Web Paddling: Wood on the Web

December 2002 - January 2003

This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web.
To download a pdf copy of the magazine click here: > DOWNLOAD

by Ted Leather

You've made the decision! You love wood so you're going for a wooden kayak. I, too, love wood. Before my latest incarnation as a webmaster, I used to work with wood full time.

It started because I wanted a home on a beautiful piece of Gabriola Island property. Not knowing one end of a hammer from another, I decided the most prudent course of action was to purchase a home kit, just like you may be planning to buy a kayak kit. This led to fifteen years of wood working - ten years in a commercial wood shop and the balance building homes for friends and family.

Applying my home building analogy to your dilemma, the question is, do you buy a premade kayak, a kayak kit, or a set of plans?

For the least handy and adventuresome, buying a finished wooden kayak may be the answer. But for those who are willing to test themselves - just as you have already tested yourself by getting into kayaking in the first place - there is nothing like the sense of accomplishment that comes from something made with your own hands. Even the imperfections in my first home could not dull that satisfied feeling I got from living there. As with love, there's nothing quite like that first one.

So if you're at all inclined towards building your own kayak, I would certainly recommend the adventure. If you're a beginner like I was, a kit is probably the preferred choice, but if you already have some building skills, you may choose to go the "Full Monty" and buy a set of kayak plans. The decision is a personal one which depends upon time, circumstances, knowledge and money.

I can't help you with the money part, and I don't know your circumstances, but I can certainly help you somewhat with your time and knowledge. WaveLength's updated "Wooden Kayak" directory in this issue (and on the web at www.wavelength magazine.com/2003/dj03woodendirectory.php) is a great place to start. Listed are the major wooden kayak kit and plan suppliers. Many of the sites offer a wealth of information.

On my recommended list are:

• Chesapeake Light Craft's (www.clcboats.com) "Shop Tips" include about 50 articles on construction, epoxy, fiberglass, fitting out and finishing.

• Pygmy Boats' (www.pygmyboats.com) "Kit Construction Process" is a photo and text essay on the 70 hour construction of one of their kayak kits.

• Waters Dancing's (www.watersdancing.com) "Frequently Asked Questions" is also very informative reading, although relating mostly to their kits. You may also wish to read about other people's experiences and there are several great personal websites dedicated to Wooden Kayak Construction.

Here are my favourites:

• Ken's Kayak Pages: www.dbeweb.com/kayak/index.html.A very detailed site with lots of text and high quality images on kayak construction and even articles on creating wooden paddles. Congratulations, Ken, on a very comprehensive site.

• Bill Walker: www.alaska.net/~bwalker/kayak/ch17/. A photo essay of building a stitch and glue kayak from plans for a Chesapeake 17 kayak.

• Ross Leidy: www.blueheronkayaks.com/. Ross has built many wooden kayaks and his site goes into quite a bit of detail on several models, with lots of quality images and text descriptions.

• John Coppens: http://jcoppens.com/kayak/index_e.html. John is an electronics engineer and this site details his experience of building his first wooden kayak with little prior knowledge.

• Lorreta and Chip: www.nwlink.com/~chips/index.html. Their site has photo essays on both a stitch and glue as well as cedar strip kayak construction.

• Harvey Golden: http://home.pacifier.com/.Harvey's site is about skin kayak construction, but it's great so I thought I would offer it as an alternative to building an all-wood kayak.

And of course I have to mention that in 2001, WaveLength had back-to-back issues (Dec/Jan and Feb/Mar) on Wooden Kayaks and all of the articles from those issues are available online by going to www.coastandkayak.com/magazine01.php.

I hope this wealth of information aids you along your path of discovery. Happy building!

Ted Leather is the WaveLength Webmaster and operates Clayrose Internet Creations, an internet services company specializing in website design and management. (ted@clayrose.com).