Thanks for your thoughts John, I appreciate your taking the time.

I understand the idea of using a flexible batten to identify the fair curve of the maple line, in other words the fairness of the border curve between the dark and light cedar. I am not too worried about that aspect of the fairness. It is the fairness of the dark and light cedar surfaces that I am concerned with, not the fairness of the curve of the boundary line between them. I anticipate that the surface shape of the initial section(s) I put in should be fine because I can support the strips for one or two stations past the cut line before making the cut. By supporting the strips well past the cut line until the entire section is filled and the glue is dry, the shape of the deck surface after the cut should be pretty much exactly what it would be if the deck were continuous rather than divided into light and dark sections. My concern is that the final deck section which is butted to the cut line may not be shaped the way it would if the deck were continuous because the strips are not forced to flex the same way past the cut line. Because of this, the dark and light surfaces may not be fair across the cut line. Perhaps I am concerned with something that is not really a problem, but, as this is my first boat, I thought it prudent to ask before doing the work.

Thanks for any advice you or anyone else can provide.

Best regards,

Allan Edie

: You should be able to make a good fair curve. I use a flexible
: strip of wood as a guide when penciling where to cut.

: However, I would do the stripping order differently: First, strip
: both ends of the kayak with dark cedar. Then cut the fair curve
: using a Japanese saw (not sure what real name of the saw is).
: Next, lay in the maple accent strips, which will also highlight
: any unfair curve areas. Then just butt-join the light strips to
: the maple, running the other end into the cockpit area.

: My thinking is that there is value to getting the maple strip right
: before stripping the second side next to it.

: John