Don, I'd suspect that it would be better to redo the scarf, even if it means having to put another in for the sides. I've found that if the scarf isn't lined up right and you sand it down you get a variation in the thickness of the panel which will show in the bends. In the two CLC boats I've done (no chesapeke though) I have had sufficient panels to redo a scarf without any worry. I'd suggest reading the earlier threads about stitching and bent boats... Best of luck!

> I've been lurking here a few weeks while I got everything together
> to start my first kayak project (a CLC Chesapeaske 17 from plans).
> Lots of good info here from what seems to be a knowledgable (sp?)
> group.

> Got my plans and okoume from CLC and got started.

> Everything was going well up until the other night when I un-clamped
> my scarf joints. Three of the joints came out very good to my surprise
> (since I have never done this before). The forth joint has a bit of
> a problem.

> It appears as if the clamp did not squeeze out enough epoxy between
> the scarf bevels and has raised a bit of a lip on the joint. Additionally,
> the panel has a slight bow to it.

> So now I'm wondering what to do about it. I have thought about
> sanding down the lip, and see how this looks when the panel is bent
> (it's one of the side panels). Or should I just cut out the bad joint
> and redo it. I'm a little worried about the length of the panel if
> I do this though.

> Any thoughts and input on this would be greatly appreciated.
>

> TIA

> Don Herring