started this project last week.  got bottom braces in tonight.  kind of tricky, everything has a 22.5' angle for the gunnel flare out, w/ a taper to 18' in the bow and stern (' means degrees, to me anyhow).   every piece needed to be individually measured, all were different angles.   as you can see in the pics, every three braces i bumped it in 13/16" at a 22.5' to leave room for the side braces.  you will have to excuse my terminology, im new to building boats.  anyhow, had to use a #10 countersink for the #6 ss screws so they wouldnt shear out.  naturally, the "bit" portion was too big for the small screws, so i used yet another bit for my depth.  i had to use 3 bits for each screw, that was lovely.  white oak is not too soft, but ill thank myself later.  it would have come together quicker, but i got 4 coats of epiphanes on both the top of the bottom of the hull and the undersides of the braces.  as you can see in the pictures, i havent done the yops yet.  anything exposed will be done together later down the road.  i have all the side braces (mahogany) cut already, but its dinner time, so ill get to that tomorrow if im lucky.  i have to sand out the putty first and i dont want to whack the sides, i got sick of the little 5" random orbits a while ago and got a burly 6" one (which i highly recommend for working w/ hard woods).  i will continue to post pics and also ask questions, im good w/ woodworking skills but have never built a boat before.