Fitting the top strake into the rabbet

[rudybob]

I have been thinking about this and looking at guy's pictures. I am fairing that first bulkhead, I am slightly tapering the end of the strake that fits in the rabbet. 

 

My question is: Do I want that rabbet to be able to hold the strake down without glue. Of course I will glue it in on final. As I fit it, even clamped it will pop out. 

So, do I need to deepen the rabbet or fair the first bulkhead more or thin the strake. It wouldn't surprise me if this didn't make enough sense to be answerable so here is the area

 

Thanks

[mtaylor]

Are you heat bending the plank?   That will help.  I see several issues with your picture.  One is that first 4 bulkheads are "over" faired.  There's very little of the bulkhead making contact with the plank.   The other is, the plank at the bow also has very little on the end for gluing. 

 

You probably should fill in the areas between those first bulkhead include the area between the first one and bow.  This will give you more to glue and hold the planks.  Use basswood as it's easy to shape yet strong enough to hold unlike balsa.

 

I hope this helps.

 

 

[rudybob]

I have greater bend in it now. My concern wasn't getting it bent I was wondering if the depth of the rabbet should hold it in place. As I kept eyeballing it I decided to make a very small angle cut at the end of the strake. It helped keep the strake in the rabbet. Yea, Fairing is a process. I have some 1/32 balsa I have been sticking along the bulkhead, not ideal but it's what I have presented myself with. I understand what you mean by filling the area. Thanks.