I start the skinning process with the stern section. This is the most complicated part of the skin. I fabricate stem and stern as separate pieces that will be covered by the large PVC pieces that form the skin, thereby hiding most of the irregularities that are a result of the end pieces construction. This distinction between end pieces and skin is important: after they are done, you may fumble aroud with them until they are satisfactory. If they get worse and worse, throw them away and start again. Not much time and material is wasted.

Once you've got a set of nice end pieces, do the cockpit section. When you're finished with that as well, you may start the real skinning. With this previous experience, you already have programmed the properties and behaviour of PVC in your mind, thereby much easing work with the large pieces. Once the large pieces are on, I cover the ends with another set of pieces, now completely smoothing out everything where necessary, with sandpaper and a heat gun.