Unless you like a lot of night paddling, boatbuilding is the best way to while away those long, cold winter evenings. Buy a case of good, dark, strong beer, and sip one every night while you're working on your boat and dreaming about launching it when the water gets softer.

The worst thing you can possibly do is to have a second boat available when you're deep into the stripping project. It was unseasonably warm in Montana in March, and the Guillemot progress came to a screeching halt as I spent way too much time taking the Chesapeake out on weekend camping trips! Of course, it also helped to break up the project and reminded me why I was working on it.

Shawn

BTW, I don't plan to build another boat this winter--I plan to focus on winter paddling, and hitting pool sessions. I think I will tackle several paddle-building projects, though, as well as completely outfitting the Guillemot 18--internal tie-downs, foot pump, etc.

I need to add an extra layer of glass to my first vacuum-bagged blades, and make a few take-apart spares with the bird's mouth shafts. I will also make 1 or 2 greenland paddles and a storm paddle to try out. I might try to make a greenland-style paddle with a bird's mouth shaft. I just love those hollow shafts!

: Hi Bob,
: I built my 18' Guillemot starting Nov 1st. last year. The only thing I
: noticed during building was that the glue did not dry as clear as it does
: when it's warm. My shop (in the basement under the garage) is unheated and
: I used a wood stove on occasion and typically used a kerosene heater. I
: heated the shop while I worked and shut down when I was done for the
: night. I don't think it ever got below 40°. Once I got to the glassing
: stage I broke down and got a propane space heater. I tried to keep the
: shop in the 60's during most of the glassing process. I'm sure I did't do
: that great it stable temps but all worked out well. I've built two in the
: summer months and one through the winter. Summer is better. If the wood
: stove was a good one I think it would have worked quite well, but it's
: old, has holes in it and now is nothing more than a storage bench.