Funny timing...this morning I began the end pours for the stern end, which has a horrible gap (up to 3/16") between deck and hull in one section. I poured in the first batch of thickened--but still fairly runny--epoxy. It's not enough to fill the area totally but I stuck around long enough to feel it get hot, so I decided to wait on adding more. Came in for lunch and to surf the 'net, and VOILA! there was your post. Am going to add the second batch for that side right after lunch. Then wait a few hours to do the other side of the stern, and I hope that's it! I am pretty fed up with working on the hard-to-reach insides and actually look forward to fairing and sanding the exterior. (Yes, I know I will regret saying this.)

I did read your reply about varnishing. Living in a UV-intense area (Colorado), I am going to varnish the exterior plus cockpit floor and sides. That should protect the places that get direct sunlight.

Rikki, I'm glad to hear you are paddling your first build 5 years later. I've been hearing so much about first builds being practice boats that I wondered if it was a subtle way of saying, "They all leak and pull to one side because they weren't built straight." My keel line looks good and straight, even though I have plenty of other "ick!" things to fix.