I have just completed my set-up (molds and ladder jig) for my first attempt at building a kayak, using the Putz book for instruction. Per earlier suggestions from Mike Hanks, I have reduced the size of the bow upright by 4 inches and the stern upright by 1 inch. What effect will this have on attaching the bottom stringers, chines and gunwales to the stems? In particular, I'm assuming that I will need to impose some significant bend to the gunwales (other strips as well?) in order to have them end up resting on the shortened uprights. Should I anticipate any problem in achieving this? Putz's design, with its relatively unraised bow and stern, doesn't appear to require a whole lot of upward bend to the strips. I'd very much appreciate any thoughts from Mike or others. Gary