Many people who build boats like to post their project info on a website. It's sort of a 'show and tell', and it helps friends and relatives keep track of the project as it unfolds. It's fun to share the effort with others.

This site is a bit different than most, though. I hope to show this project through the eyes of an amateur, in sufficient detail so that anyone who is interested can see not only what I've done, but also my mistakes, misgivings, trials and tribulations. Most boatbuilding websites never mention the errors, screw-ups, bad planning, etc... it's almost as if those projects flowed smoothly from start to finish. Most assuredly, they didn't!

As an engineer, I have never designed and built anything which didn't involve at least a few 'oh-my-god's along the way... it's the very nature of the engineering craft. The uninitiated might think of engineering as the application of known principles to the development of a project. What they don't realize is that it's always, without exception, a learning experience. No matter how experienced or educated a person is, the application of their skill or craft is in a constant state of refinement, revision, and expansion.

As I write this (12/21/03, and not quite done with the planking), I'm just past an awful problem with the lay of the strips on the frames... an ugly bump and dip near the bow, possibly the result of a wrongly sized or misplaced frame, or possibly just the twist of the strips themselves. Finding a solution was a challenge... and it's not a great solution, but an adequate one. This is the sort of thing that makes the project fun... a little bit of hand-wringing and regret, to spice up the effort!

I haven't the slightest doubt that there will be more of these screw-ups. Maybe someone reading this will see my mistakes and avoid them. However, one thing is certain... they'll surely make a few of their own!

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