Oak don't like it to dry

am I reading the correct implication that oak will tend to split when
dried out, but that softwood is likely to cope better and split less?

Still why do you bother,

partly because I want a challenge, partly because I want to work with
high quality materials and avoid resins (my day job is making
resins... I see enough of them and read enough MSDS' to put me off for
life), but I think mostly because there is something about a
"traditionally" constructed craft that gets me excited in a way that
composite boats don't. S&G definitely has it's place, and epoxy/wood
composite boats are excellent for light weight, ease of construction,
ease of maintenance, but _for_me_ they are not as interesting or
stimulating as clinker craft.

And a very small perverted part of me wants to do it just because
various authorities think it'll be far too hard for me ;-)

Life is for living!

Al