I am in Townsville. I will try to post some pictures once the boat is a bit more advanced. You are of course welcome to visit and view anytime - I could sometimes use extra hands!!

Silky oak is indeed an Australian native, which I believe is sold in the US variously under the names lacewood, silk oak and shining oak. I am using Northern Silky Oak, which is a darker sub-species.

I have used some quarter-cut pieces for the bow to maximise the figure from the wood rays. It contrasts nicely with the silver ash and cedar. The cedar is a couple of the WORST boards from a log I bought years ago and had milled into boards. I like the figure and feature in these boards, and they leave my precious supply of fine cedar boards untouched.

I have used a stripping style with starting strips at the shear, the waterline and the keel, and strips out. That means I have two "footballs" to fill on each side of the boat. I like the way it looks so far.

I had some dramas with the bead and cove joints on the keel strips, so have abandoned B&C and will complete just bevelling edges.

I am already at the "I could do this so much better the second time around" stage...

cheers, Tony Bligh