: on my wee-lassie knock-off, I used 1 1/2 by 3/4 WRC for the gunwales, with
: two thwarts, one at the backrest, the other by my feet, as well as
: breasthooks. The gunwales are mortised for ribs, (as in basic greenland
: construction, except that the mortises are cut at the outside edge at a 25
: degree angle) rather than an inwale/outwale.

This is a very similar idea to what I was thinking. Instead of bent ribs, there will be the forms, other than that, one form will be about where the backrest/thwart will be and one will be about where the footrest/thwart will be, so very similar to what you did. I can double up the top of the forms to give them more strength.
I'd love to see a pic of what you did as it seems to be very similar to what I'm attempting. Ribs vs forms seem to be the only difference.
How did you finnish the skin at the gunwalls? I'm currently thinking about stiching the skin to the gunwalls and finalizing the fabric with a two inch "deck".
Thanks,
scott