Hi Derek,
I don't understand. Do you want to build the strongback out of plywood or buy a 16' 2x4? I just made a strongback for a "fast double" (23'+) and used Nick's plans for building the strongback out of plywood. I used just regular 8' plywood and staggered the joints. I used 3/4" ply for mine and this left a 1/2" wide hollow in the middle which works out well for slipping in the bow and stern forms. Unfortunately this is a far as I've gotten so far, but I'll be finishing up a kitchen I'm building in the next couple of weeks and hope to put some time concentrated time into the project after that.
Mark

: Hi All

: I was re-reading Nicks book looking into the details of the strong back.
: His decsription of how to build one from ply on page 70 suggests a 16' strong
: back. On page 175 the materials table suggests a 14' 11" strong back,
: I assume as this is under the Guillimot heading that is the length
: required for this Kayak.

: It seems "Home Depot' here in Ottawa store 16' strongbacks so they are
: seperated at each end with nothing in the middle so they are all bent.
: Any suggestions on straightening them

: Thanks

: Derek