How are the panels joined together?
Pygmy boat panels arrive in two or three sections, depending on the model. The first step in the building process is joining them to full length. We use a butt joint for optimal strength and fairness of line. Some customers ask why we don’t use scarf joints. We experimented with scarfs and found them inferior on thin woods. Here are three reasons: 1. Accuracy. Scarf joints are cut at a 1:12 or 1:6 ratio. The cut edges of scarf joints are slid over each other and glued. There is no a defined edge that controls the angle at which the panels are glued together. The lack of a defined edge also means that the resultant length of the panels is not defined. When scarfing 4mm panels, the resulting edge is also extremely fragile. Our computer cut panels are cut accurate to .004 of an inch. With precision cut edges at the end of the panels, the angle of join and the panel length are precisely defined. 2. Strength. Butt joints are stronger than the surrounding wood. 3. Beauty. The join line on a
