Re: [Paddlewise] Intro and question

Mark,
A really good source of information if you want to build a kayak is
available at:
http://www.guillemot-kayaks.com/cgi-bin/KBbbs.cgi

Its run by Nick Shade of Guillemot kayak, and really does well
at covering all the options.  Vendors are discouraged
from expressing opinions about competing kayaks, but end users are
welcome to express any opinions they want.
This question in some form or another comes up fairly often.
The general consensus is that all the major players offer plans/kits
for good kayaks. Pick a style and the features you want in the kayak
and don't worry so much about which vendor you got it from.

I ended up building two Pygmy "coho" stitch and glue kayaks (they were
local, so it was easier to test paddle the pygmy line).
Most people who have built a pygmy kayak had a good experience with
the kit, and most that built a CLC or Guillemot have also had the
project work out well.  There are stylistic differences and some differences
in the suggested steps to build.
Some people like the curved deck of the CLC, others prefer the peaked deck
and less forcing of a curve on the pygmy style.
A complete kit (with panels precut) is one of the faster or easier option.
building a S-G from plans will take more work, as will building a
S-B. The redfish strip built kayaks I've seen are just gorgeous.

One of the least expensive options for buiding is a skin on frame.
A big part of the cost with S-G or S-B is the fiberglass and epoxy.

You do have more design flexibility with the strip built, but
more labor.  Some of the pygmy multi-chine kits give
sort of a compromise between that, you get a bit more rounded hull
using several chines vs a single chine on some stitch and glue kits/plans.

Now that I've built the multi-chine coho, I'm actually interested
in building a hard chine kayak, like an Artic Tern, or I might try
a different vendor.  Or I might try a a strip built or a skin on frame.

dave
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