Stitch and glue Kayak?

Here are a couple web sites with a good deal of information about stich and glue kayaks

http://www.pygmyboats.com

http://www.clcboats.com

I have built a stich and glue kayak (before I had a digital camera). Have you done kayak design before? There are a lot of subtle details in hull shape that affect stability and performance. Something to think about…

-- Steve - Impatience is Expensive

Thanks. I appreciate the links. Now I have some homework to do!

-- I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do. — Leonardo Da Vinci

I have no experience with this particular program but there are free programs available to do the same thing. Free!Ship, and Hulls are examples. There are more but I don’t know much about them.

Them sending back a image file sounds pretty lame and a good way to introduce error into the process. Getting a service company to print out will end up costing as much or more than a set of commercial plans. Without a large scale plotter, you are back to doing it by hand anyway. It really isn’t hard to mark out the pieces. A few nails and a flexible stick (batten) and a pencil and you are good. It’s not rocket science. In fact it is quite fun.

Warren Messer has a really good tutorial on Youtube (redbarnboats) on stitch and glue building and the design process as well although he is building sailboats rather than kayaks. Same thing, just thinner ply.

Hulls and FreeShip both do plate development (Rendering the parts in 2D for cutting) Hulls does the nesting pretty well also. FreeShip is a bit funky until you get used to it. Working with 3D curves with a mouse or even a tablet is problematic on its own.

There are also free designs available. JEM watercraft has a free one.

http://www.jemwatercraft.com/FreeKayakPlans.php

A few are also floating around the web. There are some available in books as well. Remember, you can check things out from a library too if you don’t want to buy or want to read first.

That said, until you have built one (several actually), I don’t advise designing your own. Focus on one skill at a time. Get one and build it. You might get hooked and build more or you will be happy with the one.

Enough for now. If you want more info, let me know.

-- Woodworking shouldn't cost a fortune: http://lowbudgetwoodworker.blogspot.com/

I built a stitch canoe years ago from CLCboats as mentioned above. They will sell kits or just plans. They also are a source for good plywood. It was a lot of fun.

http://lumberjocks.com/projects/3075

Steve

-- -- I'm no rocket surgeon

Thanks for the info everyone. The consensus seems to be that I should go with an existing design or buy a kit rather than drown myself in my first hand-built kayak. Much like a person shouldn’t make his own parachute without some knowledge on the subject, I think I’ll listen to your advice. Thanks!

-- I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do. — Leonardo Da Vinci