I got lucky Alan and found a very straight 16 footer, the lumberyard guy helped for 20 min digging through the pile with me once I told him what it was for. I think it was $6.00.

The trick to keeping your boat straight is to use a string line tied to a nail on each end of the board to mark center and orient your forms. The 2x4 is just used to anchor the forms, you are not really relying on it for trueness. Make the holes in the forms oversize so you can move them around to get them straight in relation to each other.

I was also tempted to buy a steel beam and a bunch of brackets but then storage and disposal someday when I finally have enough boats convinced me to use the one I have. When I'm done with it I can cut it up and burn it...or make another boat out of it..but then I'd need a beam...

: I've just started on my walrus, got most of the forms cut out. I'm still up
: in the air about the strongback. I was thinking to use a steel beam like I
: read about in the archive, but using a 2x4 appeals to me(cheap). My main
: concern is ending up with a banana boat. Any suggestions on avoiding this?
: I guess it's kind of moot, since the chances of my actually finding a
: straight 2x4 at any length around here is slightly less than none.

: Alan