Thanks Etienne...I have been using your build as a reference all along. It's invaluable!

: Hi Darel

: If you use clamps between forms to maintain alignment, it is
: important (especially where the hull curves into the chine area)
: not to allow the clamp face to distort the radius of the hull
: shape by twisting the timber outward. The distortion may be
: small, but it accumulates with every added strip.

: See the picture below: this is a fairly flat area of the deck of my
: North Star, but even here I have not placed the middle of the
: clamp face on the join.

: In a curved area I take care to only have a mm or two of the new
: strip in the clamp's jaws: just enough to stop it slipping
: off-line but not enough to stop it laying naturally flat on the
: forms.

: Your real problem though, I would agree with other posts here, is
: too much clamping force holding the strips together. That much
: force would necessarily require an absolutely perfect bevel
: angle.

: Small repeated errors add up with each added strip. You are correct
: to keep an eye on the overall picture as it develops and adjust
: for or error or remove and replace a couple of strips as the
: project develops. Denial just leads to disappointment and
: greater frustration down the line.

: A baidarka is a fairly ambitious first project. I promise you, you
: will absolutely love the boat on the water, the odd imperfection
: will be very secondary to its performance once you have paddled
: it. The desire for perfection is nullified by its attainment.

: If you haven't yet come across it, I have a build log of my North
: Star at the following link.
: http://www.etiennemuller.com/northstar/index.html

: Have fun

: Etienne