I don't think that hot glue, ie. from a glue gun and not a heated glue pot would not give you any appreciable "open time" to get the strips into proper position. Epoxy would be the best I think but expensive. A good quality carpenters' glue will do the trick provided that you plan to seal the finished boat with an epoxy skin. It worked for me on kayak paddles.

> I'm planning for my first stripbuilt kayak and have heard of
> people using hot glue, wood glue or epoxy to bond the strips together.
> Is there "right" or best way to do it? Hot glue seems like
> it would be quickest and easiest but is this as strong as wood glue?
> Epoxy seems like the strongest but slow and messy. Does hot glue run
> the risk of softning if the finished kayak is left out in direct sunlight?
>