Use what works. I don't recommend a belt sander as the first tool to reach for if you have never build a boat before, but if you feel you can control it for the task at hand, by all means, use it.

I'll grind away at my boats with a right-angle grinder with 36 grit paper. Five seconds of inattention are enough to make a 1" diameter hole clear through the boat, but that also means it will quickly remove a lot of wood you want gone as well. It usually does what I want it to do, so I use it.

> I am somewhat afraid to let nick schade read this, probably should be
> embarrassed, but have to report that I cannot figure out how to shave a
> plywood/glass structure with a stanley plane. Especially inside curves.

> So I cheated, and used my trusty 4x24 belt sander. I think I might be
> saving time - it took an hour on the coaming of my clc 18, removing the
> extra plywood, and another quarter inch all around the inside where the
> laminates were not perfect. Now the thing looks perfect enough for me,
> even though it is not perfectly fair in the tightest recess of the forward
> curve. It only took the whole hour because it was so difficult to maneuver
> the machine around.

> It took 15 minutes to curve the sheerclamps preparatory to fastening the
> deck.

> It took ten minutes to sand away the flashing of plywood after fastening
> the top, after a quick pass with the jig saw, and another three to put the
> 1/4" radius around the top edge.

> Same speed for other trimming/ shaping events in my garage.

> Does anyone else use belt sanders on their boats?

> PS I am about to treat myself to a modern 3x18, which weighs maybe half
> the 4x24, for this sort of non-workbench work. I wish I could justify a
> large table sander.