: Hi,
: I am planning to build a chesapeake 16 and use lauan for budged reasons.
: I will use 1/4" lauan for the botton panels and 1/8" lauan for the
: sides and deck with a 8 foot long and 2" wide 1/8" lauan
: "stringer" as a reeinforcement on the side panels reaching
: beyond the forward and aft bulkhead.

You might also consider using the mildly expensive BS 6566 Okoume instead of the super-pricey BS 1088. It's still more than Lauan, but much, much better quality.

Not that Lauan is strictly taboo--I built my Chesapeake 17 for $250 with 4mm 1088 bottom and side panels, 1/8" Lauan doorskin deck, and Raka glass and epoxy. It works just fine! (It would be even better if I'd been more careful with my epoxy--it's overweight at 57 lbs.)

: Will also glass the cockpit area on the inside.

That will help a lot!!

: Anyone any thoughts on this? Will 1/4 on the bottonm and 1/8 with stringers
: on the side give me enough strength?

I'd lean toward 1/4" on the bottom and sides, and only 1/8" on the deck.
I used 1/8" on the deck and still cracked my deck in front of the cockpit by applying too much pressure from underneath while rolling.

Also reinforce your deck (on the inside) behind the cockpit where you apply pressure while entering and exiting the boat.

: Anyone have any experience with installing permanent flotation in bow and
: stern (additional 1/8" bulkhead and foam between bulkhead and
: bow/stern)?

You probably don't need the 1/8"--the foam should work well by itself. Pete Rudie put expanding foam in the bow and stern of his Guillemot 17.

Happy building!

Shawn