: Structurally the fiberlass layer you apply to cover the outside of the boat
: should be an adequate replacement for the layer of tape you sanded off.
: You are simply swapping one layer of glass cloth for one or two layers of
: tape. Assuming you don't have joints meeting up all the way around the
: boat, after the panels are wired and filleted together they are supported
: by the panels alongside them. That fiberglass tape just held the butt
: joint in alignment during construction. Its addition to structural
: strength should be minimal in a completed boat.

: PGJ

Hi all,
Thanks for the advice. I searched the archives and found a good thread from February 2003 (Gini, you might be interested in this one...many people chimed in) discussing the use of glass tape over butt joints and it was useful also. It appears that many people don't use tape on the outside of the butt seam on either the hull or deck...so, I'm going to sand mine off of the outside of the hull and deck to avoid the color band and general uneveness of my taping. Should look much better...as long as I don't create a depression in the wood from oversanding...next learning experience just around the corner thanks.