So I started on the spacers. Read the Van's instructions that called for very precise 1.438 spacers. Got out the calipers and measured the spar. 1.445" Sooooo, Van's advise was to fit the spacer to the actual spar. So I bought oak for spacers.
Started sanding day 1. After two hours, took off about 0.005 inches. It was going to take weeks. So i dug out an old hand planer I had. After much cleaning, sharpening, etc. I got it set up. It still took about an hour per block to get the fit exactly right.
