Roger,

You're right. I am going stapleless. I am using 1/4" dowels and masking tape to hold the strips together, along with some strategically placed clamps(bow and stern). The local guy who showed me this method says I'll need 5-6 rolls of tape. You use a new piece for each dowel on each new strip. I am up to 4 strips on each side and the tape holds up just fine.

I post some more pics when I finish the current roll of film

Andrew