Phew ..... all good considerations (especially the sky falling in!) One big advantage for me (and this is evidently an exception to most on this BB) is that I'm not in any big hurry. I have a great (albeit commercial) fiberglass kayak and a honey-do list that would choke a horse. This kayak project ill become my time-filler....evenings and weekends (only if the weather is crappy. If the weather is good I'm on the water). Right now I have this wood in a heated garage that's very dry...I think I'll just create good air flow around the boards and let 'em sit for awhile. Thanks for all the issues to be concerned about. Mark
: I would worry about gaps opening up as the wet wood dried, especially with
: plain-sawn strips. The space between strips could be double the shrinkage
: of a single strip. Shrinkage of quarter-sawn strips would be mostly in
: thickness, but not enough in a 1/4" strip to cause problems.

: Reaction wood results from stresses caused by things like trees growing on a
: hillside. The stresses try to equalize when drying and might cause some
: twists, distortions, or lift off forms.

: Glue might not harden on damp wood. Steel staples might leave rust spots. The
: wood might mildew. The strips will be fuzzy if cut wet. The sky might fall
: in.

: On the other hand, you might miss an early launch next year which would be
: worse than all the above.