Synopses & Reviews
Strip-building--assembling a pile of thin wood strips into a functional hull--has been a popular canoe-building method for many years. Now boatbuilder Nick Schade, an engineer by training and a self-professed sea kayaking addict, has refined this time-tested method to build the more complex shapes of sea kayaks. The method is simple, forgiving, allows a liberal amount of design flexibility, and requires a minimum number of tools. It's also relatively inexpensive: about $500 to $600 for one of the designs discussed here--one-quarter the price of a factory-built model. In
The Strip-Built Sea Kayak, Schade presents full plans for three elegant designs inspired by the grace and seaworthiness of the Inuit and Aleut skin boats. Profusely illustrated instructions provide the details that will guide you through the process.
A complete novice will be able to construct a finished kayak after reading nothing but this book. And for an experienced builder, the techniques here can be expanded to create the perfect boat for you.
Strip-building is the most flexible, forgiving, and attractive way to build a small wood boat. Professional sea kayak builder Nick Schade presents complete plans and measurements for three kayaks:
- Great Auk, a fast, stable, comfortable single for beginners
- Guillemot, a beautiful, high-performance single for intermediate and skilled paddlers
- Guillemot Double, a spacious kayak for two
Here's all the information you'll need to build a sturdy, elegant sea kayak, from setting up shop to making a paddle.
"Nick Schade has managed to raise the craft of strip-building to the art of graphic design in wood."--Sea Kayaker
Review
``Nick Schade has managed to raise the craft of strip building to the art of graphic design in wood
Synopsis
Although books on strip building canoes abound, this is among the first to adapt the technique to crafting attractive, functional kayaks. Using high-quality, computer-generated illustrations and photographs to explain key techniques, the book provides complete plans and measurements for three different kayaks: 1) A simple solo craft for beginners, 2) A high-performance solo kayak for intermediate paddlers, and 3) A tandem design for two paddlers. With its easy-to-follow guidance and instructions, The Strip-Built Sea Kayak makes top-notch kayaks accessible to budget-minded paddlers.
Synopsis
"Nick Schade has managed to raise the craft of strip-building to the art of graphic design in wood."
--Sea Kayaker
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p.194-195) and index.
About the Author
Nick Schade, an engineer by training, is a boatbuilder and writer whose articles have appeared in Sea Kayaker and Atlantic Coast Kayaker. As an impoverished college student, he designed and built his first kayak when he realized that the price of a factory model was beyond his reach. And he's been at it ever since: More than 300 of his sea kayaks are being paddled and built worldwide. Nick divides his time between shops in Connecticut and New Hampshire and paddling the shores of New England.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Part I The Background
1 Why Build A Kayak?
Why Use Wood?
Why Use Strips?
2 How Design Affects Performance
Stability
The Importance of Speed
Maneuverability and Tracking
Volume, or Interior Size
Choosing the Right Boat
Some Proven Designs
3 Tools and Materials
Tools
Materials
4 Lofting
Offsets for the Hull Forms
Offsets for the End Forms
Drawing the Patterns
Making Small Changes
Part II The Building Process
5 Getting Started
Where to Build
Cutting the Strips
Cutting Forms
The Strongback
Aligning Forms
6 Building the Hull and Deck
Stripping the Hull
Stripping the Deck
Finishing the Ends
Fairing
7 Fiberglassing and Finishing
Fiberglassing
The Coaming Up
Making the Hatches
Installing Cheek Plates
Joining Hull and Deck
Using a Sheerclamp
Finishing Off
8 Artistic Creation
Patterns from Strips
Dotted Lines
Dressing Up the Surface
Part III After It's Done
9 Fitting Out
The Seat
Footbraces
Knee and Thigh Braces
Bulkheads
Deck Lines
Hatch Gaskets
Grab-Loops
Rudders
10 And a Paddle to Match
Making the Shaft
Making the Blades
Rounding the Shaft
Fiberglassing the Paddle
Variations on a Theme
Tools for Paddles
Materials for Paddles
11 Maintenance and Repairs
Yearly Wear and Tear
Bad Scratches
Dealing with Bruises
Patching Holes
Part IV Appendices
A-1 Materials List
A-2 Material and Tool Sources
Wood
Glass and Resin
Outfitting and Tools
Books
A-3 Sources of Plans
A-4 Custom Designing
Designing Your Own Boat
Stealing Designs
Modifying a Design
Moving the Cockpit
Last Warning
A-5 English and Metric Conversion Factors
A-6 Safety
Dangers in the Shop
On the Water
A-7 Glossary
A-8 Bibliography
Index