: I am building my first strip built kayak from a kit that came with
: precut forms. As I set up the station forms I noticed a few
: stations were off and tried to figure out the problem. After
: messing with things for several hours I have noticed that the
: “precut” station forms are somewhat inaccurate. I don't have
: the form drawings so it is hard to determine where things are
: off. I did trace the forms to check for symmetry and several
: were off by as much as 1/8”. I am not sure how much difference
: that will make on a finished boat. I also notice that on 5 of
: the forms the distance from the centerline to the shear line is
: off from anywhere to 1/16” to just shy of 1/4”. I have sent
: pictures of the worst form to the supplier where you can clearly
: see the error and am waiting a response. The centerlines on the
: forms line up OK and everything else seems to line up, other
: than a few low spots. I am just wondering what is acceptable for
: form accuracy and how I should proceed. At this point, IF these
: forms are not acceptable, I am wondering where else things are
: off (that I haven't caught yet) and what I should do- replace
: just the ones I have caught or ask for all new forms? Any
: advice/direction would be GREATLY appreciated.

: Thank you,
: FlyYaker

If you're making your own forms the way is to lay the pattern full size on the wood, cut it roughly to shape then sand to the pattern lines. So plus or minus 1/16" would be acceptable. 1/8" or more just isn't. I'd return them.

Bill H.