Just looking for suggestions on beginner boats. I like the looks of the USS Cleveland,but not sure what level of difficulty it would be. I have access to about any tool that could be required. Not even sure if thisis the right forum for this question, so if not sorry in advance.
The Clevelands are pretty good beginner boats. You have enough room and displacement to fit components in without too much trouble. The only thing you really have to worry about is keeping the center of gravity low and in the middle of the beam. Mark Jenks sells a laser cut USS Baltimore kit that makes another fine beginner boat.
Either Cleveland or Baltimore are good beginner boats... lots of room (for a cruiser), plenty of weight allowance (so you don't have to be a great boatbuilder and make everything featherweight), relatively cheap to outfit with guns and such. I have friends with Clevelands, I personally have a Baltimore, but in my evaluation it's largely whether you want to do fiberglass or wood (when choosing between the two of them). Either way it's hard to go wrong.
