The trick is to try to work on it a little bit every night. Even if it's a token stroke with the sandpaper. It really is a series of simple steps.

: Have just received Nick Schade's book and hope to be getting the plans for
: the Expedition Single imminently.

: A flick through the pages makes me wonder what I have let myself in for. When
: laid out in 200 odd pages it all looks a little more taxing than when
: viewed on a web page; with the entire build summised in 10 or so jpegs.

: If I'm honest, I haven't touched a woodworking tool since school and the
: pinnacle of my achievement then was a birdbox.

: The last (only) kayak I built was also at school and, if my memory serves me
: correctly, was built of stuff that looked remarkably like Nick's
: description of 'mat'. Not, he notes, suitable for boatbuilding.

: The only thing to do is give it my best shot and see what results. Expect
: some incredibly dunce-like questions over the winter.

: Francis.