DIRECTIONS
1. Draw an outline for your boat on the 7-inch balsa block. Mark the boat's top edge on the 2-inch-wide surface.
2. For the hull, carve away the wood around the outline. Continue downward, tapering the sides of the boat so they meet to form a rounded ridge along its bottom.
3. Use a scoop blade (adults only) to hollow out the hull. Leave a 1/4-inch thickness around the sides and 3/4-inch along the bottom.
4. Carve a lengthwise groove (1/4 inch deep, 1/8 inch wide, and 3 3/4 inches long) along the middle of the boat's bottom. 
5. For the keel, cut a 1 3/4- by 3 3/4-inch rectangle from the sheet of balsa.
6. Make a diagonal cut along one short side of the rectangle; the resulting tip should face forward when you join the keel to the boat.
7. Affix fishing weights with Krazy Glue along the bottom of the keel. Coat the groove with glue before sliding the keel in place.
8. Inside the hull, drill a 3/16-inch-diameter hole, 1/4 inch deep and 2 1/2 inches from the bow. Cut a 7 1/4-inch mast from the dowel.
TIP: Since the thinness of balsa wood can be challenging to work with, use a gentle hand when cutting and shaping.
