Two-by-four

Cut a hole in the middle of the forms

Find the straightest 2 x 4 in the pile. I had help from a lumberyard employee once he found out what it would be used for. We dug through almost a whole pallet of 20 footers before finding one that was outstanding.

Even though the piece looks perfectly straight it pays to set it up on the sawhorses you will be building on and tap a nail into the top of both ends and run a tight string between them.

Measure off your form placments and mark them where they cross the string line. This way you have accounted for any warpage in the strongback and you can line up your boat forms to the line not just to the 2 x 4.

Use screws to attach 3" lengths of 1 x 2 pine to the strongback one across the top and 1 down the side at each form mark. DON'T FORGET TO LINE YOUR FORMS UP CORRECTLY ALONG THE 2 X 4 PRIOR TO THIS STEP!!! Otherwise you'll have to unscrew a bunch of them to slide off and reposition the forms....don't ask me how I know this. :)