well, a new obsession du jour has been building a sailboat.
i think i can do it for under 400 and have an 18 foot boat

unfortunately i haven't found any plans that are exactly what i want so i think i'll be designing one
theres some fun software at
http://www.carlsondesign.com
and it has a bunch of hull designs with it

i would probably try to make it super light with stitch and glue/tape construction with bulkheads and a full height center frame peice out of 1/4" or 3/8" plywood
it would be a hard chine boat unless i get extra ambitious
not sure if there are any advantages either way

i like the classic looking sailboats,
but then i also like the cabinless smaller ones
i think the look i'd most likely go for is a modern americas cup

i don't know
it will at least be a few years off before i could start

i think its probably the next entry on my assoc2 blog

a few links to get you interested
http://www.carlsondesign.com/hulls.zip
http://www.hallman.org/roar/
http://www.inquiry.net/outdoor/summer/boats/index.htm/index.htm
http://www.svensons.com/boat/
http://homepages.apci.net/~michalak/#The%20Size%20Of%20Boats
http://home.clara.net/gmatkin/freedes.htm
http://www.simplicityboats.com/methodsnmaterials.html
http://www.hobby-boatbuilding-index.de/homepage.htm
http://members.aol.com/buildboats/index.htm
well theres a few that are interesting

nobody seems to be doing stitch and glue on the scale i'm thinking
but i'd be doing stitch and glue with bulkheads and a center beam (i think it would be called a keelson) of plywood top to bottom
and tying the top deck to the sides.

all joints fiberglassed epoxy.

in the mean time, i am building some pirate ship shaped scooters for a pirate themed halloween party. heres some progress photos















the 2x and 1x frame, less the seat. the sides are in the background















the frame with the sides and transome set around it. a couple evenings and it should be done.