: I've got the stations and strongback built for the Shooting Star. I haven't
: started to build it yet and may well build the Cape Ann Storm first. After
: reading Dyson's Baidarka and Morris' Skin on Frame book, I'm not planning
: on stripping the Shooting Star stern with steam-bent strips. That seems to
: be the part of the construction that everyone says presents the greatest
: difficulty. I'm also thinking of modifying the bow construction in a
: similar fashion to the Australian baidarka pictured in the Shearwater
: Boats gallery.

I'm sorry to hear you want to make changes before even trying the building methods I call for. The Shooting Star is a great boat. You may never know.

Have you tried steam bending before?

Steaming the strips for the tail piece is really quite simple and easy for a first time steaming experience.The key is to not rush. Steam a few pieces, clamp in place on the forms and let them dry. There are few here who've built the North Star. Perhaps they can tell you if they had problems with the tail piece construction.

Why do you say after reading Dyson and the other guy you don't want to strip the tail piece? They build SOF boats of course. You're going to graft a SOF tail on the Shooting Star?

And you want to change the bow too.

The saying "Too many cooks spoil the stew", could fit your results.

Good Luck,
Rob