Try pulling the pieces together with straps, dampen the panels and put in extra stitches. Strapping tape helps too. You don't want to sand the sapele any more than necessary because the outer plies are quite thin.

Great, thanks.  As far as using tape goes, what type of tape is best?  I'm a little afraid to use anything too strong that will pull splinters of wood off when I remove it.  Obviously there is a trade-off between having enough strenth to hold the joint and not so much that you pull bits of wood off when you remove it.  Maybe I'll do a few tape tests on some of the pieces I have from my kit that you don't see (hatch doubler, coaming spacers)  I think I'm going to have to use tape on those little skinny wing pieces at the ends of the Okume pieces on the deck (front and back); they are too narrow to wire and they tend to stick up or down. 

 I'm so glad this forum is here.  I don't know how I would have done it if it weren't for help from people who have done this before, and who have posted replies and photos.  

Thanks!

It is a good bit more work but you can also loosen or remove a few ties, and use a sharp knife to slightly bevel the inside corners.  Then you do not need to get two corners to line up but two slight flat spots.

Ed.

PS on my chesapeaks I just got it reasonably close, tabbed with epoxy smutz, pulled the wires, and then used some epoxy / wood flour to "caulk the joint" on the outside before final sanding.

The boat still floats.