: I am just begining my build of a sea flea and have built the
: strongback but it came out being 42" tall by the time I
: screwed the three 2x4s and 1x6 top plate on it. This seems like
: in the end once I get the forms set up a couple of inches above
: the strongbaack that I am going to be way to tall to be at a
: comfortable working height.
: Before I go cutting my stands down (with my luck too much) what is
: a good height for the top of the strongback to be before any
: frames or anything is put on? I am about 5' 10".

: Also on the sea flea 11 I know that the boat will wind up 11'
: overall but about how long should the gunnel strips be in front
: of the first station and behind the last station after they are
: pinched together I could not find this info on toms site but I
: did find it for the sea bee so it must be out there? This is a
: few steps ahead of myself but I like to wrap my head around
: things well before I jump in.

: Thanks for the advice and I would expect more questions as this is
: my first attempt at a sof.

: dave g

I generally rig my stands and strongback so that the gunwhale line (or shear on a wood strip) is about waist high on my manly 5'8" frame.

For the lengths of the gunwhales ahead and aft of the end stations for the Sea Fleas, I left about 4 feet aft and 3+ forward, looked at pics of other completed frames on Tom's site to guesstimate distances, then laid a tape measure set at 11 feet on the strongback. I moved this back and forth, looking at where the gunwhales and stringers wanted to intersect. Keeping the guesstimate distances from other builds in mind, I picked the positions for the 0" and 11" marks. Not exactly scientific, but I was unable to find the distances you're looking for anywhere either.

Kirk