Attending to the staple holes and gaps in the bow and stern.

Preparing the bow and stern - filling all gaps so that i can fit the stem band.  I bought two tones of filler  - oak and pine  - the Oak seems to match the wood better so we will go with that.

While I wait for the filler to dry  I have flipped the boat back to upright to remove the staples from the deck  - first row removed.

Staples removed and an initial sanding complete. - I have chosen not to use power sanders on the strips.so every thing so far has been done with the fairing boad and a sanding block.
 

I went to town with the filler  - staple holes first then everything that wasnt fair.- Half a jar used sore hands and a long way to go. - most of this will be sanded off.

Stripping is done, so what's next?

Using a coping saw I have cut the front half of the cockpit to within 5 mm of the planned shape but I'm not going any closer until I can get a large paper template made so I can do it accurately and symetrically.

New stands required to allow me to sit the kayak on its deck so I can work on the hull.

 Kayak moved to the temporary fire hose cradle while I change the stands.

Time lapse stripping the Deck

 I may need to add phone photos to this in the future to cater for the missing final shots that were too out of focus to use.

Click the link to see the images on you tube.

Stripping the Deck.

Closed Deck

All Strips on  - Ordered a coping saw and some new masking tape and sandpaper online from Bunnings  - had to pick up chook food anyway so I have a reason to be out  - click and collect means that it is low risk.

Some rough shaping with the coping saw and then a rasp.

From the bow we can see that there is a lot of work to go  The glue stains really stand out in this pitiful lighting.

Closing the Deck

Good progress made recently - starting to look like a boat.

I am now able to do 8 stips at a time: bow and stern, port and starboard, centerline and external, This meant that I was able to put a lot of wood on the boat before having to pause to allow the glue to dry.  - Then I ran out of masking tape.  Where possible the same strip is used in the bow and stern  with a gap for the cockpit.

Tape borrowed from a neighbour so the work can continue - Thanks Lieutenant Dan.

Watsacowie beer - brewed on the York Peninsula S.A.  - Look them up and get some it's awesome.

At this point i am unable to get tape in to ensure a close fit while the glue dries so i used bead and cove strip off cuts as wedges to keep the strips in place.

The Stern end - strips completed.

The final strip  :)

The finsl strip now in place.

1 of two graving pieces in this kayak  - I am very happy with how this one came out.