Retro51

I built a wooden kayak, called the Lark, from Clark Craft plans. I wouldn't recommend this particular set of plans to a beginner. Here's some of the reasons:
1. Only one picture of the completed boat (which you need to look at as you build), and that was of the bottom
2. Some drawings were hand rendered sketches, not graphic drawings with measurements, etc.
3. No or very few full-size plans - you have to "loft" to get the patterns.
4. Some difficult parts - especially the stem, transom, and the rub rail. Especially difficult if you build it by yourself, which I did.
5. Some veru confusing directions.

I'm still glad I did it, and have a nice usable boat. Now that I have bought and used the plans, and saved my patterns, I wanted to build another, but probably will try another version. There's a free set of plans to a "plyak" for example, that looks pretty easy. Also Glen-L has plans, as do several others.

If anyone wants to see a pic of the completed boat in the water, and a few construction pics, or wants more info, email me on Yahoo, my username is:
ernielambert

Retro51

Just ordered plans from Duckworks Duckworks Boat Builders Supply

I have a set plans for Jim Malachek's Piragua in a book, and was going to try to build it. Here's a link to the Piragua
Duckworks Boatbuilders Supply

But I like the Toto even better and so ordered the plans. It's called a canoe, but it's more like a kayak with an open cockpit. It can be built w/ or w/o decks. It has a slight V-bottom and raised bow and is supposed to be very seaworthy and handle rough chop. It also looks like it would carry more than the sea kayak I was going to build. Here's the link:
Duckworks Boatbuilders Supply

I really like the look of both boats, and both seem pretty easy to build.

Electric Water Boy

Don't remember the exact name of the get together, but there is a meeting of wooden kayak builders. Do a search on TexasKayakFisherman and you'll find it. Look up members there called Pogo and Stryder.

Retro51

WoodenBoat magazine hosts one in different parts of the country, and there's one called a Messabout sometimes. It seems like most of them are on coastal areas - I think one was around Houston a couple of years back.

I found another site for plans for building your own - JEM Watercraft - Canoe Plans, Kayak Plans, other Boat Plans

You can even get free plans for a 13 ft kayak - which I DLd and may try to build sometime.

Since I have a couple of paddle boats already, I want to build something to sail. I think I will build a mouseboat called a flying mouse. Theres a Yahoo group for mouseboats with some pictures, and I have a book with plans.

srds

How you doing on Kayak keep us posted.-Thanks



srds :cool:
Have Fun

deafdave3

I wouldn't mind having plans for home-built pirogues, being I grew up in south Louisiana, but pirogues are useless in this area.

David

Retro51

The weather hasn't been cooperating, so I've yet to go down and get the wood. Taking the time looking at plans and deciding (that would be flip-flopping between designs) which one I want to build.

If you like the pirogue idea, but in a boat you could use where you are, look at the Piragua and the Toto. See the DuckworksBBS link in my other post, or check his yahoo group Michalak@yahoogroups.com

srds

What type of wood are you going to use?

srds :cool:
Have Fun

Retro51

Well I'm still flip-flopping over which boat to build. Now I'm leaning toward the free kayak plans from jemwatercraft.com, but I might try to build an open model with a fore and aft deck, like the Toto plans. I also am thinking about using the same 1/8 in Luan skins I used on the Lark. Seems strong enough, water-proof enough, and lighter and easier to handle. If I build the free canoe (again, with decks) I could still use the 1/8 inch Luan.

First I plan to build a Flying Mouse sailboat, or maybe the Puddle Duck Racer model.

srds

Keep us up on it ,sounds like a fun project.

srds :cool:
Have Fun

Retro51

If anyone is interested, I've decided not to build a sailboat at this time. After sitting on the fence about starting a new boat, I went and bought some lumber yesterday. But...I'm going to try to build a canvas-skin kayak, which I have some nice plans for. One big factor - is I'm tired of the epoxy/fibreglas routine, so this will avoid that problem. I want to see if it's faster/cheaper to build one of these rather than another plywood one. There are some problems with the build - like I will have to learn how to scarf-joint small furring strip-sized lumber.

I owned a Folbot kayak (Folbot Folding Kayaks) many years ago, which was not only canvas (actually, rubberized canvas) covered, but the frame folded up. You could carry the whole thing in two bags, and put it together on the beach. It worked really well. Klepper makes them too, and they are very popular in Europe.

Retro51

Finished the canvas kayak except for some trimming. Tried it on the water and it handles very well. I'm pretty happy overall with the project. The plans were very complete, and I was able to find 12 foot lengths of some of the lumber, which helped. I actually shortened the plans a little. I have pics but would have to find some way to host them.

srds

Maybe someone here can tell you how to do the pics,would love to see,

srds :cool:
Have Fun

__________________
To Camp or Not to Camp -Lets go Camping- Have Fun

Troop198

Other than putting them with the wild texas pictures, easy way is as I do.


Get a FREE web shots account at web shots.com for example (others out there)
simple step by step to upload copies to web shots, then label them, you can arrange the pictures also
then run a slide show and at end you can link to "this " (your slide show by copy and paste to wild texas site), here is how it looks,
see Slideshow of pictures, photos, and videos, from webshots

PM me for questions

Retro51

Thanks, that's helpful. I meant to email my pics so I could upload them here (the library) but I forgot. Once I do that, I will put a link here.