: Thanks Mick. I'll give your foam parts some thought. I was going to have hip
: braces at the cockpit anyway and can see your concern with buckling in
: that area especially with the recessed cockpit. Wouldn't that be pretty!
: Just the bow and stern sticking out of the water like I got torpedoed or
: something :-) Do you think ethafoam is sufficient or will it get too
: waterlogged?

: Bill

with all the work you've done, I'd go w/ the minicell.

for the side braces, my guess would be to run a 1 1/2 - 2 in wide member as long as possible(say 5 ft ea side- holes just for knees) tight to the underside of the first stringer above the sheer to tight above the second stringer below(notches for the ribs). And tape, tie or wrap something around the stringer to hold it in position, especially between the ribs. when that top stringer is in compression you want to stop it from buckling as much as possible.

with you masik being large, you've got a partial chance to transfer bow top stringer compression loads to that first stringer above the sheer, it's not great but make good glue joints maybe even gussets. or some diagonals-i like them better. make a good joint maybe even tie itso holds if cracks.
.

-mick