: Thanks Daren
: I like your advice! I am building a Great Auk Double.
: I am new to this game, and intend to use staples. I had thought that the
: staples might pull the strip down flat against the form, leaving a
: distortion if it wasn't accurately bevelled to fit the lines of the boat.
: Should I perhaps bevel the last 2-3 forms? What do you think?
: Regards
: Brad

Not to worry, those strips are not so flexible that they will care about whether your forms are beveled or gold plated. Actually, the strips may pull the staple partway out as they flex to follow the lines of the forms. After you get a few strips set on the forms you'll see this, and wonder why you ever thought twice about it.

The process is simple. Don't overthink it to death. and don't waste good building time on beveling the forms.

The exception is that some designs require the bow and stern forms to be bevelled. Do this operation while after the forms are mounted to the strongback. Start stapling a few strips from the middle of the boat to the ends and let them overhang the end forms. If you bend these strips to the center of the endforms you can eyeball the angle they create, and then bevel the forms to approximate that angle, at that height on the form. The angle will probably change at various heights on the end forms. There are angle gauges, and transfer available if you feel you must have a tool to do this simple task. A scrap of heavy paper ( like an index card, or a business card) and a sharp pencil will work fine, too. Lin up the straight edge of the card alongside endform, bend your test strip around the tip of the end form, just above the card, then holding things in place, trace along the outside of the strip making a line on the card. once you let got ( carefully) of the strip you can just slide the card along the end form as a gauge of what the taper should be.

Hope this helps.

PGJ