I'm just about done with a Guillemot and a Guillemot play, and hope to start varnishing later this week. I broke down and bought a decent brush, but the idea of cleaning it 13 times in the next month doesn't much appeal to me. I thought I saw (maybe on this web site, or maybe somewhere else) a technique of putting the brush in wax paper or something and putting it in the freezer between uses, and I think I remember my Grandad doing this, but I forget the details, and wonder about things like water condensation and such. Anyone have any experience with this?

Thank you all so much for your help and advice. I've got about 400 hours in the two boats, hope to get launching pictures up in a month or so. Used 5/32" thick strips ( thanx PGJ) from 1/2" to 1 1/4" wide, black locust (s.g. 0.70) below waterline, with American black locust, cherry, and white ash above waterline.I was trying to use some stuff I had laying around, as well as try to use wood density to positively impact inherent boat stability (heavy wood on keel, lighter wood on deck). Pre-join weights (with 2.5 layers 6oz on hulls, 2 layers 4 oz on decks) was 15# each for decks, 20# for hull of Play, 21# for hull of Guillemot. I stupidly made the comb of the Play essentially out of solid ash, which added, I figure, about two unnecessary pounds, when I could (and should) have done more of a monocoque comb. These weights include footpegs, so I hope to keep the final weights of the boats around 40#, less than the Old Town I've gotten a hernia lugging around.

Building these things has been a friggin' blast. Thanx for a great book, Nick, and thanx to all of you for the great site.