: Maybe, maybe not - the joins are a about 10" long each on the bottom,
: 4" on the sides (I'm not going out in the dark to check)and the
: cockpit area is likely to be glassed inside (makes two layers total). The
: stress on the sides, supported top and bottom is minimal so what is going
: to break? Taking the sides, it would be better the joint broke than the
: panel on a heavy impact. Any impact that would break the join would have
: to occur actually on the join anyway. Also an impact would just as likely
: to be any where along the 5 metres of hull length. On the bottom, because
: we work off a rocky coast, I suspect she will glass the cockpit area
: inside (only) for added strength.

: I'll admit some of my kayaks have had holes in the hulls - only because of
: misuse by dropping them from a great height on to something really sharp
: like the corner of a workbench.

: Alex

Well you're alot more brave than I am. Not much strength with only one side taped. Not sure how long it would last either since the ply edges then are unprotected from water absorbtion on the outside.

Bill H.