: Wes,

: Don't know if this is your first boat. I have only built one (so far) and I
: found so many (most) of the steps went like the shear strip did on your
: boat: Lots of questions and wondering how to do it right. sometimes first
: looks/attemps show my thinking ain't quite right, more question and
: thinking and in the event all goes better than thought, no problem. But
: there was not much time to celebrate when that 'step' was soon completed
: and the next step was full of its new 'unknowns'. I think my second boat
: would be a lot easier, the experience of the first time would make a heck
: of a difference. That's why I would take the good advice of experienced
: builders (Nick for one) that say to take it easy on your first boat, don't
: fuss to make it perfect. I did not take that advise and strove to make my
: first boat the best I could. I am glad I did but I think it is better to
: shoot for the 2nd or 3rd boat to be 'perfect' than the first. Anyway, glad
: your sheer is going good. Are you using 1/4" and do you plan to
: recess the cockpit?

: Joe

Joe-

Yes, this is my first boat, and yes, I'm not shooting for perfection. I'm using staples, and I'm not trying for any artistic stripping (although I am keeping things symmetric). The strips are 1/4" bead and cove, and for the shears I'm using narrower 1/2" strips as opposed to the wider 5/8 on the rest of the boat. I am planning on doing a cockpit recess, although I will use Okoume bands instead of the elegant coaming in Nick's book. I hope to post some photos soon (I need to learn how to use my web space at my ISP).

You make some really good points - my biggest problem is sometimes just figuring out if what I think I need to do next is even possible, much less whether it will work well. I'm at the beginning of the learner's natural progression, going from unconciously incompetent to conciously incompetent to conciously competent to unconciously competent. I'd say I'm mostly at the first two levels. My next boat I'll mostly be at the third (I hope!).

However, I'm pleased with how it's going. The advice from Nick's book and from this forum is invaluable.

Wes