Perfect Deck Joints

wooden deck joint, butt jointOn most of our kayaks the two deck pieces meet at the widest part of the cockpit. This is the only position on the boat where we don't use a scarf joint. Instead, a butt joint allows the the aft deck to be installed first, then the forward deck; this is much easier to manage than installing the entire deck at once. But it can be difficult to get a nice tight butt joint that you would with a scarf. So here's a little trick to ensure a perfect seam:

Slide the forward deck about 1/8 inch under the aft deck and tack it down. Take a very sharp razor knife and slit the forward deck at the joint - it'll take about a dozen passes with the knife. Pull out the piece you've cut off and you've made a perfect seam. Now, glue the butt block under the joint. Since this is the only spot on the deck with a flat surface, the characteristic flat spot that results from a butt joint is insignificant.