Nolan, Thanks for your insight on my question. My intent is to make the best kayak I can, and as this is my first one (West River 162), I have alot of questions. Both you and Lee point out a fact that I was not aware of; the fairing of the hull shape during construction.

As a profesional woodworker, tight joints are part of everything I make and my instinct, when faced with 1 to 4mm gaps, is to "fix" em. But, i t is not my intent to fix one thing only to have it screw other things up. Thats why I asked.

Will

> That would preclude the ability to adjust pannel alignment, which is
> crucual to shaping a faired hull with a stitch and glue design. As you
> seem determined to defeat this vital step in building a S&G, you will
> achieve a crippled, unfaired, and most likely unsymetrical hull shape.