: First I would like to thank all of you for your help; I've been lurking
: around this site all year as I build my CLC Ches 17. Your tips and
: insights have been invaluable. But now I have my first real problem.

Here's the only solution: Do whatever you want!

Any of the ideas you suggested will work well, go for it. I had the same problem and used a thick fillet of epoxy. I had nearly 3/8" on my front bulkhead as well. You don't need to fillet out very much--just bridge the gap and apply a little glass tape if you want.

It's not a critical problem, and you're already on the right track.

Shawn

: I decked the boat and now find there is separation at both bulkheads;
: 1/8" at the rear and up to 3/8" in the front. Both deckbeams
: (ahead of the coaming and at the nose) have solid contact. For the rear I
: think a stout fillet will be okay. But what about the front bulkhead? Do I
: make a taped fillet, or try to shim the gap smaller first? The boat has a
: curved foredeck; I think the root problem was that the front bulkhead was
: not radiused correctly against the shapes of the deckbeams on either size.
: Thanks in advance.