Thanks for the response but I fear the worst.
I have swopped the forms in the middle as per the book so that leaves the strongback as the problem. I made a 16ft strongback and cut it to 14ft 11in as per the appendix at the back but if all the forms are equadistant then the strongback I have must be too short?..switching the direction in the middle won't change anything distance wise.
Looks like I've got something other than the sheers to worry about then!

: the forms should line up evenly, my guess is that in the middle you didnt
: switch the forms facing the other direction. there is 12" between
: each for 8 is no different.

: the sheer strip question is just making sure you have not glued the two sheer
: strips togeter. there is one for the hull and one for the deck. if you cut
: off the bead from both its much easier because you have a cove to catch
: your glue. the cove always facing up.

: the two flat edgeds of the sheers will not join together nicely around the
: curves of the forms, so you have to match them by eye. use a chisle or
: plane to create a nice joint between the sheer strips.

: read that part of the book a few more times and it will make sence.
: especially after you have started stripping the hull a bit.

: nicks book is very orderly, if you follow along exactly it will all work out.
: but there are a few jumps, so you should read about a chapter ahead.