Pete, there are alot of build methods out there using flat panels but they all have a common problem, that of stitching and taping them together, it simply doesn't give nice fair lines and those boats I have seen photo's of using this type of method always seem a bit, well, not quite right, sort of the ugly ducklings of boat design.

Derek Kelsall uses a method which sort of is a half way house, the KSS and it seems to be a fast boat building method http://www.kelsall.com/methods.html but still in small boats particularly gives the impression of lots of flat surfaces. I'm not sure with good computer modelling a non flat table could be created to get the right bends in the right places before starting to stitch the panels together, would give a better surface.

But here is the rub though, all that extra design time could probably be better spent ( and more rewarding ) simply getting on with building the boat using traditional foam and female stations.