> I'm part way through my first stitch and glue project, CLC Chesapeake
> 17. Taped and epoxied the inside of the hull. Flipped it over, cut
> the copper ties and sanded the bottom of the hull. Congratulated myself
> on the absolutely perfect keel line and stern. Then I noticed that
> the bow appears twisted. Looks like the bottom panels and the chine
> panels did not mate in a perfect straight line, thus the bow has a
> slight buldge. It's difficult to figure out a way to tell how far
> things are off and what to do about it. I've been trying to sand off
> the buldge, but the plywood on one side is getting a little thin.
> I'm thinking that a bow that is not perfect with respect to the centerline
> of the boat could create some real problems. Any ideas? Could I build
> up the other side of the buldge with some extra fiberglass and epoxy.
> Is this problem apt to be a bid deal?

> Thanks for any ideas.

> jim

If the twist is above the water line it may have no effect on how the boat tracks. First see if the twist straightens out when you wire on the deck. If not, paddle it a bit to see if there are any real problems. Then you can work on those.

Worry about solutions to problems only after the problems develop. (Some problems NEVER develop, so why lose sleep over them.)

Maybe all you'll need is to shift weight, seating, ballast or cargo to trim the craft. Maybe adding the deck will straighten things. There are all kinds of 'maybes'.

Trying to sand out bulges in thin plywood might create bigger problems than the bulge itself. You could sand right through that plywood. I'm worried about the thin area you have now. I'd put a small patch of extra fiberglass fabric over that spot when I 'glassed the hull.

If you cut the patch a bit larger than the area you've thinned, round off the corners, and slide it under the outer 'glass layer as you apply the resin you'll have that reinforcement sandwiched in neatly. It will probably be invisible.

If everything goes hideously wrong and the boat will only travel in small circles to the left when you are finished, please write back for suggestions and possible fixes. :)

Best of luck to you on this. Don't despair, things are going much better than you think. The boat will be just fine.

Paul Jacobson