This caused them to actually lose time, since they made mistakes which they had to correct. In the end the old man and his hand saw finished first. This does not mean that I am against power tools, for I own many. What it does mean is that more powerful tools can never replace skill, just as computers and word processing software cannot replace the skill to communicate the written word. Skills are what we must teach.
Tools are always available.
This is also an excellent time to use some scrap lumber and nails to teach how to set a nail, pull a nail, swing a hammer, hold the piece, etc. Practicing these basic skills until some level of mastery is achieved might consume at least three sessions. For this reason it would be advisable to have enough 2x6 on hand to do this extra trimming, and enough to avoid any large knots which would be difficult to nail through. Each boy can now find the center on one edge of the hull, and mark the two 45O cuts for the bow. Since these pieces are small, it is important that the boy position the mark to be cut parallel to the cutting bench, and as close to the bench as possible without sawing the bench.