JEM Watercraft

You will find the spacers most useful on panels that have a 90 twist. Those buggers can be a pain to keep straight.

Certainly, you don't have to use them.

Also, craft stick, which are thinner that popsicle sticks, should be used.

That or thin "fender washers" work well.

Matt Wrote

You will find the spacers most useful on panels that have a 90 twist. Those buggers can be a pain to keep straight.

Yes!

Surfman wrote

I still wouldn't want a void in the joint and with the spacers I am sure there isn't

I was worried about this too. What I did to overcome this was to paint epoxy into the joint before applying the filler. The epoxy penetrated right through the corner to corner join very well and I am confident there are no voids.

Where the no spacer method shines for me is that I find it easier to check the seam lines for fairness before tacking without all the little spacers sticking up. On previous builds, I have often had to cut tacks and bully the panels to get the nice curves required and to get rid of those little high and low spots in them.

I don't think I will use the spacers again.

Ok then! I think I'll stitch things up without the spacers. If my lines look too funky I'll just pull the wires and put the spacers in.
Thanks again guys.

Lee

Without spacers, if the lines are not fair, you can wriggle them into trim. Sometimes you have to loosen a wire or three, sometimes not. Often, a knife blade in between panels can wrench them into trim.

Just wanted to apologize for posting this in the wrong thread. Matt you're welcome to verbally abuse me in any future entries for the fupah!

Lee