POLL - Strip build -- staples? glue? clamps? other?

[WoodsNWaters]

I was all-in on avoiding staples on my first strip canoe but words written by Nick Schade resonate with me:

"A wooden boat will suck up all the perfectionism you can feed it, and you need to pick your battles."

Not the tidiest poll, especially for those who have built boats with staples and entirely without. But I'm fishing anyway.

I'm looking for the method you use most on a canoe. I'm sure a single canoe can use all the choices and more but what predominates.

Thanks,
Dave

 

[stripperguy]

I’ve been building strippers since 1978, almost exclusively with staples. It comes down to personal preference, just like all the boat building choices.
Especially for a first time builder, I would say use staples

 

[Alan Gage]

Mo' staples is mo' betta.

I am not bashful with the staples. I have 2 guns setup. One with 9/16" staples for going into the forms and another with 1/4" for between forms (strip to strip).

I do not care how it looks. It doesn't bother me one bit. I just want a functional canoe and I want it done now. It's not some zen experience for me. I fill the entire hull with tinted and thickened epoxy before fiberglassing to fill all gaps, cracks, and holes (including staple holes). They're not very noticeable after that.

Case in point. This is an area of high stress where the strips did not want to conform.





Same area after filling and glassing:



I also don't worry so much about perfectly fitting strips:


After Fiberglass: