: Took the Baidarka out for a saran wrap test the other day and had a
: new experience. When I was getting into the kayak it sounded
: like popcorn as every rib I touched snapped and cracked!

I assume you mean that the ribs actually broke, as opposed to just making cracking sounds. If that's the case, I don't see much choice other than to disassemble the frame and replace the ribs with hardwood such as oak or ash. They're much stronger and bend much easier. For best results, you want vertical grain ribs with no run-out. Ideally, the wood should be either green or air-dried, rather than kiln-dried.

I'm glad to hear that the jig helped.