Now I get it -- the drawings helped a lot.  I was imagining something way more complex.  Thanks for explaining instead of taking it personally.

  You know, the design could be rotated 90 degrees so the beams swing around each other horizontally instead of vertically. 

  That way the boat won't tilt when folding (could be worrisome if the mast is tall), the beams will be flat and continuous when joined, and you could also cut out a section of each beam so they mate as one long piece.  The beam would be strongest vertically, with less stress on joining pins. 

  There are some smaller metal parts/struts needed, but none of these carry any load when the boat is folded or unfolded, so not a big deal.

  While II lean towards the scissors because it would probably be stronger while folding, I have to say that this beats the scissors in the challenge -- it's going to be lighter and cheaper while still allowing the boat to fold on the water. 

  Thanks.

        - Mike