> I am a first time builder who built a Guillemot Coastal this winter. It
> took about 200 hours, and I am very happy with the result.

> I didn't have the benefit of Nick's book when I built my Coastal, and had
> some major glitches along the way. Nick was really great about providing
> support for his kit (I bought the kit from Newfound Woodworks). I would
> alsp recommend buying the plans instead of lofting them.

> The Guillemot reputedly easier to build than the Coastal. I believe it, as
> some of the hardest parts of building was fitting the strips into the
> tight hollows at the bow and stern.

> Nick has posted our e-mail correspondence where I requested advice and he
> gave it throughout the construction process. You might take a look at the
> link below. Nick subtitled it as an example of how wrong things can go and
> still turn out all right . . .

> OK, so I am shameless . . . Karl,after seeing your pictures ,my goofs while building my Guillemot seem trivial.I let the deck sit 3 weeks after glassing the outside,and it absorbed moisture ,swelling the wood,and making the deck wider in beam.To fit it I had to use giant C clamps I made up,to press the sides inward .When I cut the hatches,they sprung out,and fit like a dormer roof.Had to make new hatchcovers,using the deck as a mold(covered the deck with saran).That is only one of many misadventures.Glad to see I'm not alone.