: One big advantage you will get is going ot be an increase in the speed with
: which you can lay down your strips.

I am between jobs so I am working on it today between phone calls (work out of the house). I am just now down to what I am calling the hell strips. Short, twisty and trimming both ends. REALLY wondering about those last ones! I am running out of places to clamp too. Staples are not holding to well.

I decided about 3 strips ago to run the rest straight.

: First boat? You'll likely make two tries to get it right.
: Second boat? You'll be overconfident, blow it on the first try, and still
: take two tries to get a good fit. Third boat? Well, you get the idea.

LOL Yea, I have been looking at that one. It's about 3 strips away now. I enjoy hand fitting things like that. It is the one thing I have patience with. I can take my tile and rasp and plane parts to shape. But I am still concerend about that one. Not so much fitting it, (not that I expect the first one to fit) but holding the darn thing in place! I have had to clamp most of the previous strips till the glue set up some. There will be NOTHING to clamp to on that one. Guess it's time to pull out the ratchet straps and some wax paper.

Would it be cheating to shape/carve a big chunk of wood and then plane it down flush??