Marc,

Thanks for the info, see my comments below:

: Brian,

: The bow and stern loops were meant to copy Bill Hamm's method of
: installation. I made the loop by overlapping the webbing across
: the base, stitched in a simple rectangular pattern. Then I
: burned screw holes thru at the ends and screwed SS sheet metal
: screws thru the decorative SS washers. Previously I had put a
: steel plate inside the strap (these are hollow climbing straps)
: with predrilled holes in the metal plate to give some extra hold
: down power. The stitching was primarily to get the overlapped
: ends to act as one, giving better strength.

Looks like I will be heading to the climbing store when the time comes to do deck rigging. I may substitute aluminum plates for the SS since I have some leftover from the floor.

: This is my first time with the Morris method, but I believe you
: could reasonably build with a single center seam. There would be
: a little less confidence that you had the skin straight when you
: do the first side attachment. Given that you would have the
: whole circumference of cloth to shrink out any wrinkles, it
: might not even be a real concern.

: If you wanted a visable feature along the centerline you might try
: making the cap strip of a dark wood. I debated what the visual
: effect would be. Basically I went with Poplar I had from a
: stripped project, because it is very tough for its weight and it
: machines very well. The capstrip has very small features, I
: would worry about cedar. I did make some cedar test strips for
: the cap and they were just fine, I just never actually installed
: them. The cap strip is not structural, so it probably is not a
: concern.

We're probably going to stick with stitched for now. Peter likes the look and it seems fairly simple. I'll probably regret it later. It would be fun to use the new router on it though...

: The perimeter line is rope from a climbing shop. Getting it tight
: with the strap loop mounting is a bit of a problem, basically I
: needed a better knot at the back. There is a bungee cross before
: and after the cockpit.

What knot did you use? I have sometimes had good luck with a modified trucker's hitch. It takes two people to tie it the way you are needing.

Brian