I have designed several S&G boats both using CAD software and manually. It pays to build one or several scale models first. You can use mat board available at art stores or framing shops to make a scaale model. Make the model as large as possible to minimize measureing errors. you can use tape and elmers glue to assemble the model. Better looking models can be make from birch plywood available in hoobie shops.

> I recently started building a new stitch and glue kayak that I designed
> myself. When I began assembling the panels I noted that the hull assumed a
> greater rocker (about 2.5 inches from middle to bow) than the intended 1
> inch. I was determined to achieve the designed rocker, so I did some
> additional planing on the innner edges of the hull pieces and applied some
> bracing and forced the full to assume the shape I wanted. This caused the
> inner edges of the hull panels to gap apart about .25 inch on either side
> of the middle. I rolled the boat and put duct tape over the seams so that
> resin and fillets wouldn't fall through. As a consequence of all this
> forcing I had a very difficult time making sure that the boat was not
> twisted. If I had to do this over again, I think I would have re-made the
> two hull panels or just allowed the hull to assume the greater than
> intended rocker. I wonder if others have had similar experiences and if
> so, how you addressed them?