Thanks for the input gents. I ordered my tree stakes from Farmtek (they have some nice poly panel products you should check out as well). I appreciate the source for the metal. The Rangeley has a flat run in the mid third of the boat, so it will be interesting to see if the metal connectors have any impact. I'm planning to play around a lot with the stringer count and placement and will likely try the end result with a tempy skin before committing to the final nylon.

I'm still conflicted w/r/t the weight issue. Wood Rangeley's were usually 100-150 pounds, and several accounts suggest that the extra weight was considered an asset in that it helped improve momentum between strokes and made tracking less suseptible to wind shifts. My conservative weight estimate is 90-100 pounds, with the stringers accounting for about 1/4.

: Has anyone every tried or considered using solid fiberglass rods as
: stringers for a SOF build? Certainly not light, but they seem
: practical for larger pulling or sailing boats where extra weight
: could be neutral or even a benefit. 3/8in x 8ft fiberglass tree
: stakes can be mail delivered for under $2.50 each, with 2 joined
: by 6-12in brass ferlues (sp?) for a 16ft stringer for under $6
: and less than 2.5lbs. I'm currently in build on a slightly
: modified 15ft SOF Rangeley with a flat timber bottom (16in
: midship) with probably 6 fiberglass stringers per side. With a
: stout ballistic nylon cover and white pigmented Zar poly coating
: I am expecting a classic planked profile.

: John