Hi there,
I want to build my own kayak and have no real skill in woodworking. So
I need some information (based on your experience) on what kit is the
easiest to build.
I have selected the following kit providers :
Chesapeake Light Craft
Pygmy
Shearwater
Water Dancing

Thanks

You should also look at the kits offered by Newfound woodworks. They use
"puzzle lock" joints that eliminate the possibility of panel
misalignments that can occur with butt and scarf joint. The Shearwater
kits should be the same, as Newfound makes the panels for them.

Another important consideration is the end product. The Waters Dancing,
Pygmy and most CLC kits are for "beginner boats" that you'll likely grow
out of in a hurry. Shearwater and Newfound offer kits for higher
performance boats (Merganser, S&G Night Heron, etc.) that may serve you
better in the longrun.


Pagaie wrote:

Hi there,
I want to build my own kayak and have no real skill in woodworking. So
I need some information (based on your experience) on what kit is the
easiest to build.
I have selected the following kit providers :
Chesapeake Light Craft
Pygmy
Shearwater
Water Dancing

Thanks

On Thu, 13 May 2004 14:04:30 GMT, Brian Nystrom
vaguely proposed a theory
.......and in reply I say!:
uncap my header address to reply via email

I agree with the fact that the end product is far more important than
ease of building, especially as stitch and glue is only minimally
woodworking. Bt I know that there are some kits that are lot tougher
than others.

I also agree with the possibility of someone growing out of a boat.
But there are many who do not. I have tried narrow boats, and although
I have done quite a bit of kayaking, includiung sea (although not
much), I still prefer a more comfortable, stable craft over that extra
1/4 knot. I feel that the gains of narrowness are often overcome by
the need to be more alert all the time against "tippiness", unless you
do a lot of paddling.

I admit I am not a "serious" kayaker, in that I'm not out there every
weekend going miles. I also have a big rear end! G. Seriously, I
cannot fit into some of the narrower cockpits.

Sorry to "talk behind your back" Pagaie G.

I think that on this topic, you should try a few boats of different
styles, widths etc first, maybe at a local club, or some other
organisation, even if it means hiring.

Are you sure you want to build? I firmly believe that bulding a kayak
should be done _only_ because you want to _build_ a kayak. If you want
a kayak, buy one secondhand. You may pay a couple of hundred more,
but....

....If you build a kayak, I doubt you will be able to sell it for much,
even if it's well built. You will certainly not get paid for your
time. So if you get the wrong type, you've lost the whole effort.

You should also look at the kits offered by Newfound woodworks. They use
"puzzle lock" joints that eliminate the possibility of panel
misalignments that can occur with butt and scarf joint. The Shearwater
kits should be the same, as Newfound makes the panels for them.

Another important consideration is the end product. The Waters Dancing,
Pygmy and most CLC kits are for "beginner boats" that you'll likely grow
out of in a hurry. Shearwater and Newfound offer kits for higher
performance boats (Merganser, S&G Night Heron, etc.) that may serve you
better in the longrun.


Pagaie wrote:

Hi there,
I want to build my own kayak and have no real skill in woodworking. So
I need some information (based on your experience) on what kit is the
easiest to build.
I have selected the following kit providers :
Chesapeake Light Craft
Pygmy
Shearwater
Water Dancing

Thanks

************************************************** *****

Sometimes in a workplace you find snot on the wall of
the toilet cubicles. You feel "What sort of twisted
child would do this?"....the internet seems full of
them. It's very sad

On Thu, 13 May 2004 14:04:30 GMT, Brian Nystrom
vaguely proposed a theory
.......and in reply I say!:
uncap my header address to reply via email

Oh. And another thing about building....you will _hate_ even letting
the boat touch anything! G

I built a cat many years ago, and on the first sail, we banged a
mooring buoy, which scratched the paint. It was just never the same
after that :-


************************************************** *****

Sometimes in a workplace you find snot on the wall of
the toilet cubicles. You feel "What sort of twisted
child would do this?"....the internet seems full of
them. It's very sad

Old Nick wrote:

On Thu, 13 May 2004 14:04:30 GMT, Brian Nystrom
vaguely proposed a theory
......and in reply I say!:
uncap my header address to reply via email

I agree with the fact that the end product is far more important than
ease of building, especially as stitch and glue is only minimally
woodworking. Bt I know that there are some kits that are lot tougher
than others.

I also agree with the possibility of someone growing out of a boat.
But there are many who do not.

That's fair.

I have tried narrow boats, and although
I have done quite a bit of kayaking, includiung sea (although not
much), I still prefer a more comfortable, stable craft over that extra
1/4 knot.

It's not just about speed. In fact, it's not necessarily about speed at all.

I feel that the gains of narrowness are often overcome by
the need to be more alert all the time against "tippiness", unless you
do a lot of paddling.

I admit I am not a "serious" kayaker, in that I'm not out there every
weekend going miles. I also have a big rear end! G. Seriously, I
cannot fit into some of the narrower cockpits.

Sorry to "talk behind your back" Pagaie G.

Not at all, as you raise valid points. However, it seems much more
common for someone to outgrow their first wide, stable boat than not.
Narrower, less stable boats offer higher performance not only in terms
of speed, but also in terms of handling rough water and wind. Large,
stable boats are harder to control. They can be very difficult to edge
and lean and they get blown around more due to their higher freeboard.
Many of them also track so strongly that they can be difficult for a
beginner to turn, especially in wind and chop.

The majority of kit boats fall into the "expedition size" category,
which is not what most people actually need. Unfortunately, most
builders don't discover this until they've already built a boat that's
not what they really need or want.

Yes, it takes time to adjust to a higher performance boat, but most
people will do so easily if they spend any significant time on the
water. For occasional recreational paddling, a wider more stable boat is
more suitable.

I think that on this topic, you should try a few boats of different
styles, widths etc first, maybe at a local club, or some other
organisation, even if it means hiring.

Agreed.

Are you sure you want to build? I firmly believe that bulding a kayak
should be done _only_ because you want to _build_ a kayak. If you want
a kayak, buy one secondhand. You may pay a couple of hundred more,
but....

Actually, you can get a lot of good used boats for less than the price
of a complete kit and the other supplies you need to build (typically
~$1000). Even used fiberglass boats are available at that price.

...If you build a kayak, I doubt you will be able to sell it for much,
even if it's well built. You will certainly not get paid for your
time. So if you get the wrong type, you've lost the whole effort.

Yup.

On Fri, 14 May 2004 12:36:00 GMT, Brian Nystrom
vaguely proposed a theory
.......and in reply I say!:
uncap my header address to reply via email
.........and some spam ******* has worked that one out!

In all of this, with the views presented, I think that really, before
you build, you should paddle a lot. Building will not reallyt save
money, and buying is so easy to get over. Building is not.

It's not just about speed. In fact, it's not necessarily about speed at all.

I agree with "not just". I am not sure about "not necessarily about
speed at all" G.

But yes, the higher performance boats do give better ultimate control
in tough circumstances, _in the right hands_! Harley vs Ducati! G

Not at all, as you raise valid points. However, it seems much more
common for someone to outgrow their first wide, stable boat than not.

As I said, I was perhaps playing devil's advocate. I am a capable, but
casual user.

I do have to ask, having been frightened by a really tippy boat, how
many people simply never took up kayaking beyond that first try,
having been put off by Mr Zippy's super dooper?

Yes, it takes time to adjust to a higher performance boat, but most
people will do so easily if they spend any significant time on the
water. For occasional recreational paddling, a wider more stable boat is
more suitable.

I think that on this topic, you should try a few boats of different
styles, widths etc first, maybe at a local club, or some other
organisation, even if it means hiring.

Agreed.

Are you sure you want to build? I firmly believe that bulding a kayak
should be done _only_ because you want to _build_ a kayak. If you want
a kayak, buy one secondhand. You may pay a couple of hundred more,
but....

Actually, you can get a lot of good used boats for less than the price
of a complete kit and the other supplies you need to build (typically
~$1000). Even used fiberglass boats are available at that price.

Yes. The kit prices are scary! And they _still_ need a lot of time!

************************************************** *****

Sometimes in a workplace you find snot on the wall of
the toilet cubicles. You feel "What sort of twisted
child would do this?"....the internet seems full of
them. It's very sad

Usually the hard core kayakers will never build. They don't have
time...they are too busy kayaking!


--
Matt Langenfeld
JEM Watercraft
http://jem.e-boat.net/

Old Nick wrote:
On Thu, 13 May 2004 14:04:30 GMT, Brian Nystrom
vaguely proposed a theory
......and in reply I say!:
uncap my header address to reply via email

I agree with the fact that the end product is far more important than
ease of building, especially as stitch and glue is only minimally
woodworking. Bt I know that there are some kits that are lot tougher
than others.

I also agree with the possibility of someone growing out of a boat.
But there are many who do not. I have tried narrow boats, and although
I have done quite a bit of kayaking, includiung sea (although not
much), I still prefer a more comfortable, stable craft over that extra
1/4 knot. I feel that the gains of narrowness are often overcome by
the need to be more alert all the time against "tippiness", unless you
do a lot of paddling.

I admit I am not a "serious" kayaker, in that I'm not out there every
weekend going miles. I also have a big rear end! G. Seriously, I
cannot fit into some of the narrower cockpits.

Sorry to "talk behind your back" Pagaie G.

I think that on this topic, you should try a few boats of different
styles, widths etc first, maybe at a local club, or some other
organisation, even if it means hiring.

Are you sure you want to build? I firmly believe that bulding a kayak
should be done _only_ because you want to _build_ a kayak. If you want
a kayak, buy one secondhand. You may pay a couple of hundred more,
but....

...If you build a kayak, I doubt you will be able to sell it for much,
even if it's well built. You will certainly not get paid for your
time. So if you get the wrong type, you've lost the whole effort.


You should also look at the kits offered by Newfound woodworks. They use
"puzzle lock" joints that eliminate the possibility of panel
misalignments that can occur with butt and scarf joint. The Shearwater
kits should be the same, as Newfound makes the panels for them.

Another important consideration is the end product. The Waters Dancing,
Pygmy and most CLC kits are for "beginner boats" that you'll likely grow
out of in a hurry. Shearwater and Newfound offer kits for higher
performance boats (Merganser, S&G Night Heron, etc.) that may serve you
better in the longrun.


Pagaie wrote:


Hi there,
I want to build my own kayak and have no real skill in woodworking. So
I need some information (based on your experience) on what kit is the
easiest to build.
I have selected the following kit providers :
Chesapeake Light Craft
Pygmy
Shearwater
Water Dancing

Thanks


************************************************** *****

Sometimes in a workplace you find snot on the wall of
the toilet cubicles. You feel "What sort of twisted
child would do this?"....the internet seems full of
them. It's very sad

--
Matt Langenfeld
JEM Watercraft
http://jem.e-boat.net/

Matt Langenfeld wrote:

Usually the hard core kayakers will never build. They don't have
time...they are too busy kayaking!

I know quite a few "hard core" paddlers who won't paddle commercial
boats at all, as they're not well suited to the type of paddling they do
and they don't fit the way they should. There's nothing quite like
having a boat that fits you like a broken-in pair of jeans. :-)

Old Nick wrote:

I do have to ask, having been frightened by a really tippy boat, how
many people simply never took up kayaking beyond that first try,
having been put off by Mr Zippy's super dooper?

I suspect that it's far fewer than you might think. It seems that most
people get their first taste of paddling by renting boats, which are
invariably wide, stable craft. Personally, I paddled boats that scared
me and not only did I continue paddling, I bought one of those boats (a
Nordkapp)! After paddling it for a while, it felt as stable as a couch
and I now paddle boats that are considerable less stable quite
comfortably. I now know what my limits are and there are a few boats out
there that I won't go near. My girlfriend owns - and loves - one such boat.

On Tue, 18 May 2004 13:04:28 GMT, Brian Nystrom
vaguely proposed a theory
.......and in reply I say!:
remove ns from my header address to reply via email
There's nothing quite like
having a boat that fits you like a broken-in pair of jeans. :-)

A broken in pair of jeans did not involve nearly as much of your soul
as a built boat!
************************************************** *****

Sometimes in a workplace you find snot on the wall of
the toilet cubicles. You feel "What sort of twisted
child would do this?"....the internet seems full of
them. It's very sad