: Most S&G kayaks (unless they have a flat bottom) longer than 16ft. will have
: two panels meeting at the keel. Since the preferred joining method is to
: scarf panels together, how do you reconcile this long butted joint? Seems
: most people just tape it, at least on the inside seam. I'm just a little
: concerned about bursting apart at the seams, since on a good day I'm about
: 6ft., 190lbs. I'll search the archives tonight after work, since most
: topics have probably been discussed to death anyway...

: My intro...I'm in the San Fernando valley in Calif. Got interested in kayaks
: last fall. Bicycle quite a bit, hack wood in the garage, built RC
: Sailplanes in my younger days, figured, hey I can do this.

The only time ply on a S&G is scarfed is to make long panels, otherwise all the seams are made with a filet of thickened epoxy and glass tape, not just the keel, but at every intersection of the panels. And it's not a butt joint, a taped filet is much stronger than any butt joint you could make.

Bill H.

Bill H.