(Backyard Renegade) wrote in
om:

John Fereira wrote in message
...
(Backyard Renegade) wrote in
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"Lefty" wrote in message
. net...
I borrowed the book with this title (title of the thread)
from my cousin. It was written by Robert Morris of the
Brewery Creek Small Boat Shop. I wonder if any of you
have built using this book, or would recommend another
as an alternative or supplement?

I had thought of building a stitch-and-glue kayak kit as
my fist boatbuilding project, but now I'm leaning this
way. The anotomical design rules (based on hip width, armspan,
etc.) appeal to me (and will make a fast boat for my 6' skinny self
;-), and I'm not sure I want to do a lot of fiberglass work anyway.

Comments?

Fiberglass work such as stitch and tape is much easier and faster
than woodwork and joinery. Having never built a skin on frame, I can
only say that there will probably less parts too in a S+T. Here is a
pretty interesting S+T kayak that could be built by a first time
builder:
http://www.guillemot-kayaks.com/Buil...itchAndGluePla
ns. html The designer is very accessable and may be able to address
the "anotomical design rules", that is to say, he can probably tell
you if it is a good choice for you...

From what I've heard the stitch-n-glue/tape guillemot is fairly
difficult to build compared to most S&G designs.

The point about the woodworking/joinery for a skin-on-frame is a good
one though. Stitch-n-Glue boats, built from a kit, require very
little woodworking skills. I've known a couple of people that had no
prior woodworking experience whatsoever that built gorgeous
stitch-n-glue boats. If all the panels are pre-cut, as they are from
a kit, it's like putting together a large model.


Although I can see where it would be and it is noted as a difficult
build for a beginner, with patience it can be done and in the long run
you end up with so much more boat than the typical S&T paddle dory:
http://smallboats.com/iras_plans.htm

My point was simply that as far as Stitch-n-glue/tape desgigns go, the
construction of the S&G version of the guillemot appears to be more
difficult that most. I've also seen plans for a S&G baidarka that looks
like it would be even more difficult.

Last season a 17 YO Field Hockey star from down state decided she
wanted to build a boat, but had no experience. I sold her a kit and
like you said, she built a beautiful boat. I mean, you get what you
get. A nice stripper is going to be a better boat than a typical S&T,
but don't ever let anyone tell you that all S&T boats are floating
boxes anymore...

I've built both a S&G kayak (A CLC Northbay XL) and a cedar strip kayak (Jay
Babina's Outer Island) that I built from a set of plans (and millled my own
strips). The cedar strip boat was a considerable amount of work but likely
much more forgiving than a woodworking project like a set of kitchen
cabinets.