: Thanks Bill,
: I appreciate your thoughts and understand, but that isn't possible
: with the Pinguino kit since the wood is cut exactly to size and
: designed for a butt joint - scarfing would reduce the length and
: throw everything out. I would have probably enjoyed the scarfing
: but the splines offer an equal challenge I think and are a
: possible alternative to a taped butt joint.

: Perhaps I will test a scarf joint in my experiments or maybe just
: wait for my next build! This is my first S&G but I enjoy
: woodwork, indeed I taught it for a while.

Has anyone really had a butt joint fail? I've been paddling a long time and I've never seen it.