Kayaks You can Build: An Illustrated Guide Book

KAYAKS YOU CAN BUILD - An Illustrated Guide to Plywood Construction

by TED MOORES AND GREG ROSSEL

Published by Firefly Books LTD. 2004 

The dramatic growth in the popularity of kayaks is perhaps not surprising in a world of pricey, obnoxiously loud personal watercraft. As a low impact way to explore wilderness or to paddle through cottage country, these elegant, easy to transport craft are hard to beat.

The availability of kits with pre-cut plywood components has given a growing number of paddlers the freedom to build a strong lightweight kayak to their specifications and at a reasonable price. The common building methods used are "stitch and glue" or "tack and tape". A typical stitch and glue kayak kit contains pre-cut plywood planks, epoxy and hardware.

To assemble the hull, holes are drilled along each plank's edge and the plank is temporarily wired or "stitched" to the adjoining plank. The seams are then glued and covered with epoxy and fibreglass cloth. This simple construction process demands neither special skills nor a woodworking shop. All that is necessary is the desire to build it right.

255 pages, 450 colour photographs

CONTENTS:

1. A Short History of the Kayak
2. Choosing the Right Kayak
3. Setting up the Workshop
4. Tools, Materials and Supplies
5. Plywood Boat Building Techniques
6. A Kayak Builder's Journal
1. The Coho (Pygmy Boats) 
2. The Mill Creek (Chesapeake Light Craft)
3. The Enterprise (Bear Mountain Boats)
7. Glossary and Sources

REVIEWS:

Full of thoughtful, helpful advice... With this excellent guide in hand, building a unique, custom kayak is within reach... the next best thing to the authors' personal instruction.

- Diana Mumford Wave Length Magazine on 01/12/2005

Does double duty as an inspiration to build beautiful kayaks and as a shop manual for their construction... The authors put a consistent emphasis on doing good work by the most efficient means and their approach is gratifyingly holistic... Its value is in giving prospective kit buyers a clear picture of what the project involves. It also sets a first-time builder up with a level of workmanship to shoot for. The generous helping of color photographs, especially the close-ups, is quite valuable in this regard.

- Christopher Cunningham Sea Kayaker on 01/08/2005

A well-illustrated, step-by-step guide that practically anybody, with the right tools, can follow... the writing is lucid, good-humored and easy to follow. The book's glossy color photographs are tasteful and accurate to the instructions... methodical and straightforward.

- Dana Wilde Bangor Daily News  on 07/03/2005

Details rarely covered in other texts, such as finishing varnishes, deck fittings, rudders and steering gear... little gems of information.

- Patricia Coppard Victoria Times Colonist on 09/01/2005

This book should be required reading for those thinking of building their own kayak. Recommended for comprehensive public library collections.

-  Library Journal  on 01/12/2004

Kayaks You Can Build Author: Ted Moores & Greg Rossel Publication Date: 2004 Cover: Hardcover Pages: 256 Size: 10 1/4 x 8 1/2 The masters team up to teach techniques for constructing elegant wooden kayaks using plywood panels and the the stitch-and-glue method. Topnotch illustrations, photos, instructions and lots of timesaving tricks. Excellent.