Following the thread with definite interest--I've been lurking and ordering stuff to build a Spring Run, and my greatest concern is how to avoid this! I seem to recall a thread on this a couple of months back; it seemed that the key is moisture content in the wood, and warpage that happens when one side of the wood is glassed and the other isn't. Someone (was it Rob Macks?) mentioned rewetting the wood when this kind of curling happens; I'd be most interested in what the collective wisdom is on how to deal with the problem, and especially how to minimize/avoid it.

I do, at least, have the luxury of a basement with pretty constant conditions as a worksite. Is there value in sequencing one's work to get the glass on the insides as soon as possible after doing the outsides? It occurs to me that one might
-get the hull stripped
-mask the sheer strake
-get the deck stripped and ready for glass
-then use the masking to protect the hull while glassing the outside of the deck
-then remove the deck and glass its inside
-then do the hull outside followed by inside. Any comments from you pros about how to sequence the work for best results? How important is it to avoid a long delay between exterior and interior glass application?

Craig

: 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