Q: What is Taped Seam Plywood construction?

A:   Taped seam construction is a method of bonding plywood panels together with fiberglass tape. The plywood is cut to shape according to the plans. The plywood is then stitched together with short lengths of wire. At this point, the result is a floppy shapeless hull with vertical sides and drooping ends. It looks a little like and an unfinished dugout canoe before it is steamed open. A few cross braces are inserted to spread the sides and raise the ends. The next step is to apply a fillet of thickened epoxy and a layer of fiberglass tape to the inside of the joint between the sides and bottom panels. When the resin sets turn the hull over and cut off the wires. Round over the outside of the chine, apply a layer of fiberglass tape and the bare hull is done. Hulls built with the taped seam method are seamless shells with no ribs or framing

    Taped-seam plywood boats are easy to build. (Phil Bolger called the method "the incompetent's delight"-no offense intended.) They are easy to repair and stronger than boats with a traditional chine log joint. I have been building taped-seam boats since 1976 and not one boat has been returned for repairs to the glass joints. Two of the boats have been hit hard enough to break the plywood but the glass joints held on and saved the boats. So even though this boat is easy to build don't think that it is weak or of low quality.

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