JEM Watercraft

Hello.
I've been working on a couple (one for me, one for my wife) of Wadefish SOTs. Between the manual and the outstanding builder's logs I've been able to move along without any problems. Untill now....
I've started to assemble the hull pieces and the hull seems to be growing. The sides of the hull are about 1/2" above the formers. Is this normal?
I'm concerned that because the hull pieces don't sit flat against the formers (changing the angles), the performance will suffer.
I'm using popsicle sticks as spacers along the seams of the hull to keep an even gap. I've checked and double checked all of my measurements on the formers and the hull pieces. Would the spacer sticks cause this?
I've searched the builder's logs and found that spacers seem to be the norm. Has anyone else run into this isue?
Any and all input is appreciated. Thanks

how thick are the spacers?

G'day JT and welcome aboard mate.

The only thing I can think of to cause this, if your temp frames are cut correctly is that your popsicle sticks may be a little thick.

I use the very thin wood tongue depressors. They are less than 1/16" thickand I haven't had any problems like you describe.

a half inch is an awefull lot to be out.

My spacers are about 1/16" thick craft sticks similar to tongue depressors.

Sorry mate,

If the measurements on your temp frames and hull panels are correct, I have no clue what else could be wrong.

Matt might be able to help you more.

there's only a couple of seam that could add up. Let me take a look at the file and see if I can come up with something. Will post later.

Is the panel heights above all the frames/molds/formers consistently 1/2" ?

Or is the difference greater on some more than others?

I got 1/2" at formers 1 & 5 and about 3/8" at the cocpit suports.

I've got some pics that may help if I can figure out how to post them.

Thanks.

Does the width of the facets of the former seem to match the width of the panels at the Frame Reference points? Or do the panels seem taller?

The panels are exactly the same size as the flats on the formers.

I had scaned the hull pieces into my computer, double checked the measurements and used a CNC router to cut them out. The formers were cut by hand with a circular saw and a straight edge.

I seem to think my problem lies in the spacers Starting at the keel, the bottom (#1) piece is slightly off the center line (half the thickness of the spacer) and slightly protruding past the outer edge of the former. So the #2 piece is starting almost 1/8" from the corner and the problem compounds from there.

Is it necessary to have the spacers? The first wood boat I built was a 9' kayak for my 7 year old daughter. Those plans called out to pull the wood tight against each other, filleted, then glassed. That boat was built nowing it would be outgrown in a coulpe of years and loaded well below 100lbs (paddeler included). I'd like this boat to last and be able to handle a bit of a load.