The stems are aligned side- and lengthwise, and attached to the gunwales using a couple of V-Y lashings.

The ribbing method using pre-determined rib lengths turned out great. This "automagically" gives a nice and even rocker, and very fem ribs need to be shortened or turned around. However, I discover a few cracks in some ribs, nothing too serious so I settle for an easy fix with epoxy rather than making new ribs.

With the ribs in place, the keelson is pegged to the stems, after drilling holes for the lashing and some rounding on the inside near the seating area.

Then I turn on the radio, don my fingerless gloves, and commence lashing. An hour and ten hurting fingers later, the keelson is fixed in place. I am pleasantly surprised that one rib had to be  "heightened" by adding a spacer block.

Then the same procedure follows with the chine stringers: cut them to size, drill holes (and taper ends), align, and lash into place. During lashing I continuously measure between keelson and chine and gunwale and chine to make sure the hull comes out symmetrical. Again, I am surprised to find that only one spacer block is needed.

And suddenly it is beginning to look like a kayak!

Total building time: 17 hours

Next step: the Masik 

Outside, the rain that has been pouring down since morning has finally ceased. That's good, because am to paddle off and meet Måns E. at a beach nearby for a rolling session. By a canal on my way there, I spot a nice Greenland kayak in a rack. It's a fairly wide and deep touring kayak, with a marked V bottom and sewn-in deck hatches. Although a few get built in Stockholm every summer thanks to a course led by Andi Röder, SOF kayaks are not a common sight here. I hope this one is used and treasued by its owner!

After the paddle, I have some 300 meters from water to storage, and while portaging my kayak on my head I once again get the "nice hat" comment from a passer-by. 

A man walk into a doctor's office with a kayak on his head.

- What can I do for you? asks the doctor.

- Please take this wart off my butt, says the kayak.

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