Form

After building the strongback I put together a set of spacers for the forms.  This allows me to lock in the form boards without screwing them in place.  Each spacer is precisely 11.5” with the exception of the center locking spacer.  This one is cut into two parts and made to accept wedges so I can snug the whole setup together from the center.  The rest are simply 1” x 4” boards screwed & glued to form a U-shape that slide over the strongback between the form boards.  After they were built I was careful to square up each end with the sander.  None of the spacers are screwed to the strongback.  Below you can see the center spacer with its wedges.  I used pressure treated hardwood because that’s all I had left after assembling the others.  There are 13 spacers in all. 

 

As you can see we here at KudaMuda’s Kayak Shop undergo some pretty rigorous QC by our in-house lab.

The form boards are made from particle board and have little nubs on the outside edge and inside where they slide over the strongback.  I used a file to remove the ones on the inside and my bench top belt sander for the outside (Ryobi model BD4600 4" belt and 6" disk sander).  Once removed it only took a few minutes to slide on the numbered forms and insert the spacers.  The plans include a measurement from the bow end to the cockpit.  In the pictures below the forms are in place but not secured.  I will need some shims for the nose pieces before I can screw them to the strongback and I won’t have those until I rip the lumber.  Everything right now is just test fitted.

 

Note the nose piece for the stern is not in place here.

There are virtually no instructions for the kit.  You do get a few key measurements but there are absolutely no written instructions on how to proceed with assembling the strongback or forms.  They don’t even tell you in what sequence to install the forms.  The only written instruction is an update to Schade’s book which I suppose is intended to be your construction guide.  For the cost of the kit I don’t think including a one page assembly guide would be asking too much.  Just be aware if you do purchase a kit it’s also a good idea to buy Schade’s book.  While it won’t provide specific instructions on what to do with the pile of wood that comes in the box it will give you enough insight to figure it out on your own.