Daz',
I don't see why building the Shark out of wood wouldn't be possible. It might be more trouble, water proofing the insides as well as the outside, but certainly 'do-able'. If it's going to be a 'dry' hull you'll have to give some thought to the internal bracing (more required than for a 'wet' hull) and so it would be more complicated.
I wonder if there would be any advantage to finishing the thing with the PVC, or the liquid plastic stuff used for coating tool handles? I know it would be more expen$ive than the usual finishs, but wouldn't it be 'neat'? [A local company does that sort of thing, big vats of the stuff, just dunk it!]
- 'Doc