I find it easiest to put all of the forms on the strongback first. Then I check for alignment, moving those that seem the most out. This way you are not dependant on one being "right" and following its lead, instead you are letting them come to a concensus. I will some times string them all on and then use a stick at each end to hold a string over the centerline and align to this string.

Before you put on the forms, eyeball down your strongback. It might be dead straight (unlikely but possible) if it is you can just use the edges of the strongback as your reference points. If it is nearly straight, run a length of fishingline down the length and pull it tight. This will serve as a pretty good reference. If it is more crooked you may need to depend on a string held away from the forms.

Regardless, don't try to align them individually, instead align them in relation to the entire boat.

: The crux of the problem is than I do not seem to have a reference point for
: the first form. Everything seems to assume that this one must be correct.
: After I have placed three (or four or five) forms and sight down them I can
: see that thay are not aligned. By the way, I use the vertical center-line,
: the water-line ("bottom of 2x4" line) and the "top of
: 2x4" line.

: Now I can move the forms to make them line up, but this suposes that my first
: form is correctly aligned. If it is not I will be building a boat on the
: skew, if you see what I mean. Thinking about it as I sit here, I could of
: course make sure the water-line and vertical centerline are
: "level" with a spirit level, but that also suposes that my floor
: is level ?

: I have one other question as well.

: When you have drawn the centerline's on the strong back and the reference
: lines on the forms, you then place the forms on the strongback faceing
: towards each end crossing over at the center. Then you screw
: "cleats" onto the strongback in front of the forms. Doing this
: however obscures the centerlines on the strongback making aligning rather
: difficult. I ended up drawing lines on the cleats and then aligning these
: with the centerlines on the strongback and then aligning the forms with
: the new lines on the cleats ! Is this the right thing to do ? or have I
: read the book wrong (always a possability) ?

: Thanks for the help

: Ian