Very slick idea! I might put that temporary shear clamp slightly lower than the shear so that I could see that the gap between the deck and hull was closed up, otherwise you might have some surprise gaps when you remove the shear clamp and trim the deck.

I'd be worried about some spring-back in the deck, too. If weight is the reason for not wanting the deck beam, you could drill it out to lighten it or fabricate a curved I-beam. Or pre-bend the deck and glass the underside in that position, which others have done.

Dean

: I am starting on a Chesepeake 14 for my wife and am considering no shear
: clamp at all, at least not a permanent one. My thought is to hot glue the
: shear clamp to the outside of the shear panel, build the hull as usual,
: but before glassing the outside of the hull attach the deck to the shear
: clamp with screws, fillet the hull to deck seam, remove the screws and
: shear clamp, trim the deck to the hull, and glass the outside of the hull
: and deck.

: My concern is on the deck beam. I would rather not use it either. I am
: thinking a temporary form in it's place and remove it after the deck
: glassing is complete. My worry is will the deck curvature and beam of the
: boat remain after I remove the temporary form?

: Any thoughts?

: Bill