: What are the relative merits of using an internal strongback (such as Nick
: uses) versus using an external srongback (the seemingly more traditional
: approach)?

: If you have plans intended for an external strongback and wish to use an
: internal one, how do you decide where to put the cutouts in the forms for
: the strongback?

Like Rob and Jay say, if your plans call for an external strongback, you will probably be best served with an external strongback. Especially if this is your first boat. Once you get more experience, you might want to vary a little, but save yourself some aggravation.

The advantages of the external strongback are: it is very rigid and stable, you can align the station forms more easily if they are out of alignment, and you can also set it up to be a handy work table. The disadvantages are: it is heavy, slightly more complicated to build, and when you are done building boats you are stuck with this big thing.

The advantages of internal are: it is dirt cheap if you use a 2x4, it is lightweight so you can pick the boat and forms up and move them while you are working, you can remove the hull or deck while working on the deck or hull without the forms falling apart, you can return the glassed deck and hull to the strongback if you need to leave the project, and when you are done with it you can turn the strongback into a greenland paddle or two. The disadvantage is it is more flexible, and it is very hard to find a good straight 2x4 these days, and when you do, it might warp when you get it home.

To overcome some of the problems with an internal, you can build a small boxbeam instead of using a 2x4, you can buy a more expensive cedar or other high quality wood instead of using studs (better paddles when your done), or if you are really serious you can use an aluminum extrusion.

The relative flexibility of a 2x4 is a legitimate issue, while it is not hard to overcome, it should not be ignored. And again, if your plans call for an external, the designer has probably assumed you are using an external strongback in other aspects of the construction and you may run into unexpected problems if you vary from the instructions.