Ben & Charlie --

Thanks for the reassurance. It helps to know this is a common situation. I didn't figure it would all fit like a glove, but I figured I'd be able to get the halves a bit closer with muscle & pressure. Anyway, I think I'm just going to keep the thing taped together while it is in storage. The strapping tape on there now is doing a good job of keeping pressure applied and preventing further gappage. I'll just keep an eye on it to make sure nothing funky happens over the next month or so.

In hindsight, I think what happened is that the hull curled along the length of the boat -- causing the width to bow out just a bit, the tips to rise, and the length to shorten. I as well am about 3/8 inch short on the length of the hull. I think this has to do with the outside being 'glassed for awhile, but the inside not.

Thanks again, guys, for assuaging my fears.

Rick Brannan
http://www.supakoo.com/rick/kayak