Anyone who has ever built a boat, no matter what size, can tell you the most useful tool in the chest is a good clamp. You need multiple sizes and types to get a project done. Though you can find deals, the cost of your clamp collection quickly adds up.

There is hope! perusing the homebuilder forums I have seen several posts about making good C clamps from 2" PVC pipe. So I tried it when I was building the gunwales on my PK78 dinghy. I took a length of 2" pip, set up my table saw guide so the pipe would get a slice down the center on one side. Then I took a hacksaw and sliced 2" sections, just like cuting a banana! Worked like a charm. The next set I made two center cuts on the pipe, so the opening was .25" wide. This made the clamps a bit easier to slide into place. Cost: $3 for the pipe, and I only used 2 feet of it! Result: 12 clamps.

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