that's not the manly way to do things but it does save time.

I'm not trying to give you a hard time. I wish I could make it easier for you, AND the others looking over your shoulder.

You've got a long way to go yet. Follow the directions in your plans. This is like a long distance race. Don't waste your energy on stuff that will wear you down before the finish line.

I really wish you, all the best,
Rob