If you have not built one of these boats before I'd recommend watching the
video. I've not built one but have watched the video fo which the Ottawa
library has a copy. TF Jones, who has built one, said he had to watch the
video to see how it was done. It's normal to break a few ribs when stema
bending them into a hull. The video shows how to do it.

For foam ribs it might be better to form them over the outside of the hull
and then press them into the interior and trim the ends. To do this the
foam would have to be pretty thin. I think you'll end up adding weight to
the boat.

Other variations have been tried on these boats, eg using plastic
stringers instead of wood and using polyester cord instead of kevlar (both
are used in car tires, mostly polyester). I imagined fitting thin foam
strips between the stringers to provide some backing to prefvent
punctures, give the hull stiffness, and eliminate the condensation on the
inside of the hull.

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