Re: Gap/crack filling methods and alternatives
All kinds of things have been used to glue strips when making a stripper, a number of which such as hot melt glue don't bond well to epoxy. The small area covered by the burn in sticks will not have any discernible effect on the overall strength and stiffness of the boat. The sticks are compatible with varnish, and will be compatible with epoxy. Most of the strength is in the wood in the long direction and glass laterally.
If you are worried, make some 6x6" wood strip and fiberglass panels. some with and some without a 2"(?) long gap in the center filled with a burn in stick, support it on its edges and see how much weight it takes to break them. I doubt that you will see much difference.
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