Chuck,

Staples should be one per form, sometimes two or three at the tricky points. What type of wood are you using? I used two bottles of glue on the whole boat, so if you're having lots of squeeze out Shawn is right...you're using too much and the epoxy will provide the strength...you just need it to hold through planing and sanding. There were a few spots that I used drywall screws to hold a really difficult strip in place, so that is an option although it will show and you only want to use it when staples won't do the trick (for me it was at the bow and stern on the outer deck strips).

I play guitar also, and yes I planed my fingers a few times and it hampered the music. It's good to keep your plane to a shallow cut so you don't remove too much wood...and finger. You can also use vice grips or pliers to hold the strip while planing the bevel, but it will add time. I ended up planing on the far side of my hand, holding the strip close and starting past my hand and planing away. You can only do small sections at a time this way, but you won't cut any flesh and you can see better what you are doing.

One hour per strip seems excessive, although there will be some tricky strips that require extra attention with sanding and planing to fit the joint. To get a strip to fit I opted for sanding, as the planing could take more off than needed and generally didn't produce as close a fit. Once the strip gets to the point where it is close to fitting, sand only a little then test, then sand a little then test..etc. I haven't heard too much on the board about how people get their tight joints, but that worked for me and I've never built anything before. I'm sure the more experienced on this board will have methods that work well.

As a general rule, it will take longer than you expect. You'll find that you're spending time fixing unexpected mistakes...and that's normal. Keep chugging along and take a break if you're frustrated. I really enjoyed having tunes while I built...sometimes you just get into a rhythm and get more done in a night than you expected in a week. Other times you have snares. Your pictures look like you're coming along fine and there's nothing way out of the ordinary there.

Hope this helps,
James
: and a few other questions.

: 1. i finished the keel strips today. this seems to be taking a very long
: time. more than i expected. while adding strips i noticed they can take up
: to 1 hour each. is that normal?

: 2. i am using a crapload of staples. i almost have gone through a 1000 box
: and havent finished the hull yet. some have been removed and/or shot into
: my fingers, but it still seems excessive.

: 3. i have started on my second bottle of glue. granted he first ws only half
: full, but how many does it take?

: 4. i planed the tip of my finger off today, and remembered why i stopped
: woodworking 10 years ago. does this happen often? the stapel holes are one
: thing, but i play guitar and it kinda hurts.