: Ratchet straps will work just great here, John. All the big box stores around
: here (Home Depot, Lowe's) and most of the Aces and True Values have them,
: in packages of 4 for $15-20. Look either in the fastener section or the
: hand tool section. Make sure you get the ratchets and not the cheaper cam
: clamps; the ratchets give finer control over clamping pressure, and are
: far more positive in operation. I used 8 of them to put my Guillemot
: together, no spreaders, no tape, and it cinched up just fine. You can
: insert wedges under the straps over any high spots and coax things into
: proper alignment, all from the outside of the boat. A rubber mallet is a
: useful tool also.

: BTW, did you hot-glue your inner seam tape in place first? A little dab every
: 6"-8" will greatly simplify your life in the short term.

I am going to buy a set of ratchet straps. Thanks. I tried to close the gap with tape as Spidey suggested but I couldn't close it all the way. If the straps don't work I can do what the others have suggested.

I haven't glued an inside seam yet because I haven't fiberglassed anything. I may be causing myself a lot of problems. I want to fair the haul and deck together first. Then I was thinking of sanding the insides and fiberglassing them first. But I may leave the haul and deck together after I fair them and then carefull mask the haul and deck joint and fiberglass the Deck and then the same thing with the haul. Then seperate them and sand the insides and fiberglass. I would appreciate any thoughts about this also. I know I am not going about this right but I am really worried about the haul and deck being faired together.

John