Timfish,

You could do it that way, but I think the reason for putting the keelson in first is to get the correct size shape and placement of the ribs. Most references to skin on frame building that I have read say keelson first then ribs. Wolfgang Brink uses a temporary stringer instead of a keelson to make sure the ribs fit correctly.

So, have you launched it yet, if so, how does it perform?

Mike

: So I built the North Alaska Recovery Kayak as shown in Sea Kayaker of October
: '98. It's a skin-on-frame ten footer. As per instructions, the keelson was
: attached to the gunwhales before any of the ribs were bent and installed.
: When time comes to install the ribs, the keelson is actually an obstacle,
: something I'm thinking will happen again on the Umiak I'm working on now.
: So tell me, is there any reason the ribs can't precede the keelson
: installation? It would sure simplify getting those ribs fitted into their
: mortises. They could be tweeked as needed for fair lines, then the keelson
: could be laid over them.