Hi
Use the cheaters and use them before you really think you need them. If put in when the gap to fill is small, they are less noticeable (although they are barely noticeable anyway), easier to put in and faster to put in. That said, when I look at my boats or the boats of others, unless I really examine them closely, I don't see the cheaters at all. What seems like a big deal when you are building, usually ceases to matter when you are paddling.
best
don

: I think a lot of Petrel's are being built right now. I just started mine from
: the clc kit so I've been reading a lot of posts. I am curious whether most
: of you are building without cheaters? The bow upsweep is quite gradual and
: the first strip followed the sheer line easily. It looks like the entire
: set will lay quite nicely without using cheaters.

: The stern is quite another matter and it took quite a bit of heat to get the
: sheer strip positioned without rupturing in horizontal sheer. Maybe I'll
: use a few alternating cheaters there.

: What do the experienced builders recommend?