Hi Tom,

I would suggest sanding the OUTSIDE of the panels before starting to join the panels together. This will help to eliminate the markings left from the butt joints when the boat is completed (I just finished an Osprey Double and was left with some discoloration around the joints). After speaking to the folks at Pygmy, they agreed that the discoloration might be eliminated by pre-sanding the outside of the panels before gluing the butts together.

I wouldn't recommend bevelling the edges (except along the sheer as the instructions state). Bevelling could alter the overall dimensions and lessen the amount of thickened epoxy in the joint when gluing. I would however, suggest slightly bevelling the edges at the butt joints as the hardened tape at the butt will not compress as much as the rest of the edges causing the area around the butt joints to not be fair.

Good luck with your boat.

Dan
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: New member! Just received my Pygmy Osprey Standard. I hope one or more of you
: can answer a couple preliminary questions for me before I get started. Is
: it (or is it not) advisable to lightly sand the panels before I start to
: drill etc. AND - I notice that there are no beveled edges for the kit. Is
: it okey to bevel the inside edges of the panels? I would think that the
: sides would hold better and have less of a gap on the outside as the sides
: get stitched together.
: Does anyone have an opinion for me? thanks in advance.