> OK, I know I said I was going to stop work on the new boat for a while
> but, the other day I went to put a few coaming strips on, the next thing I
> know that's done. Tonight I went to the shop to put on one stem piece. An
> hour and a half later both stems are done, the few staples in the hull are
> all pulled out and I catch myself planing away.

> My wife has decided to have me committed.... to a seven day cruise, to get
> me out of the shop I think!

> WHAT IS IT? The smell of cedar That's doing it? The paddles didn't get me
> away from it. Could it be those slim sexy curves?

> I've been told I can only visit the bbs a couple more days AND THAT"S
> IT!!! But I do get to go paddling in Cozumel! I don't think that will help
> the building fever one bit!

Kent,

I built three kayaks over the past year and then my wife decided that we should go on a cruise. We did a 4 night cruise and paddled in Catalina.

I still am hooked only now I want to build a folding kayak so I can take my own kayak with me on trips. I think it may have made things worse, my wife remembered what it was like to have me around and not with my harem in the basement.

I tried building a cradle(shaped like a boat) for my new nephew but I ended up working on kayaks again.

My wife loves kayaking, but she thinks I'm obsessed. The only cure to building fever I know of is paddling, but that is only temporary.

There is a consolation for my wife though, I'm starting to work on her kayak now. My first stripper(Redfish Spring Run), finally. I planed the rough cut cedar this afternoon, and it is now ready for ripping. The table saw is almost set up.

It is not the smell of cedar, because my first(stitch & glue) had no cedar, its not the fiberglass, because my second was a skin on frame, third was plywood on frame, fourth is a stripper, fifth? stripper? (Guillemot or Silver?), SOF baidarka?, narrowed highly modified Putz?, 20" beam plywood Walrus?....

Mike

P.S. Enjoy your cruise.