Preparations

I have spent the last week preparing to build our kayak by building an internal box-beam to hold the forms and setting up the strongback to hold the box-beam. The box-beam is a 2"x4" beam constructed of 3/4" plywood with the corners rounded using a router. The idea is to create a dimensional stable (so it won't warp) and straight platform on which to build the kayak. The forms have a 2"x4" hole through the center so that they are fastened along the length of the beam with a spacing of 12". The result when it is set up should be a sort of kayak skeleton upon which the strips of cedar are attached to form the boat.