: I use full-length strips (scarfed if necessary) , but I built a
: couple of canoes 'back in the day' with butt-jointed strips. I
: recall that they looked (under varnish) and worked fine, but my
: standards may be low (I use staples).

: Kayaks tend to be more curvy'twisty than many canoes.

: Never join the strips at a station- Rob is absolutely correct on
: that.

: If you are using bead-and-cove strips, it is a bit easier to get
: the butt-jointed strips aligned with the previous strip.

: You can also try putting a bit of scrap under the join area and
: fire staples through. (BTW, this is an excellent way to find out
: how effective your new electric stapler is, in driving staples
: into fingers.....)

: Another strategy is to scarf the strips 'as you go', using a hand
: saw and a simple jig to cut the angles, and a spring clamp. Some
: folks do this 'on the boat' or you can improvise a long shelf
: for a work surface.

: Adequate 'portable' table saws are pretty cheap these days, and a
: few 2x4 , a sheet of plywood, and some screws will build you a
: safe saw and infeed/outfeed tables for cutting full length
: strips. (Improvise a proper ripping fence so the strips clear
: the blade.) Use the driveway or the back yard- it doesn't take
: that long.

: I would never rip with a radial-arm saw, but perhaps I'm a scaredy
: cat.

: Cheers
: John

OK - joining at the forms is certainly out - although I never really planned on going this route anyway.

The longest planks I can find locally are 12' so I'm destined to scarph each strip regardless (Boat is 18.5'). The question is whether two scarphs is suitable. I'm guessing that I can get away with - especially if I place my scarphs in areas that are less "twisty". Actually the relative "boxiness" of the Black Pearl's hull may help this. Butt joins were never really considered either.

Working outside is basically out of the question until May - when the weather here is half-way suitble.

Radial arms have a bad rep but I'm not entirely sure why. I've been using mine extensively on all kinds of projects since 1991 with no incidence whatsosver - knock on wood. Like any piece of potentially dangerous machinery, it can hurt you if you're not careful and/or properly set up.

Cheers,

Sean