Since this board is largely about asking questions and sharing knowledge, here are “Things I’ve learned building my strip kayaks” (Long post)

1 Kayaks are meant to be beautiful at 10 feet viewing distance. You can find flaws in almost anything at 10 inches distance.
2 You’ll always think your kayak has more flaws than anyone else can find.
3 Make sure to mark the DWL on the ends when lofting.
4 If you even think the boat is twisted stop, take the whole night, and make sure your convinced it’s straight. As mentioned elsewhere on this board, your eye can detect flaws you may not be able to easily measure. Don’t keep stripping, the further you go, the more that you may need to tear back off.
5 Poplar works pretty well for stripping, especially if you want a light colored bottom.
6 Cedar is easier to bend/cut/plane/sand than poplar.
7 Roto-zips™ work great for cutting out cockpits.
8 Raka 5 oz fiberglass is barely visible at 3 foot (see #1 above).
9 Precoating the boat works well if you’re not going to be around while the epoxy soaks in on the glass wet out (I had to get to bed for work). If the epoxy can’t soak in randomly, the unsupervised cure will go much better.
10 Pour or pump the rein and hardener into the cut you’ll be mixing in. If you use a cup to measure then you must waste time scraping the sides in order to be accurate. This time can really add up.
11 When doing fill coat, use the squeegee. Brush applied coats are much thicker and not only add weight but may end up running on vertical areas, causing real headaches when you need to sand.
12 Don’t use fiberglass ‘tape’ for the outer seam. It was a woven edge that makes a bump. Cut strips from your main roll instead.
13 Emery cloth is far better than sandpaper for sanding. Especially if you can get the heavy industrial grade. Its waterproof and wears very well, especially when wet sanding. Get a roll width that will fit your sander.
14 Emery cloth can be purchased cheaply at many discount stores (warehouse junk type stores). I get all the cloth for 3 kayaks for less than $30.
15 Ross Leidy’s deck loops are nearly unbreakable (made mine with oak).
16 Marker works great for doing wet sanding (Thanks Vaclav), just make sure you don’t miss any spots. Use a dark marker so its easier to see. Red on a brown kayak is a bad plan.
17 All those dust control measures people suggest aren’t just paranoia, dust freckles can & do happen on final coats of varnish.
18 Don’t try to use the dregs of the varnish can, just accept that you’ll be throwing a little away, even if it was $30-$70/quart.
19 Ross Leidy’s cartop saddles work great and are rock steady.
20 You can’t bend oak into saddles it its more than 3/32” thick, even if you boil it.
21 A Greenland paddle can be made for nearly no cost and weighs what a very expensive Euro-style weighs. Mine ended up at 29.5 oz and cost $15.
22 If you plane a Greenland paddle too thin, it can be stiffened up nicely with a little glass and epoxy on the blades. Carbon looks even cooler.

Results of my first boat: Guillemot Single, 35 pounds, uncountable compliments. Working on a Guillemot double now so I can addict more people. Hoping to have things ready to do a trip from Upper Michigan’s Keweenaw to Grand Rapids Michigan (500+ miles coastal water, hoping to go through the Sault St Marie Locs)

I realize that several things listed are my opinion only, and that several are hotly debated on this board, but this is what I’ve learned so far.