Very nice job! I'll say that was a productive weekend. That deck should be beautiful!

: Hello, I'm a somewhat newcomer here... it says I posted 2 things before...

: I decided sometime last summer that I wanted a wooden kayak. I'm sure you all
: understand my reasons, so I won't go into that.

Yes, we're a very supportive group of codependent boatbuilders.

: After visiting the
: Newfound Rendezvous and demoing boats I decided I liked the Merganser
: best. I was surprised because I'd been leaning towards a Guillemot.... and
: definitely a stripper vs. S&G. But I also want something that suits me on
: the water, and the Merganser is it.

: I want to show you better what I've been doing this weekend, but I guess so
: far none of the pictures are anything the seasoned kayak builder hasn't
: seen before. I'll post them when I get home. For now, I can share the
: little ones I took with my cellphone. They're tiny though!

: I made up for the (relative) simplicity of building a S&G by deciding to do a
: "3/4 hybrid." I liked the facetted deck on the Merganser better
: than the curved one on the hybrid, so I decided to strip the four center
: deck panels and leave the rest as plywood.

: Then, someone suggested that I use veneer glued to the panels instead of
: actual cedar strips and I decided to try that. That's my plan for right
: now... the veneer is certainly easier to cut up, I can do the rest in my
: living room. I am a little worried about the veneer curling under the
: fiberglass and leaving gaps that would weaken the panels or cause
: cracking.... hopefully I can deal with that if it happens.

You might read up on "vacuum bagging". If you epoxy the veneer to the deck ("spot" it in place with hot glue to keep the veneer from shifting under the bag), you will create "thicker" plywood, and actually strengthen the panels. You could even spot the veneers in place, then flowcoat epoxy over the placed veneer, then vacuum bag it.

If the veneers are laying nice and flat after a tab or two of hot glue, VB'ing won't be necessary. Spread epoxy all over it...work it around well so it goes under the edges and under the veneer itself. Lay kitchen wrap over the veneer and cover that with something soft and conforming--like an old camp sleeping pad. Then put something on it that will spread the weight--some thin plywood, then stack everything heavy you can find on the plywood--power tools, cans of house paint, bricks, rocks, chairs....you can't have too much weight.

: So far this weekend we sanded and stitched, filleted and glassed the fillets
: (with cut strips of normal glass cloth, not tape). We're about out of time
: since the owner of the house has to be able to put his car in the garage
: tomorrow night. I think we may get time to fiberglass the inside of the
: cockpit tonight/tomorrow.

: I'm not sure when I'll get a change to work again. It's sad because I had so
: much fun this weekend! I don't want to go home and leave her behind!

It's just as hard to leave a boat "behind" in your own garage and have to go to work every day!

shawn