Thanks, everyone, for your tips and encouragement. I'm going to get a sander, mount it vertically on a table as suggested, and take it to the forms. I appreciate the comments about the psychology involved in the building, i.e. minimizing stress by minimizing doubt. In passing, I should mention that I'm building the kayak to relieve my stress following my wife's decision to leave me in July with my infant son. 'Said I was too obsessive. I better build the boat without further delay.

Has anyone out there painted or shallow carved NW Native American (Haida, etc.) images on their cedar stripper prior to glassing? (I'm hopeless).