Might there yet be some (constructional) reason why this would not work for kayaks? cockpit coaming, hatches, etc.

The length/diameter ratio of kayaks being what it is stiffness should not be a problem?

Wonder if someone could do a quick and dirty estimate of possible weight savings vs. a WRC stripper? based on density of strip materials. Maybe there isn't much to gain...

Thanks for posting details about van Dyne's building methods - fascinating bit of history!

: Peter Van Dyne of Annapolis, MD built a number of sail boats from 16 to 40
: foot using this same method. He used polyurethane (PU) foam ripped to
: 1" x 1" x 8' long and laid them up over a hull form just like
: strippers use only bigger. He used toothpicks to "nail" each
: strip to the previous one. Faired them out and lightly and carefully
: glassed them inside and out. (Peter is the guy who taught me that you
: NEVER need to sand the glass itself if you perform your layups carefully).
: His methods produced very light boats but not real durable. The ones he
: built using 2 pound density refrigeration foam (green) where feather light
: but had delamination problems because the "edge strength" of the
: foam was not high enough. Even the 4 lb denisity foam (reddish pink) boats
: had problems, but that was because they were so lightly glassed and were
: easily holed or dented. If you took care of them though, they were and are
: great boats. Very light, high performance even though many of his designs
: were throw backs to old fashion designs. It was such a gas to watch his
: little Tancook Schooners wipe up on big racing boats. Peter was an
: excellent designer/builder, way-way-way ahead of his time. He got bored
: with boats in his old age and went in experimental aircraft design and
: building. I think his foam strip & glass method would translate
: perfectly from wood/glass to foam/glass construction. The right foam to
: use is an important question. I'd consider using a 4 lb PU foam like the
: white stuff that is used to make surf boards (what we used to call Clarke
: Foam). This is available in sheets of various thicknesses from the
: aviation supply companies like Wicks Aviation. 3/8" sounds like about
: the right thickness.