: Well.... amen to that. I built the hind end of my Shooting Star
: twice, using the good stuff, and it's still, at best, a newbie
: effort. The first version I sanded through at the
: "hips" and had to tear off. The second, rather ugly
: one, is on the boat and providing yeoman service, though homely.
: Third time's a charm, assuming there is a third time. I'm sure I
: could get it right . . . . .

: --Scott

Well, that's why I suggest using lower grade wood for the first test or two.

Should we expect we'll get something new "right" the first time?

If you use your "best" wood you WILL want it to be perfect the first time.

Perfection is the enemy of good!

It's like getting a new computer program and having to finish a job with it for a deadline. A recipe for hell.
You need non stressed time to play with a new program to learn it.

Similarly, you will do much better learning the new and unusual shapes and techniques needed to build the baidarka bow and stern
by playing with lower quality wood you don't care so much about. You can make your mistakes and learn on parts you won't be looking at for the next twenty years.

I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.
Confusius Chinese philosopher & reformer (551 BC - 479 BC)

All the best,
Rob

PS. I still make plenty of mistakes, I'm just better at hiding them!

PSS. When I see a mistake, I don't think twice, I fix it!