: David

: The winding sticks work really well. Also, stretch a string from bow to stern
: along the keel line and eyeball the string vs the keel line. If they
: overlap by eye reasonably well, the kayak is straight enough.

i would think that to judge the offset, a vertical string or plumbob off the extreme bow and stern so you can see each, would be about the handiest. (If the yak hull is down, open at top)

that way you may be able gunsight from one the other and sight to any part along the keel line to align- its like a pair of vertical winding sticks but every part of the keel must align when the strings align. It also may check the bow and stern twist where the winding sticks might be a little short to give the most accurate horizontal. like the bow/stern is way higher than it is wide.

but i'm not totally familiar w/ the building process w/ s&g's at this stage. If you do align it, how do you KEEP it aligned while gluing???