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first time builder w/Cape Charles: HELP!
By:Steve Gersh
Date: 8/20/1999, 2:47 am

Okay, gang. I need some help.

I bought a Cape Charles (18') kit a couple of years ago, got the plans, got Chris's book and I thought I was all set.

Oh, by the way, I've never built anything before in my life (unless you count a butcher block cutting board in shop class in 7th grade).

I read the postings as to how easy it was and I'm a fairly avid kayaker, so I thought I'd cut my teeth on this "easy" project. Anyway, it's now been two years, and I've gotten as far as stitching up the panels. I know now is the moment of truth -- time to glue and I'm terrified that I'm going to do something wrong and my kayak will forever have some kind of right angle in it introduced by my incompetence. So here are some questions:

- How do I raise up the kayak from the sawhorses so I can glue the thing in the first place? The sawhorses have flat tops and the bottom of the kayak is angled. When I called CLC, they recommended I build some kind of curved support to cradle the kayak, but my building skills are presently maxxed out! Is there a simple way?

- They say to sight down the kayak to eliminate twisting. I've read the book and scrutizined the plans, and as near as I can tell, twisting is an old shipbuilding term which completely escapes me. How can my cockeyed view of the world tell if the kayak is twisting and in what direction?

- How long does epoxy last? I've been storing it in it's bottle (West, marine grade) for two years.

- What are the warning signs that I'm doing a lousy job?

Thanks!!!!

- Steve

Messages In This Thread

first time builder w/Cape Charles: HELP!
Steve Gersh -- 8/20/1999, 2:47 am
hang it from the ceiling
john rominski -- 8/25/1999, 1:37 pm
Re: first time builder w/Cape Charles: HELP!
John Delin -- 8/21/1999, 9:34 pm
Epoxy okay?
Steve Gersh -- 8/26/1999, 2:31 pm
Re: first time builder w/Cape Charles: HELP!
Don Beale -- 8/20/1999, 11:14 am
Upsidedown worked for me
Brian T. Cunningham -- 8/25/1999, 2:09 pm
Re: first time builder w/Cape Charles: HELP!
Hank -- 8/20/1999, 11:00 am
Re: first time builder w/Cape Charles: HELP!
Bobby Curtis -- 8/20/1999, 8:15 am
Re: first time builder w/Cape Charles: HELP!
Frank -- 8/20/1999, 7:45 am