Any canoe/kayak builders here?

[Jason Musgrave]

Anyone here built any cedar-strip, stitch & glue, or skin-on-frame canoes, kayaks, or SUPs?

Living in the land of lakes and looking at building some boats for the family. Thinking about a couple of stitch and glue boats as family projects which go together fairly quick/easy. And I've had a cedar-strip boat on my bucket list forever...might as well get started on it.

Who else besides Chesapeake Light Craft/Guillemot should be on our radar?

[Ras72]

A cedar strip has been on my bucket list for some time. So, I started this journey about three weeks ago.
I began with tons of research from suppliers and YouTube postings. I settled on http://www.bearmountainboats.com So far they've exhibited great customer service.
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Tomorrow, I hope to have all of my stations in place. Next will be the order of cedar strips... let the fun begin.
Let us know which direction you decide.

[Dmoeny]

I've built a few sof. Two baidarka, a paddle board and a rowboat using essentially the same system. If you haven't seen, check out Dyson and Platt Montfort for some inspiration.

[j44ke]

My buddy Alan Gage makes canoes, both racing canoes and traveling canoes. He's done some really beautiful strip-built canoes and also some composite canoes. In 2016, he did an absolutely crazy long trip up into the NW Territories by canoe with his dog Sadie. Just to test out his work. See his stuff here: Flickr

[summilux]

I've had plans for an Arch Davis Penobscott 14 for a decade or so and I know where you are coming from. I visited CLC some years ago just to see if I wanted to build something from their catalogue. The nice thing about CLC is that it is a well oiled machine. The kits are complete, the builds appear quite straightforward, CLC people are good and there is big online community support. The only downside to CLC is that the boats are kinda meh. They are like Giant or Spec. Nothing wrong with them but there is better out there. If you want something special and want to invest some time an effort building it up, then you want something more than CLC. Cedar strip is a lot of work though.

Get a stack of Wooden Boat mags from your local library and you'll find something there that speaks to you.

[guido]

I did a CLC kit years ago when I was doing kayaking. The kit went together well but the resulting boat was clunky and slow. If I was building today I'd do one of these:
Kayak Kits

Superiors Hawk series are really nice greenland designs...

[caleb]

My buddy Alan Gage makes canoes, both racing canoes and traveling canoes. He's done some really beautiful strip-built canoes and also some composite canoes. In 2016, he did an absolutely crazy long trip up into the NW Territories by canoe with his dog Sadie. Just to test out his work. See his stuff here: Flickr

If I remember correctly, he's the guy who went down and then upstream the entire length of the Bloodvein in Ontario and Manitoba, solo, with a boat he built himself.

[lumpy]

Caleb, what a pretty boat. I love the graphic and the stem reinforcement - does that go the whole length of the keel? Is the boat a Prospector design? How long is it?

Psyched to watch Path of the Paddle. I've read some of Mason's books. Inspiring.

[j44ke]

If I remember correctly, he's the guy who went down and then upstream the entire length of the Bloodvein in Ontario and Manitoba, solo, with a boat he built himself.

That's him. He's a tough guy, though I think detailed preparation, resourcefulness and the mantra "how hard could it be?" helps too.

[Jason Musgrave]

Very cool Eric!

[summilux]

That's some very pretty work Eric. Did you biscuit join the handle and paddle ends? I'm worrying about the end grain/long grain glue joint. It's a very pretty paddle.

[Eric Estlund]

The tip is dowel pinned. The top of the handle is just clamp and glued. I've been playing with some different construction methods as I go to see how different set ups work and age for me. The one piece walnut handle has a big round tenon and is cross pinned.

[j44ke]

Not using staples to hold the strips aligned while gluing?

[bigbill]

I did a Grand Canyon raft trip back in June. Brad Dimock was one of our guides and he is a semi-famous wooden boat builder. The link is about building a dory but the school lists so much more.
Building the McKenzie River Dory

[Ras72]

Not using staples to hold the strips aligned while gluing?

Yes sir. I don't want to see the staple holes through the fiberglass.
Although I did use staples at the sheer lines. I did this to anchor for the following strips. These locations will be covered by the gunwales.

[j44ke]

Yes sir. I don't want to see the staple holes through the fiberglass.
Although I did use staples at the sheer lines. I did this to anchor for the following strips. These locations will be covered by the gunwales.

I'm impressed. Keep posting photos.

[Jason Musgrave]

keep 'em coming!

[Ras72]

This project and method of not using staples is not for the impatient.
Slow going but happy for one week in.

Not much to see. Just stacking sticks.
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[Jason Musgrave]

I decided to build a SOF boat first, gonna order a set of plans for a Cape Falcon F1 shortly. Pretty stoked!

[Ras72]

Eric, those water sticks look pretty sharp. I may need to gear up for making a pair.

Jason, right on! This canoe gig has been a lot of fun and pretty rewarding. Just take your time and plan every move. If you go into something not knowing the outcome; step away and give it a day or so.