Boatbuilding Tips
Our vast collection of boatbuilding tips, drawn from decades of experience in supporting backyard boatbuilders.
Checking for Twist
Occasionally twist can develop in any boat built without forms and a strongback. Here's a technique, called winding, allows you to quickly check that your kayak is straight. Before taping...
Checking for Twist
Occasionally twist can develop in any boat built without forms and a strongback. Here's a technique, called winding, allows you to quickly check that your kayak is straight. Before taping...
Cheap Clamps
How many clamps does it take to build a kayak? With only 15 it's tough; 25 is better. We've often used 40 or 50. So even if you buy only...
Cheap Clamps
How many clamps does it take to build a kayak? With only 15 it's tough; 25 is better. We've often used 40 or 50. So even if you buy only...
Cabinet Scrapers for Boatbuilding
Boatbuilders seeking to ease the tedium of sanding have latched onto a very old-fashioned tool to deal with a high-tech problem: cabinet scrapers to smooth cured epoxy. Cabinet scrapers are...
Cabinet Scrapers for Boatbuilding
Boatbuilders seeking to ease the tedium of sanding have latched onto a very old-fashioned tool to deal with a high-tech problem: cabinet scrapers to smooth cured epoxy. Cabinet scrapers are...
Boatbuilding Terms Defined
There's a wonderful sequence in E.B. White's Stuart Little where Stuart and a sailor friend mock another boat's owner, saying he doesn't know "...A jib from a jibe...or a luff...
Boatbuilding Terms Defined
There's a wonderful sequence in E.B. White's Stuart Little where Stuart and a sailor friend mock another boat's owner, saying he doesn't know "...A jib from a jibe...or a luff...
Aligning Deck Fasteners
When fastening down a deck with bronze ring nails or screws, it's hard to get them all to line up evenly - especially if the deck panels are cut oversize...
Aligning Deck Fasteners
When fastening down a deck with bronze ring nails or screws, it's hard to get them all to line up evenly - especially if the deck panels are cut oversize...
Gluing Up Puzzle Joints
Chesapeake Light Craft’s precision CNC cutter creates “puzzle joints” to add necessary length to plywood panels. These joints must be glued up prior to assembling your project. On a flat...
Gluing Up Puzzle Joints
Chesapeake Light Craft’s precision CNC cutter creates “puzzle joints” to add necessary length to plywood panels. These joints must be glued up prior to assembling your project. On a flat...
Cutting Sheer Clamp Bevels
The Mill Creek designs require bevels where the sheer clamps meet at bow and stern. Here's an easy way to mark and cut them. First wire the side panels together...
Cutting Sheer Clamp Bevels
The Mill Creek designs require bevels where the sheer clamps meet at bow and stern. Here's an easy way to mark and cut them. First wire the side panels together...
Fillets
An epoxy fillet coves out the inside corner where two plywood panels meet. Applying fillets to join plywood panels in a boat is the "glue" part of "stitch-and-glue" construction; the...
Fillets
An epoxy fillet coves out the inside corner where two plywood panels meet. Applying fillets to join plywood panels in a boat is the "glue" part of "stitch-and-glue" construction; the...
CNC Basics
What is CNC? CNC stands for computer numerical control. This is a large machine that moves a high speed router head or a laser to machine parts from plywood. Why...
CNC Basics
What is CNC? CNC stands for computer numerical control. This is a large machine that moves a high speed router head or a laser to machine parts from plywood. Why...
Assembling a Boat Kit: Stitch and Glue Construc...
Stitch-and-glue boat building, along with the development of epoxy and modern mahogany marine plywood, has revolutionized and revitalized wooden boat building. This method of boat building is not only stronger,...
Assembling a Boat Kit: Stitch and Glue Construc...
Stitch-and-glue boat building, along with the development of epoxy and modern mahogany marine plywood, has revolutionized and revitalized wooden boat building. This method of boat building is not only stronger,...
Wood
Most stitch-and-glue boats should be built from marine grade mahogany plywood. There are several types of mahogany plywood that may be used, but okoume, a plantation grown African mahogany, is...
Wood
Most stitch-and-glue boats should be built from marine grade mahogany plywood. There are several types of mahogany plywood that may be used, but okoume, a plantation grown African mahogany, is...
Stitching Options
Stitch-and-glue boats are assembled by drilling small holes in two adjoining panels, inserting short pieces of copper wire through the holes, and twisting them to hold the panels together until...
Stitching Options
Stitch-and-glue boats are assembled by drilling small holes in two adjoining panels, inserting short pieces of copper wire through the holes, and twisting them to hold the panels together until...
Solid Wood for Boatbuilding
Have you looked for good, clear lumber lately? You're apt to be frustrated. I'm continually grateful that stitch-and-glue boats like CLC's are mostly plywood, because it's harder every year to...
Solid Wood for Boatbuilding
Have you looked for good, clear lumber lately? You're apt to be frustrated. I'm continually grateful that stitch-and-glue boats like CLC's are mostly plywood, because it's harder every year to...
Sharpening Tools
One of the first things I do when teaching a boatbuilding class is to show my students how to sharpen their block planes and other edged tools. Watching a roomful...
Sharpening Tools
One of the first things I do when teaching a boatbuilding class is to show my students how to sharpen their block planes and other edged tools. Watching a roomful...
Working with Cyanoacrylate (CA) Glue
An introduction to working with Cyanoacrylate glue by expert kayak builder and designer, Nick Schade: To hold together puzzle joints, seams, and other parts before they are epoxied, I use...
Working with Cyanoacrylate (CA) Glue
An introduction to working with Cyanoacrylate glue by expert kayak builder and designer, Nick Schade: To hold together puzzle joints, seams, and other parts before they are epoxied, I use...
Tapered Rubrails
Rubrails are a traditional way to emphasize the fine sheerline of your boat. However, they can look a little bulky on the slim hulls of kayaks, so use your block...
Tapered Rubrails
Rubrails are a traditional way to emphasize the fine sheerline of your boat. However, they can look a little bulky on the slim hulls of kayaks, so use your block...
Straps for Installing Decks
Cambered decks on CLC boats are easiest to install if an assistant holds the deck in position while you fasten it down. But what to do if you're working alone?...
Straps for Installing Decks
Cambered decks on CLC boats are easiest to install if an assistant holds the deck in position while you fasten it down. But what to do if you're working alone?...
Sawhorses and Slings
There are an infinite variety of sawhorses (or "sawbucks," "boat stands", or whatever you prefer to call them). For boatbuilding classes, and for our own use, we need lots of...
Sawhorses and Slings
There are an infinite variety of sawhorses (or "sawbucks," "boat stands", or whatever you prefer to call them). For boatbuilding classes, and for our own use, we need lots of...
Sanding Cockpit Coamings
All stitch-and-glue style kayak cockpits look about the same right after they've been glued together: an uneven, rough assemblage more likely to maul the crew than accommodate them comfortably while...
Sanding Cockpit Coamings
All stitch-and-glue style kayak cockpits look about the same right after they've been glued together: an uneven, rough assemblage more likely to maul the crew than accommodate them comfortably while...
Perfect Deck Joints
On most of our kayaks the two deck pieces meet at the widest part of the cockpit. This is the only position on the boat where we don't use a...
Perfect Deck Joints
On most of our kayaks the two deck pieces meet at the widest part of the cockpit. This is the only position on the boat where we don't use a...
Masking Joints
We've all glued scarfs and other joints and had a big glob of epoxy squeeze out when we clamped the joint. later we've sanded and scraped off the excess glue....
Masking Joints
We've all glued scarfs and other joints and had a big glob of epoxy squeeze out when we clamped the joint. later we've sanded and scraped off the excess glue....
Round Your Edges
With stitch-and-glue boatbuilding joints it is often necessary to wire together parts so they touch at their inside corners, as shown in the sketch. Holding them in this alignment can...
Round Your Edges
With stitch-and-glue boatbuilding joints it is often necessary to wire together parts so they touch at their inside corners, as shown in the sketch. Holding them in this alignment can...
Lauan Plywood
By John C. Harris December 2011 Is Okoume Marine Plywood Really Any Better? Anyone who’s built a small, simple boat in the last thirty years has given at least passing...
Lauan Plywood
By John C. Harris December 2011 Is Okoume Marine Plywood Really Any Better? Anyone who’s built a small, simple boat in the last thirty years has given at least passing...