> Everything was going just fine, until I tried the aft few frames.
> I am following the Seakayaker article plans by Chris Cunningham, and
> the aft frames are much shorter than the ones at the bow. They were
> so short that I couldn't get them to bend at the proper angle to go
> into the mortises. I ended up breaking three frames at the aft and
> even split the gunwale at one of the mortises.

> I guess the real lesson here is one that all kayak builders can
> use, whether they are building a stripper, ply boat or skin boat.
> This lesson is that when all seems doomed, just sit back, think about
> it a while, and keep your building spirit, because there is probably
> a solution, and if not, you can take a break and start over. After
> all, kayak building is an end in itself, not just a means.

> Does anyone have a tissue?

In the book "Instruction in Kayak Building" which details the building of a Greenland kayak in three languages (English, Danish,and the Greenland Native language) the author suggests cutting a notch about halfway through the frame on the outside, where it needs this tight curve at the ends.

I can't give you author and publisher because I'm at work, sorry.