: I would like to know the relative merits of building with the forms mounted
: above a strongback and likewise the pros and cons of building with the
: strongback running through the forms. Also, has anyone tried using hot
: glue instead of staples as mentioned in some earlier postings on
: stapleless construction. Thanks in advance.

The internal spine approach is the simplest, cheapest, compact, quickest aligning, aesthetic, boneass dumbass straightforward, and allows bozos like me time to mostly think of how to bld the yak and not how to construct a form edifice to fill up the shop.

It is a stiff, aligned constant that can always be used as a rigid armature right up until the seaming.

As an aesthetic process, you can see the whole shape, without intrusion, emerge from the structure of the strongback. You can maybe do a little planning on the run as you see possibilities, instead of workbench and 2 x 10's or obtrusive o/s forms, in front of you. There is no doubt that the deck aligns w/ the hull - its right there, not separate. You have a stiff surface for sanding. A rigid form to hang it up to the rafters on when you get called away from home for extended periods. Glassing both sides? An armature for when outside glassed only and you're away for a week? And when you pull the yak off, you can see where its from.

But many alignment methods will and have worked to wondeful results.

But for the most simple and straightforward?? the words almost say it.