: I'm interested in hearing some about what tools are your favorites - whether
: manual or electric - for cutting okoume plywood for S&G hull panels,
: coamings, and hatches.

Generally electric saber saw. Some people use a fine tooth plywood blade, and some use a finer tooth metal cutting blade. The idea is to reduce splintered edges. The best set up, though, is to score the cutting line with a utility knife first, and cut just outside that score. Any splinters that might develop end at the cut. There are definite preferences among brands and models of sabre saws. Cheap ones will work, but those who have used the more expensive sabre saws with orbital cutting action just love 'em.

Some people have Japanese pull saws and they use them whenever they can. If you are going to cut by hand then this would be a good tool to use. Again, use the utility knife to score the plywood first.

Some people use circular saws, some use handsaws. Then there are some who use rotozip tools, routers with panel trimming bits, or pattern cutting bits, or laminate trimmers. You can get a real neat cut with a cutting laser attached to a computer, if you have the money for such things.

If you are a real masochist, though, you can cut your panels with a Swiss Champ pocket knife. Score the line with one of the blades, and use the (real rough cutting) sawblade just outside that scored line to hack your way through the plywood. While this sounds a bit extreme, it is really an emergency technique you can use when you are miles from home and have to patch something. Not real pretty, but it can save you.

PGJ