Just yesterday I Paul Jacobson and I made a long-awaited trip to Wood World here in Chicago, and came home with several sheets of 4mm okoume - a couple for him and a couple for me (something around $35 per sheet too - not bad!). My first project is going to be a "Sweet Dream" canoe from the book of that name. Basically a simple S&G/tortured plywood design. It will serve as practice - I plan to build my sea kayak next. Eric Schade is working on a new multichine that looks good to me...

Then last night - wanna talk about dumb luck? My wife and I were at my company's Christmas party, and I won a raffle for $500! Woohoo! Hello, random orbital sander! I placed my order on Amazon this morning for a shiny new Porter Cable 333VS. Now, fair is fair; I'm splitting the winnings with my wife. :-) But, I suddenly not only have my ROS, but also have plenty left over for all the MAS epoxy and fiberglass I'm gonna need. I guess I still need something to cut the plywood though. Details! No problem... I'll bring my neighbor a couple beers and ask if I can borrow his jigsaw.

Bottom line - I'm in the boatbuilding business now!