Very good point Bill; thanks for bringing it up. The first 3ft or so of the bow and stern will be decked over and will use sawn plywood frames under, but a gluelam job like you suggest could be just the ticket for the open interior.

: Ok, I'm thinking of building a "traditional" (in the modern sense)
: greenland kayak so I too have been thinking steam bent ribs. But should
: point out that the ribs don't necessarily have to be steam bent. The could
: also be laminated and with really thin strips you wouldn't have to worry
: so much about the grain run out nor the moisture content. For the stated
: 3/8" thick ribs, 3 - 1/8" strips laminated together could be
: pretty easily bent to a very tight radius without steam and once glued up
: would be likely stronger than the steam bent version.

: Bill H.