Hi,

Here I am, halfway through stripping the hull of my Guillemot. I've tackled half-width strips, extreme twist at the ends, fussy strips trying to leave the forms, a fancy racing stripe with bevelled edges, and even the removal of a glued strip that I mangled. But despite the funny angles and rust spots (don't ask) and slow progrss, I'm feeling good, and psyched to be past the chines.

But just now, I have reconsidered my initial form alignment, and I am worried. My stern forms gradually deviate vertically from the supposedly-true pencil line on the side of the strongback. When I was doing the form alignment, I checked the reference-mark alignment so many times that I was willing to discount this problem and chalk it up to slight bend in the 2x4 strongback, but now I am not so sure. If it truly is out, then the stern may be tilted upward by 1/2 inch, starting roughly amidships.

Since it's too late to do anything about this, I just wonder... How serious would a 1/2" wheelie in the tail of a Guillemot affect its performance?

Yours in slight anxiety,

C