Not sure if you've already gotten past this point, but like Chris, I used clamps to pull the panels together. I screwed a small wood block through the hull panel then used the Irwin. One extra thing I did was to be sure to use a longer block so I could turn it and it could then act like an alignment tool, too. So I didn't have issues with multiple blocks or having to unscrew the alignment tool, mucking up the alignment. Depending which panel is sticking out is the block you turn to align the panels. It worked pretty well. The same scheme worked for the bow, which came together nicely with very little tugging. I'll have more photos and an explanation on my blog when I get around to updating it, but here are some photos which I hope help. I removed the blocks and clamps after stitching and it holds.
In the first photo, you can see the original gap which is much smaller in the second photo. Also in the second photo, you can see the screw holes where I moved the blocks forward. I didn't want to have too many in at a time. The third photo is tough to make out, but there is NO block on the port side panel, just the Irwin foot. There's still less than 1/8" separating the panels about 6 inches long but it's even on both sides and will be easy to fillet.
- First block and clamp.
- DSC_7429.JPG (87.81 KiB) Viewed 8940 times
- Second block and clamp.
- DSC_7435.JPG (137.84 KiB) Viewed 8894 times
- Bow panel block and clamp.
- DSC_7437.JPG (105.68 KiB) Viewed 8923 times