: Personally, I would have gone with thicker PVC pipe for the keel

I might do this. You sound pretty convincing.

: Forget
: supports for the ribs. You won't need them. Attach your "c" beam
: sides to the bow and stern (loosely) and then just drop in the ribs. They
: will push out the sides to where they belong.

Well, we're too late for that. But I do like your idea for my next one!
Then about the "truss" section I'm modifying from Putz...
: You may want NOT to make up the "c" beams first. [then you explained how to put the plywood BETWEEN the ribs]

It seems to me that the c-beam would be stronger and simpler than the method you describe here. So I'll go with c-beams this time.

For connecting the stringers:
: You can buy
: off-the-shelf connectors which fit over the ends of the tubes.
: If you object to the bulge they might make, you
: can reduce it considerably by sanding down the edges of the connectors so
: that they taper to meet the pipe.

Are you not concerned that this would weaken the joint too much?

: I hope you are considering
: adding 2 or 4 more tubes along the bottom, that would be one or two on
: each side of the keel, between the keel and the bottom of your side.

Yes, I am - Putz has a stringer on each side of the keel.

: Send along some pictures as this goes. Sounds like you are having fun.

I am indeed having fun. Putting that first stringer up (starboard gunnel) with duct tape today revealed the line of the boat - very nice, if I do say so myself. I was attaching it temporarily so I could do the bottom one of the truss before tracing onto the plywood. I don't have the bottom one on yet but am verrry pleased. I wish I'd done what you suggest about putting on the sides (loosely) and then popping in the ribs - could have saved myself a lot of time. Ah well.

So far I've only got about 4 hours total into this thing. I think under 20 is very realistic - and it looks like it'll come in well under $100 (I'm at $45 right now). As for pictures, I am taking them, but will have to wait to get a rol developed before posting them. Delayed gratification - I can't hardly wait for some of that medicine!

ad delirium,
Wayne