Kirk,

Can you do it? I really can't say, but I am . . .

It's all question of time management. I have a full time job, I have a full time family that includes a wife and two boys, ages (almost) six and two and a half. I too go to school - I am reading for a Masters of Engineering. And I still find time to put the strips on, sharpen the tools, admire my handiwork (or lack thereof), etc.

You really have to put the emphasis where you must. When it comes time for studying, I put away the tools and study. When it comes time for family I do likewise. When it comes time to go to work, I do that too (after all, it feeds the family and my hobbies). But I do mix building and family/school/work as I find boat building quite stress relieving.

Your boat is a forgiving partner. It's there when the kids are asleep, the wife is watching "Survivor", and you can't study anymore. And after you lay down your tools for the night it will patiently await your return. (Poetic, eh?)

Best of luck in your education and boat-building.

Greg.

: I think WesT hit the nail on the head (at least for me anyway.)

: "Building time will also depend on how tolerant your wife and family are
: of your absence."

: I'm building the Mill Creek 13 by CLC. I've had the plans for a year, and
: have been goofing off at work reading this board since before then, so I
: have built it a thousand times in my head already.

: I actually began building it about 6 weeks ago. The hardest part is finding
: time. I find that after putting in a full day at work, getting my 2 year
: old bathed and in bed, and then cleaning up after dinner, I'd often rather
: just plop down on the couch with my wife and watch TV. She likes my
: company too, after being home with a toddler all day. I try to go down to
: my basement shop at least twice a week for an hour or two in the evenings.
: The weekends are often out of the question for me.

: At this rate, I have probably only put in 12 hours in these last 6 weeks. I
: am building from plans, and so far have scarfed the sheets of plywood,
: plotted the panels, cut them out, and planed down to the lines. There is a
: lot more to go, but I'm finally actually making progress other than in my
: head.

: My point is that the only way to get it done is to start. If I had started
: back when I got the plans, I would easily be done by now. I've heard
: estimates from 30 hours to 50 hours to do a plywood kayak. There are 15
: weeks between now and September. If you work 5 hours a week, you will
: easily be done by then, even if you are a slow worker.

: Talk to your family. Work it into your schedule. Ignore the summer reruns on
: TV. Get started NOW. You will easily finish in time.

: Hmm... I need to follow this advice too.
: -Dan