Hah, hah, David.  You know you don't mean it!

I think, Gary, that what David is doing is taking the dregs of his glue to fill the screw holes: no doubt with microfibres and, worse, colloidal silica as part of the mix, instead of mixing up a batch of filler.  I have some different approaches to both leftover glue and filling screw holes.  Use leftover glue to start filling the the Vs in stringers, etc.  Fill the screw holes with wooden plugs instead of glue paste. You put them in with glue, so this uses up the dregs of glue which we thrifty people don't like wasting.

Of course, you need a box of plugs cut in advance, which don't actually have to be made out of the same wood as the plywood - scraps from your framing material will do.  You have to drill the holes out with the appropriate drill, but that needn't take long.  And with wood plugs, you don't have to go back and 'top up'  the filler if it sags.  I'm not sure that it isn't as quick as filling if you have everything set up for it.  A lot easier to sand, too.  A multi-tool docks the plugs very effectively.

If I do use glue for filler, I try to get at it with a scraper before it gets rock hard, but sometimes it's a job done at the end of the day, or in David's case, before he goes back to work.  Then it's hard yakka.

Not quite on topic, but on the other hand, any tips to make the job go easier puts off the evil hour of perhaps having to employ someone.

So, having spent half the day sanding and finishing off all twelve bulkheads for my new catamaran here is my Boat Building Tip of the Day;

DON'T DO IT - Buy a ready built boat!

Tip #2, and Memo to myself:

Don't be lazy and use left over glue mix to fill screw holes. It is too hard to sand off, use proper filler mix.

That's a good point, Shemaya.  It would probably pay for the extra shipping.  Plus, then I'd have an excuse to get up Down East more often.

Such a great range of thoughtful and experienced replies.  Thank you all.

Tackling Arne's question first - this boat will be a blue water cruiser I intend to take me anywhere an intrepid adventurer might want to go, from Scotland to New Zealand.  It'll be my home for hopefully more than a few years.  I think that there are perhaps some systems / goodies with which I could do without for a while, but as it's my home, I'll need it in pretty good shape before I splash.

I too, David, wonder if my skillset and large-project drive aren't more a curse than a blessing.  I've built some decent sized projects, including a single-handed, simple machines only, 36 x 24 barn / workshop in which I was going to build a 28 foot cruiser based on the Graham Byrnes designed Princess Sharpie.  (See, "alimony" above.) I tend to get itchy if I'm not working on something extensive.  But full time cruising could be that extensive thing instead of mostly full time building.  I think.  

Peter's advice to only do those jobs that are fun, and set a time limit, is great.  I was already planning on farming out the exterior fairing and painting - "soul destroying" is an apt description.  I don't feel that much else is beyond my skillset except finish carpentry.  I have no doubt that I'd make more scrap than art, and worse, my small mistakes will glare at me for years.  (I tend not to see the slightly mismatched wood or gaps in other people's work, though.  You know how it is.) Arne's point about focusing great quality on items with which we have a tactile and frequent relationship is right in line with my thinking;  I don't skimp on doorknobs, light dimmer switches, or hand planes.  But I don't need perfect finish in behind the locker doors. 

I will say that when I was tearing up the interior, each part that came out was met with the thought,  "Man, that's another 40 hours of careful fitting and finish work to put a comparable thing back in."  

When my kids were young and I had to stay around the house, I loved large projects.  But my kids are heading off into lives of their own soon, and I'd like to spend much more of my life energy on, um, grownup relationships, shall we say.  (See, "alimony" above.)  And that's hard to do if I'm, like Mark, working on the boat every night and eight or so hours during the weekend.  What's bothering me is the opportunity cost; life is short.

Zane, I actually consulted with James Baldwin early on in the project - he's quite knowledgeable and has a great philosophy.  I may contact him for this.  Alternatively, I've already reached out to Tim Lackey in Maine, and we'll see what he says.  But I've got to think that with Mystic, Connecticut and Newport, Rhode Island so close, there'd be a good collaborative shop nearby.  Trouble is, the good ones are often a bit off the water and get trade through word of mouth.  I'm going to the Wooden Boat Show in a few weeks at Mystic Seaport Museum.  Perhaps I can get a few locals talking and make some recommendations.

From a professional point of view, We have a number of projects that are ongoing and we have worked with a number of people refitting and building their boats.

There are certain jobs that are massive, boring and repetitive. These are the jobs that wear people down and take away the spark. 

Always tackle jobs you feel happy doing and are within your skill set yourself. but have a time limit on them.

If a job is going over the set time get in help

If it over your skill set get in help, watch and learn

We have a couple of great guys here but we always get in help for

sanding and cutting back, hull prep ready for painting. These two jobs are not difficult but can be soul destroying and take silly amounts of time.

If you have spare money coming in then use it. even if its to buy something you don't need straight away. Always keep momentum in your work.

One thing I have always said, as a rule, home built boats have a higher quality than commercial builds, however, don't get bogged down with time-consuming work. 

People who look at your boat will not see the little detail but will take in the overall appearance.

Get the job to a useable standard you can always go back and replace locker doors etc in a refit 3 years down the line but you will have had 3 years pleasure.