Frankly, I think it would be easier to just strip-build the deck than to try to glue veneers to a piece of plywood. Clamping to forms is easier than clamping down thin strips of veneer in the middle of a piece of plywood. You would need to make forms, but it may still be easier.

That said, I don't see any reason why your idea wouldn't work.

The vac-pipe attached to a sander is a hassle. So is dust everywhere. Your respirator is probably sufficient for health concerns. The vac just contains the dust better. I don't like the noise much either so I end up wearing ear protection as well as a dust filter while sanding with a vac.

: Has any honourable kayakeur in this club tried to cover a stich'n'glue's deck
: panel(s) with thin decorative stripping instead of going into the tiresome
: jig of constructing the deck from real-thikness strips?
: Will those thin strips keep sticking to the ply deck panels?
: This looks like cabinet-making...meaning a long, specific process, and many
: clamps?

: Another topic: I work wearing a respiratory mask (dreadful stuff with two
: filters, I'll post you a pic for Halloween) and glasses, that seem to be
: doing the job.
: So, I don't use the vac, in spite of instructions : is this a big mistake?
: I mean, considering I'm no real specialist like Nick or Russ, only a
: part-time builder?
: I just found the connecting pipe a hindrance, the noise is such you think the
: cops are gonna crash in, etc.

: Many splashes

: Eric