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The next step in the process is to join the scarf joints on the sheer clamps. The sheer clamps are ¾” by ¾” strips of wood that are attached to the top insides of the side panels. These are used to support the top or deck of the kayak. There are two sheer clamps to assemble, one for each side of the kayak. The sheer clamps are delivered in three pieces each. You join the pieces together with the scarf
joints. Since these are long, thin pieces, they can be tricky to hold together during the gluing process. You also want to make sure the two match again as this will help keep the kayak true when we assemble the panels together in later steps. The total length of the sheer clamps is 18 ft when assembled. They will need to be trimmed later when the panels come together. The best approach is to clamp the strips 2-3 ft behind the joint on each side after ‘dry fitting’. You can then glue and clamp the joints much easier without the worry of the joints slipping a part. This is a good time to use some 2” clamps to keep the joints together. I used two on each joint. 
The joints are across the surface of the table so clamping down on the table is not useful here. It was a pretty cold day when I did this work. I kept two lights on each joint with some plastic over each.
joints. Since these are long, thin pieces, they can be tricky to hold together during the gluing process. You also want to make sure the two match again as this will help keep the kayak true when we assemble the panels together in later steps. The total length of the sheer clamps is 18 ft when assembled. They will need to be trimmed later when the panels come together. The best approach is to clamp the strips 2-3 ft behind the joint on each side after ‘dry fitting’. You can then glue and clamp the joints much easier without the worry of the joints slipping a part. This is a good time to use some 2” clamps to keep the joints together. I used two on each joint. 
The joints are across the surface of the table so clamping down on the table is not useful here. It was a pretty cold day when I did this work. I kept two lights on each joint with some plastic over each.
