Re: [Paddlewise] Proud Pappa of a New Strip Built Boat

John Fereira wrote:

> >If you want to build quickly, choose a material and building system that
> >builds fast. Plywood kayaks build fast. The last one I built took about
> >40 hours.
> 
> I know.  I built a Stitch-n-Glue boat before I built my cedar strip
> kayak.  Building an S&G kayak, at least when building from a kit, is much
> like putting together a large model.

Kit? You mean that somebody makes KITS?  :-)

> >The point of building a boat is as much the building as the having of
> >the
> >boat when you are done. Unless you *enjoy* the building method and
> >materials
> >then you are far better off buying a boat instead.
> 
> I'm going to play devils advocate and disagree. 

Don't you think the Devil has enough lawyers already?  :-)(

> There are many reason to
> build it yourself, only one of which is the enjoyment of the building
> process itself.

But if you don't enjoy the building then you are probably better off
working at something you enjoy more (or dislike less) and spending
the money to buy a boat.


> Building your own provides a means to build a kayak for less money than
> what it would cost to purchase a new boat.  Again, there are many factors
> which will determine final cost and once you add everything up, the savings
> might not be that significant.

Less money is true, but only until you place any real value on your
time.


> Building your own arguably produces a kayak more aesthetically pleasing
> than what one can buy.  However, how much time and effort one puts into
> building a beautiful boat might be a trade-off with building a boat
> inexpensively.
> 
> Building your own allows you to customize the design, appearance, and
> outfitting to your liking.  If you want a 20" wide, 17'10" kayak that will
> accommodate size 14 feet building your own may be your only option.
> 
> Building your own allows you to paddle a kayak that may be more
> historically authentic than what one can buy.  Plans which provide replicas
> of traditional designs are available and one can even build using
> traditional materials and methods.

All of the above reasons can be done by hiring a custom boatbuilder.
There are LOTS of boat builders out there who do fantastic work for
less money than you might guess. Look in the back of WoodenBoat magazine
and call a few builders listed.

> Anyone that chooses to build their own kayak does so for their own reasons.

True

Enjoyment of the building will almost always be one of the reasons.
Certainly if they are building a second or third or ??? boat.

The pride of having built the boat is also a big one, at least for me.
I like when someone asks where they can get a boat like mine. I tell
them they can commission me to build them one. 

Don't ask me how many boats I have build. I don't count them.
Some of them are even still in service. :-))

"All boats, at the moment of launch, begin to sink. The harder you
work on them, the longer it takes." From an old anon boatbuilder.

michael
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