Polestyrine flotation reinforcing?? I am building a plywood stitch and tape Nick Schade kayak. I have only half built it and already I am stunned by the inherent strength/stiffness of the hull.

This dramatically contrasts the punk fibreglass white water and extreme down river racers that I own. All my fibreglass kayaks have a shaped polestryine (3" thick) form (on edge from the keel to the peak of the deck) jammed in the bow and one in the stern. They run from very near the bow to just infront of the foot pegs and from behind the seat to near the stern.

These are for floatation to stop the hull sinking without trace if they flood. But they also seem to give the hulls their required stiffness. Take them out and the whole structure looses shape and gets the wobblies.

If your $5 bargain hasn't got such panels fitted, try some. My first kayak was alot like yours. I patched patches, gave it absolute death and it came back for more. Best fun I ever had.

Cheers Pete