: Bill,
: The operative words are "when I have the time"... I've
: got a 10yr old son who plays youth Baseball and Football and I
: seem to always end up as a coach. It's taking me about 12-18
: months to complete a strip boat while I'm making sure I spend
: lots of time with the family.

When your son is 11 you can sign him up for Boy Scouts. Then it is easy to convince the patrol that they ALL want to build boats. Canoes, kayaks, rowboats. There is a merit badge or three in that mix. Once you get the kids started you'll be able to work along with them--that is good time with your son and his friends. And if you happen to be working on your boat at the next workbench while the Scouts are working on their own boats, you'll be able to lead by demonstrating safe techniques, and also get in some work on a personal project.

If you do the powersaw work of ripping the chine strips, the scouts can cut out frames with coping saws at a rate of one or two a meeting. Then they just have to put the parts together for a fleet of SOF boats.

You can conduct a paddle-making class for the entire troop. An individual canoe or kayak paddle is a prized possession, and the knowledge of how to make one is something that can not be lost. Precut loom and blade stock and let them glue up rough paddles on one week. That will be a short session.The next week they can saw, shave, sand and carve their own creations. That will be a much longer session. The third week they paint on a finish. Again, another short session. If you can schedule this around a weekend campout, the scouts can do the glue up at the troop meeting before the campout. They can do the sawing and carving, and even the finishing, while they are out in the woods. It will keep them busy!

Just a thought. Enjoy your building.

PGJ