Measuring the tapering gap beneath a chine strip.
Planing a tapered strip to fill the gap.
This is a time-consuming but satisfying procedure of alternately fitting the strip to its gap and planing away the excess "meat", then checking the fit again and planing away a little more until the strip is snuggly housed. The block plane starts to feel comfortable in the hand and the eye is soon distinguishing between fractions of millimetres.
The port & and starboard flanks now closed out.
The stern and bow profiles have been bevelled to accept a series of fine laminated top-strips that will be planed into a razor sharp edge.
Spotted gum may be used here for its increased density and resistance to impact.
Tomorrow's optimistic intention is to lay the cedar strips for the remainder of the hull.
Thanks to Laurie for the advice provided today on laying Kevlar fabric along the hull's ridgeline. It's a really sensible inclusion for kayaks in our part of the world and I'm looking forward to incorporating this innovation with this kayak.
