Jim Dodd

You have discovered the problems involved keeping the strips tight to the forms. There are more to come. Good luck ! Jim

It took a fair bit more work today on the ends to get the walnut sitting well at the ends. I used my oscillating tool with a sander head...

Picking up a 50# canoe and portaging it, is harder than doing the same with a 30# canoe. It doesn't matter how much you weigh, or how...

The weight savings is from glassing, the outside of the canoe. The weave is buried. so no fill coats required. The weight savings is...

So lately, I finished up another Composite canoe. Where I use a stripper as a Male mold. After I varnished the inside. It Dawned on me...

Bead and Cove, helps in the entire process. It reduces the amount of sanding, due mostly to excess glue, and misaligned strips. It...

Twice over the years, the double layer would have been the "Stitch in Time" Once, on a friend's canoe, that developed a small split, in...

I use staples where needed.... I love these clamps. They are like an extra hand. They hold the strip in place, so I can place a staple...

Thank you for the reply to clear things up, Mark. I am aware of the purpose of staples: holding strips against form and glue line until...

Hi Max, The concept of staples is to keep the strips tight against the forms while also keeping them snug against the previous strip...

Those fasteners are double headed picture hanging nails that I've used once already. They used to be a lot cheaper on Amazon. I'm...

Over the 35 years of building these things, I've always gone stemless. It's easier, and I like the look. Never had a problem with the...

I too am interested in the fasteners, you are using ? Looks like a great start. In my opinion, it's fun to modify plans. Makes the...

Hey Mike, Glad to see you’re starting your stretched Kite build. The builder guide that comes with the plans gives excellent directions...

I'm assuming that you are also stretching the form spacing, along with widening the hull ? Jim