Sooo... I have started building the strongback for my guillemot single and after much frustration this is where I am at...

First cut 2x4 to 14' 11', and cut tapers in to the end to fit the stem peices. then chalk lined the top and one side.
First mistake was to not pay attention to the height of the chalk line on the side so in the end I had no room for the nessesary adjustments.
Second mistake was not making sure the 2x4 was flat on the top edge so troubles with height adjustment coupled with not enough adjustment do to inferior chalk line.
Frustration made me screw the whole thing together just to see the shape and hope I could line it all up... not happening.. too much time mickey mousing and not enough time doing it properly.
Inevitably I unscrewed it all flipped the 2x4 over drew new centerline and side height line a do-over oh well.
Used a level at each station, lined up the height to my side mark (no more than two inches in any spot as per book) that I drew on the forms in the middle of the cutout hole from the top down. Working good so far now!
Fourth mistake was setting all the forms in place with the waterline touching the 2x4 mostly doesnt sound so bad until I flipped the whole thing over a do to previous mistakes or whatever it looks like the two stems are off by like half an inch HA ha.
So now All I gots to do is re taper the ends of the 2x4 so I can also have height adjustment on the end forms and I should be ok!?!

I think my final mistake was that when I drew the line on the side of the 2x4 I drew it from the top down s othe waterline was touching the 2x4 it looks like the difference would have worked itself out if I had drawn the line from the bottom up so that there would have been a gap between the waterline and the 2x4 lessons leaned I guess.

Also in the end I still haven't fastend the end forms but putting them in place and measuring the strongback I get a total length of 16' 9" whats up with that I thought it was 17'? Again 2x4 is 14' 11" and plans where purchased and cut to the lines so I don't know.

I have been doing this so far while at work in between waiting for gelcoat and laminate to dry so not much time has been dedicated to thinking it through Again a lesson learned. I figure I am going to lose alot of time in the wood working portion of things do to my apparent lack of skill but figure that when it comes to sanding and glassing it up I should be able to make it back up hopefully leveling the field.

Dave