I mean it worked okay, but removing the tape is where the
: nightmare began. It left sticky strands everywhere and ten tons
: of tenacious stickum residue to somehow clean up. But I've just
: re-read Uncle Nick's book and there he is espousing packing
: tape. So what's the deal, did I just get cheap stuff or what?
: Nobody would volunteer for the experience I had.

: What's the best way to go about this, and I'm especially interested
: in hearing from guys who've put a lot of these things together:
: Mr. Schade, Mr. Macks, Mr. Babina, et al.?

I use "Clear Packing" tape not "Strapping Tape" which has fiberous embedded strands, is too skinny and costs a mint.

The 2" wide packing tape is plenty strong to bind an elephant's feet together. The trick is that it will stretch slightly
when pulled hard and work like a clamp. I only use 3M instead of the cheap stuff. 12" long strips every 12" along the sheer.

Loop one end of the tape over on itself so you have a pull tab. I end by sealing the exterior deck / hull joint with a strip of tape
so when I glass the interior seam resin cannot leak out. I use 6 oz. seam tape for the interior seam.

EXTERIOR SEAMS
I don't use bias cut glass for my exterior seams. I use straight cut glass and SHARP scissors. Cutting long strips of bias glass for seams is a pain in the "you know what" and they are like slinky accordions, changing width and length. Also very wasteful glass usage.

I think I saw Nick using some cool electric scissors in one of his videos.

I inherited some huge tailor's scissors which work well because I have a sharpening tool I use all the time. If the scissors are sharp
you won't get a lot of hanging strands of glass. PLUS, I roll on resin instead of brushing, which would drag out a lot of loose strands of glass. I cut a 1" wide piece of roller cover and put it on a small roller frame.

Another trick is to cant the boat to 45˚ to lay the glass along the exterior seam and apply weights to hold the glass seam tape in place until you can wet it out. I use small spring clamps which I have a bucket full.

HEY! Just buy my book already!!! Or read it if you've got it!

Rob