Why A Wooden Kayak?

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 Nick Schade

Photo courtesy of Pygmy Boats

The fog starts to lift as you leave the island where you camped. As you head out across the bay, a seal pops up to see who is crossing its territory. Out to the right you hear a porpoise exhale.

You're carrying all you need, self sufficient, dependent on no one. You look with satisfaction down at your deck, evaluating the selection of wood, wondering if you should rearrange the deck lines, thinking about new hatch systems. You are paddling a kayak you built yourself.

There are not many things that you can make that will take you as far as a kayak. While some people can make a motorcycle or an airplane, these are not projects suitable to the average basement or garage workshop, whereas a marginally handy individual can make a highly functional kayak without sophisticated tools or skills.

There are lots of reasons why you might want to build your own kayak, from saving money to getting a pretty boat, but the most compelling reason is the satisfaction you get from being out on the water in a craft you made with your own hands. This satisfaction is enhanced bythe fact that yours is almost always the prettiest kayak in your group. It's also likely that your boat will be one of the lightest and least expensive. In this age of pre-packaged dinners there are few opportunities to make such a high quality product by yourself.

WHY YOU SHOULDN'T BUILD ONE

Don't take on the project just to save money. The materials to build a high quality wood kayak generally cost less than a similar pre-manufactured boat, but that doesn't include your time. Kayak kit manufacturers will quote times as low as 45 hours to build a relatively simple design. While they are not lying, they are probably being a little optimistic for the average beginning builder.

The average person with a job and family obligations may have difficulty finding the time. The work is satisfying and should be relaxing. If you go into the project thinking you will bang out a boat in short order and be ready to paddle in no time, you may end up frustrated. If you see the time spent build-ing as a chance to slow down, learn new skills and relax, you are more likely to enjoy it.

Before you commit yourself to trying to build a kayak as a thing of beauty, consider how you want to use it. They are pretty, but that can sometimes interfere with their practicality. If you have spent all winter obsessing over making a gorgeous kayak, you may be reluctant to subject it to the inevitable bumps and grinds of use. If you use it, your kayak will get scratched.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to put your best effort into making a beautiful kayak. You just need to realize that perfection takes time. While you can make a very nice looking kayak quite quickly, it takes a very long time to make a drop-dead gorgeous one. If you start the project with the attitude that it's just a boat to be used, you will likely be overwhelmed with how pretty it comes out. If you go into the project hoping to achieve perfection, you may be disappointed in the inevitable flaws.

WHY YOU SHOULD BUILD A KAYAK

A wooden kayak is not a compromise. It can be just as strong as a pre-manufactured plastic, fiberglass or kevlar boat. In fact, a wooden kayak is often also a fiberglass kayak. Most of the building techniques incorporate fiberglass into the finished boat as reinforcement. The difference is, the wood serves as a core material between layers of glass. This makes a boat that is generally stiffer than other kayaks. While it is possible to scratch through the outer layer of glass to expose the wood core to water, it's hard to break completely through a wooden kayak. Most scratches are just cosmetic and don't harm the boat.

The wood-fiberglass composite creates a structure that is relatively lightweight for its strength. It will be easier to paddle and more responsive than other, heavier kayaks. And a lighter boat is much easier to load on the car and carry down to the put-in. Building your own boat provides you with all the skills to fix it, should the worst happen. You will know intimately how the boat goes together and what needs to be done to put it back together should it break.

Making the kayak yourself lets you customize it exactly to your needs. Many of the building methods let you do simple tweaks of the design to get the performance you want. If you have unusual desires, the kayak designers are often willing to create a custom design specifically suited to your needs. And as you build, you can outfit the boat to meet your specific needs. If you want extra deck lines or a fishing rod holder, you don't need to negotiate with the manufacturer to get what you want.

The beauty of wood is undeniable. It has a visual richness that is only seen in natural materials. And it doesn't take any particular skill to make wood look good. It's a forgiving material - the texture of the grain hides many mistakes.

The real advantage of wood is it permits you to do it all yourself without sophisticated tools or skills. It's possible to make a fullfiberglass kayak at home, but it's a much more involved project. If the idea of moving across in the water in a craft you put together with your own hands appeals to you, making a wooden kayak is the best way to do it. The time spent in the basement will feel well spent when you place the boat in the water and head out across the bay.

©Nick Schade is the owner of Guillemot Kayaks, Glastonbury, CT . Ph/Fx: (860) 659-8847.

Web: www.guillemot-kayaks.com