The Strip-Built Sea Kayak: Three Rugged, Beautiful Boats You Can Build

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Part I The Background

1 Why Build A Kayak?

Why Use Wood?

Why Use Strips?

2 How Design Affects Performance

Stability

The Importance of Speed

Maneuverability and Tracking

Volume, or Interior Size

Choosing the Right Boat

Some Proven Designs

3 Tools and Materials

Tools

Materials

4 Lofting

Offsets for the Hull Forms

Offsets for the End Forms

Drawing the Patterns

Making Small Changes

Part II The Building Process

5 Getting Started

Where to Build

Cutting the Strips

Cutting Forms

The Strongback

Aligning Forms

6 Building the Hull & Deck

Stripping the Hull

Stripping the Deck

Finishing the Ends

Fairing

7 Fiberglassing and Finishing

Fiberglassing

The Coaming Up

Making the Hatches

Installing Cheek Plates

Joining Hull and Deck

Using a Sheerclamp

Finishing Off

8 Artistic Creation

Patterns from Strips

Dotted Lines

Dressing Up the Surface

Part III After It's Done

9 Fitting Out

The Seat

Footbraces

Knee and Thigh Braces

Bulkheads

Deck Lines

Hatch Gaskets

Grab-Loops

Rudders

10 And a Paddle to Match

Making the Shaft

Making the Blades

Rounding the Shaft

Fiberglassing the Paddle

Variations on a Theme

Tools for Paddles

Materials for Paddles

11 Maintenance and Repairs

Yearly Wear and Tear

Bad Scratches

Dealing with Bruises

Patching Holes

Part IV Appendices

A-1 Materials List

A-2 Material & Tool Sources

Wood

Glass and Resin

Outfitting and Tools

Books

A-3 Sources of Plans

A-4 Custom Designing

Designing Your Own Boat

Stealing Designs

Modifying a Design

Moving the Cockpit

Last Warning

A-5 English and Metric Conversion Factors

A-6 Safety

Dangers in the Shop

On the Water

A-7 Glossary

A-8 Bibliography

Index