Sometimes it just takes a different viewpoint. This last week I was trying (around family issues) to get back to skinning the boat. Only real issue was that I had laying the plywood at a 45-degree angle as specified by the designer was really using some wood.

I had discussed with the designer this problem, and he felt the cutoffs would be used at the bow (where the beam is a lot less). Sounded reasonable, but as I tried to lay things out, it just wouldn't work.

The diagonal measurement was just a shade too much in too many places. I couldn't cover the gaps with a 4' section, forcing me to use full 8' pieces cut down, leaving large triangles of "waste." As I have come to the front, I wanted to use those triangles, but just couldn't get them to fit.

Now the 8-year-old comes into play. Dane was helping me try to figure this out, moving boards around, measuring, etc. He finally convinced me to try his idea, even though I didn't think it would work. Well, it didn't wind up exactly the way either of us envisioned, but the layout will allow us to cover the rest of the bow from the "scrap" without cutting any more sheets of MDO!

Taking triangles of wood, one point to the centerline and the next point to the chine allows you to alternate the pieces with 45 degree to the centerline joints every few feet. Part of these joints are "backwards" to the others, but that is fine and makes great use of the wood. Many of the pieces don't need any cutting beyond trimming the chine edge to the proper curve, which I'll do after I attach them.

I had intended to have a picture of these (hopefully installed) for this posting, but weather intervened. Atlanta doesn't get snow and ice often, but we did today! Take a look. Building a snowman (and knocking snow off the shelter) took priority today.