Hi Zachary
It is very exciting to read about how you have taken the plunge!
To your questions:
1. 2500mmx1220mm plywood is normal. If for some reason you think you have to move the horizontal butt strap stringer because of the plywood, tell Bernd.?
2. You can use a table saw as an easy way to cut your stock into the size you want. The easiest way is to find stock already cut correctly in one dimension. I am not where you are, but I used 25mm x 140mm boards that were straight grained and did not have many knots. Most of the stringers are 25mm x something else, so I only had to cut them once. When I ran out of those, I bought a few 90mm x 90mm thick posts and ripped them with the table saw also. I had to be careful about knots. You can also make a jig to easily make your bevel cuts for your scarph joints. If you can¡¯t find good stock, one last option is to pay for a special order engineered wooden beam. It is like plywood in that it has veneers (layers) but all the grain runs in the same direction. Here it is called laminated veneer lumber, but it is only an option when the other stuff is not available because of the price.?
3. someone else must answer that, but my silica is called Cab-o-sil Fumed Silica M-5 by Cabot.?
4. A place to build is an important challenge. If you have to pay a lot for it, then time is not your friend. You can look for an empty lot and put up a greenhouse, but I think you could make either boat in a long garage. The sail boat you can make one hull at a time in a long narrow space, and the houseboat is only 2500mm wide. Keep looking. The process will help prepare you to solve other challenges with the build that need creative solutions.?
It sounds to me like the first thing you need to do is think deeply for a while about what you really want to do with the boat, as these two boats are quite different and have different needs and give you different opportunities. Clarity there will then clarify the exact needs of your garage or greenhouse.?
I wish you strength and clarity as you take the plunge! Remember this process is a series of challenges that prepare you for bigger challenges ahead.?
Kind regards
Patrick
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