hello Bringo, it is not up to me to give you some good advice, because I am also a Novato, but I would say let the wood work and find its place (in the first planking) if it is necessary to use pieces refill do it, when the first planking is finished and it is not 100% then you still have sandpaper and stuffing a grater or a scraper sometimes do wonders, which is important that the hull gets its shape that it should have (for your 2nd finishing board of the hull) and do as I do "y no ropes mucho la cabeza como haser" which is important that your planks are in the water enough time to bend them in their shape more easily.
Greetings DJ56 (Willy)