: I suspect this kind of strongback would work well instead of all wood. Anyone
: willing to give it a try?

Nick -

You could get a nice heavy duty cardboard for the project from your local bike shop - - bicycle crates! Platt's a pretty interesting and innovative guy. I built an ultra-light SOF last summer using his approach. Works great and is fun to paddle. No barnacles or coral here on Lake Erie to tear the dacron, just the occasional piece of rebar in concrete.

Jim