@danyhkim said:

I made a video of my experiments, and posted to YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74ji-NXsdDI
[flash=425,344:3uy85jfv]http://www.youtube.com/v/74ji-NXsdDI[/flash:3uy85jfv]

For a simple articulated joint between two blocks, where the blocks must interact with each other and with other objects, and where the entire articulation is able to move about, the joint should be added to a third grouped object during an "edit group" action, making it into a moveable object itself, then joint-connected to the "arms" of the articulation.

Yeah, watch the video. My description confuses even me, and I wrote it!
Thank you for the clarification of a few things.

Chris, great work on SP. Love it! I hope I am not missing anything prior to writing this. When I click the Win3.2 version, I get the save file dialog with a 3.1 title. After running the installation, my animation tells me, upper left corner, SP 3.2 required. I guess the install isn't taking well, or....? TIA
DOD

Thanks for the input on that keel. Sketchup is amazing and there are new things I am grasping everyday. I have another project in the works which requires the use of the keel. I used an combination of under arcs on the bottom of the hull followed by Follow Me. While it gave me the shape I wanted, I had to try stitching the thing in x-ray view. What an agonizing and frustrating experience. I eventually gave up on that idea. I had forgotten about Interesct Faces. It would have cured my disdain for the effect I got.

I've only been using sketchup for a few weeks and have needed to draw a very simple canoe design. I've gotten lots of great input from this site and few others but, so far, nothing has met my need for simplicity or hit the nail on the head. Through much trial and error (a noob affliction of any endeavor) I found the technique that works perfectly for me. I posted a video at youtube with no audio. At least the music won't suck

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6o5zPkelqxY&feature=colike

Also, if anyone can assist the cause by demonstrating or describing a method for adding a keel to this model, I would be grateful. I would also consider remaking the video with the addition of the keel technique.

Thanks,
D.O.