: To spin this all back to kayak content, I want to build a full monocoque,
: aero stripper, enclosed trailer for my boats when I go traveling. An
: organic egg with a gas strut top to safely transport my boats.

I'm not sure a "full' monocoque shell is practical, but a streamlined boat trailer made from strips would certain look beautiful.

If you go with the full monocoque idea you would ( by definition) be eliminating the DOT approved frame. That means you'ld need to re-engineer the attachment of the wheels and springs, and somehow get the thing approved for road travel so that it could be licensed. I'm not even sure of the direction in which you would take a first step in that adventure into the realm of beauroracy!

Building an egg shaped, or streamlined, shell over a conventional trailer frame, though, could be a fairly simple project. I'd work with 3/8th inch strips and bend them around some plywood stations mounted right onto the trailer frame -- no strongback needed.

The "foundation" (or first row) could be a 1x3 mounted to the frame with bolts. this could surround a 3/4 inch sheet of exterior glued plywood, which would serve as a floor. (paint it, nobody is going to see it) Above that your edge-glued strips could form a beautiful arch, with the shape defined by however you cut your stations.

You could work with as few as 2 or 3 stations. If you want added stiffness over a long span you might consider using narrow ribs. YOu can make slightly smaller building forms and bend the rib material around the edge of the forms to give it the right shape. The strips could be glued or screwed to these ribs. A dark wood like cherry secured with neat rows of brass screws is dramatic. When you sand that with a fine sandpaper it is like polishing the brass. A layer of glass cloth and resin over that (or even just a couple coats of varnish) enhances the shine.

I said "resin", not "epoxy" for a reason. Epoxy would certainly work, but consider using a less-expensive polyester resin. It is more UV resistant, and this is likely to spend a lot of time out of doors. A single layer of 6 ounce glass. You only need to cover the outside. Varnish is all you need on the interior of this. With the top raised you should be able to apply that all the way to the ends without problems.

You can edge-glue every strip and then come back and cut an opening, or, if you are planning on the top opening along the length of the strips, just skip gluing one row. Lay a strip of wax paper along the joint between these so they don't accidentaly get glued from later drips. If you use ribs, cut them at this point before you attach the strips. Then you can just lift off the top and mount hinges and latches after the stripping is done.

Good luck with this project, and hopefully it will fit in a garage.

PGJ