OK Josh,
If ya need a mentor, does he or she have to be local? Here is my thought: If you are known to your teachers as being self motivated, and need a name on the paper that's a different gig. Here is my thought.

I'd be willing to be a nominal mentor for your project on a long distance basis. It means I fill in my name on the paper, if you agree to do the leg work. I'll point you to real experts books etc and talk ya through the trouble spots when you get stuck. You'll get more then 15 hours out of me, and better then that you'll get the boat of your dreams.

Now here's your part:

1) Part of the contract is that you sell the idea to your school. Good practice for the future. Write them a proposal they can't turn down. Also good practice for the future. Tell em you got a boat builder in NH willing to help ya out on the internet and more importantly the whole World wide collective of itinierant boat builders behind that.

2) As part of the proposal list 10 books you agree to read on the subject on boat building and design. Also agree to contact and interview 10 boat design and building experts. With a 5 page summary report on the the interviews. and a 1 page summary on each book.

3) Agree to do a Monthly and a weekly activity (MAR and WAR) report to chart your progress. I'll give you hte structure listing next stuff to do the trouble spots yet to be figured etc. E-mailed to your nominal mentor. Along with that I'll need to see a copy of your report card to make sure boats aren't hammering grades.

4) Develop a (WBS) a work break out structure and a Vanguard chart. For scheduling purposes In the proposal tell them where your going to do it. With what time and what resources tools and how your going to pay for it etc.

5) Field trips One of my requirement would be that you negotiate for an unpaid one week internship at the Beaufort NC Wooden boat builder shop (north carolina history lesson all its own) alternate being Amesbury shop in Mass or Camden Maine Wooden Boat school. and a 3 day field trip to the Mystic Conneticut Maritime Mueseum. a five page report on each.

6) Finally, you build a webpage describing your project and documenting your project.

7) You will need access to a digital camera to take pictures so I/we can visualize what your doing. For purposes of figuring out solutions. You'll need a local wood worker to help ya figure

If you can whip that into a WOW proposal I'm guessing your school will agree. If you follow through on it you will indeed be a boat builder.

Let me know if its an idea you want to pursue.

!RUSS