If you are willing to suffer for the first 4 or 5 years maybe so. A well
built 16' stripper can sell for $3-4K but between materials, shop space
rent, tool costs, insurance, taxes, sales commissions etc. you will be luck
to net half that on each one. You would have to turn out more than one a
month to survive and while it can be done it will take a lot of discipline.
Once you get some volume up you can buy material in volume and time for
price. As you build a customer base and a reputation you might sell 40-50
or so a year but you will have to hire some help to do it which cuts your
margin considerably..

I am guessing that the upper limit on the before tax net income for a really
well known stripper builder might be in the neighborhood of $50K. After
that you will be managing a factory which is not as much fun as building
canoes.

--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com

"Blazer Fan Dan" wrote in message
ups.com...
I'm not sure if this is where to ask, but I've tried writing some
people who make canoes/boats for a living and most don't seem to want
to respond (can't say I blame them).

Is it possible to make a decent living making canoes (cedar strip
ones)? Is it a pipe dream that's not worth even trying?

thanks for any help