: . . . I am wondering if two
: layers of 6 0z cloth would be strong enough, on 1/4 inch strips? Any ideas
: would be appreciated.

Actually, this might be too much wood. There is a lot of evidence that using thinner strips of wood, say 3/16 or 1/8th inch thick gives you a material that is almost as hard to break as one made from 1/4 inch strips, but is much more flexible -- and therefore more likely to bend on impact, rather than break. Most of the tests used a similar glass/resin covering, and merely changed the wood thckness. Adding a second layer of glass would more than restore the strength lost from using the more flexible, thinner wood core.

George Roberts likes using strippers in fast water, and he has previously said that he builds them from multiple layers of thin glass cloth over 1/8th inch thick strips.

I wouldn't bother about staple less construction, fancy stripping patterns, bookmatched strips, or 8 layers of varnish. With thin strips bead and cove edges are less necessary, too. you cna build a very serviceable and pretty boat in a short time

Hope this helps.

PGJ