The directions say, "Start by attaching Bulkhead 17 and the Transom with glue and nails." Let me point out two problems that I had right off the bat: the sides are long and floppy, floppy, floppy; and, with only two hands, there's no way that I could hold the transom at the right angle to properly fasten it to the sides. Did I mention that the sides were long and floppy?

I attached some wood pieces with clamps to each side near where temporary form 8 would go. The wood pieces are about a foot longer than the sides are, so that when they are connected by rope to the canopy's frame, they will hold the sides vertical. I used scrap pieces of plywood on the back side of the clamps so that the sides would not get damaged. The other end of each side is resting on the building table.

Bulkhead 17 sat upright on the building table, and it was relatively easy to secure it in place with stainless steel screws. Bulkhead 11 is about to be secured in the background.

Bulkhead 11 is being attached by screws also. I had to adjust the ropes holding up the sides as the sides are now outboard of the building table.

The transom is about to be fastened to the sides with size #10 stainless steel screws. I placed a clamp each on both the transom and Bulkhead 11. I then used a rope between them to hold the transom at the proper angle for fastening.

The sides are fastened to the transom's frame.

Pulling the sides in to attach Temporary Form 8.

Bulkhead 4 is being attached. This is the piece everyone thought was a toilet seat. Nope. I clamped pieces of wood to the sides to serve as anchor points for rope that is used to draw the sides at the bow inwards. I no longer have to support the sides with rope tied to the canopy.

Attaching Temporary Form 2. All of the temporary forms are held in place by self-tapping exterior screws. Once the tensioning ropes were removed, I was surprised by the symmetry I achieved with the bow.

In the next section, you can see how I fashioned the stem. Everything up to this point, including the stem, is being held together just by screws. Now that I know that the pieces actually fit together, I have to dismantle everything to apply epoxy to the bulkheads and stem.