Box Beam Strongback

As if two projects were not enough, I am embarking on yet a third project - the Guillemot Double Kayak.  The Guillemot Double will be a stable, roomy kayak for Renee and me to play and camp with.  At 20' long, it will be relatively fast. It is strip built, and looks like fun project.

The first step in this process is the strongback.  The strongback is a 17' 11" 2x4.  Dimensional lumber isn't stable enough, so I built a box beam strongback out if 1/2" ACX.  It used roughly 5/8 of a sheet of plywood.

I cut the plywood into five 2 7/16" widths and five 3 15/16" widths.  The wider strips were rabbetted on the edges to accept the narrower strips.  The ends were tapered according to the plans.  See The Strip Built Sea Kayak by Nick Schade for more information.