Boatbuilding Tips
Our vast collection of boatbuilding tips, drawn from decades of experience in supporting backyard boatbuilders.
![Strip Planking 11: Fixing a Popped Seam [video]](http://clcboats.com/cdn/shop/articles/clc-fixing-popped-seam-1.png?v=1728335117&width=533)
Strip Planking 11: Fixing a Popped Seam [video]
Nick Schade writes: It will happen that as you are building a strip-planked boat, one of your seams will pop open. If you are using staples, you may be able...
Strip Planking 11: Fixing a Popped Seam [video]
Nick Schade writes: It will happen that as you are building a strip-planked boat, one of your seams will pop open. If you are using staples, you may be able...
![Strip Planking 10: Stripping The Bottom Part 2 [video]](http://clcboats.com/cdn/shop/articles/clc-stripping-the-bottom-pt2.png?v=1728334875&width=533)
Strip Planking 10: Stripping The Bottom Part 2 ...
Strip Planking 10: Stripping The Bottom Part 2 [video] Nick Schade writes: In part one of stripping the bottom I did not need to worry about the length of the...
Strip Planking 10: Stripping The Bottom Part 2 ...
Strip Planking 10: Stripping The Bottom Part 2 [video] Nick Schade writes: In part one of stripping the bottom I did not need to worry about the length of the...
Strip Planking 09: Trimming the Keel Line [video]
Nick Schade writes: In the previous step I stripped up one side, letting the ends of the strips overhang the center or keel line. In this video I am trimming...
Strip Planking 09: Trimming the Keel Line [video]
Nick Schade writes: In the previous step I stripped up one side, letting the ends of the strips overhang the center or keel line. In this video I am trimming...
![Strip Planking 08: Stripping The Bottom Part 1 [video]](http://clcboats.com/cdn/shop/articles/clc-stripping-the-bottom-pt1.png?v=1728334432&width=533)
Strip Planking 08: Stripping The Bottom Part 1 ...
Nick Schade writes: In this video I am stripping up the bottom. I am doing a "straight" stripping pattern where I strip up one side completely without stripping the other...
Strip Planking 08: Stripping The Bottom Part 1 ...
Nick Schade writes: In this video I am stripping up the bottom. I am doing a "straight" stripping pattern where I strip up one side completely without stripping the other...
![Strip Planking 07: Stripping a Wooden Kayak [video]](http://clcboats.com/cdn/shop/articles/clc-stripping-wooden-kayak-1.png?v=1728334188&width=533)
Strip Planking 07: Stripping a Wooden Kayak [vi...
Nick Schade writes: In this video I am continuing with the stripping on the side of the kayak. Because of the fairly plumb bow and stern of the microBootlegger design,...
Strip Planking 07: Stripping a Wooden Kayak [vi...
Nick Schade writes: In this video I am continuing with the stripping on the side of the kayak. Because of the fairly plumb bow and stern of the microBootlegger design,...
![Strip Planking 06: Installing the First Strips [video]](http://clcboats.com/cdn/shop/articles/clc-installing-first-strips-2.png?v=1728334005&width=533)
Strip Planking 06: Installing the First Strips ...
Nick Schade writes: The first strip on the boat is the most critical because it defines the flow of all the rest of the strips. If the first strip is...
Strip Planking 06: Installing the First Strips ...
Nick Schade writes: The first strip on the boat is the most critical because it defines the flow of all the rest of the strips. If the first strip is...
![Strip Planking 05: Setting Up Forms for Strip-Built Kayaks [video]](http://clcboats.com/cdn/shop/articles/clc-setting-up-forms-1.png?v=1728333807&width=533)
Strip Planking 05: Setting Up Forms for Strip-B...
Nick Schade writes: Here I show using an aluminum strongback and spacers to quickly and accurately set up forms. This same technique would work with a plywood box beam. The...
Strip Planking 05: Setting Up Forms for Strip-B...
Nick Schade writes: Here I show using an aluminum strongback and spacers to quickly and accurately set up forms. This same technique would work with a plywood box beam. The...
![Strip Planking 04: Shaping Internal Stems for Strip-Built Kayaks [video]](http://clcboats.com/cdn/shop/articles/clc-shaping-kayak-inner-stem.png?v=1728320411&width=533)
Strip Planking 04: Shaping Internal Stems for S...
Nick Schade writes: I pre-shape the internal stems before installing them on the forms. I start with an over-sized piece of wood so I have material to hold on to...
Strip Planking 04: Shaping Internal Stems for S...
Nick Schade writes: I pre-shape the internal stems before installing them on the forms. I start with an over-sized piece of wood so I have material to hold on to...
![Strip Planking 03: Ripping and Sorting Cedar Strips [video]](http://clcboats.com/cdn/shop/articles/clc-ripping-sorting-strips.png?v=1728320225&width=533)
Strip Planking 03: Ripping and Sorting Cedar St...
Nick Schade writes: The 2" strips were too wide for the kayak I am building so I ripped them in thirds. I will be "book matching" the strips on the...
Strip Planking 03: Ripping and Sorting Cedar St...
Nick Schade writes: The 2" strips were too wide for the kayak I am building so I ripped them in thirds. I will be "book matching" the strips on the...
![Strip Planking 02: Cutting & Milling Cedar Strips [video]](http://clcboats.com/cdn/shop/articles/clc-cutting-strips.png?v=1728318386&width=533)
Strip Planking 02: Cutting & Milling Cedar Stri...
Nick Schade writes: This is my setup for milling strips. I use a Delta Unisaw, with a Freud "Diablo" blade, the fence is the Delta "Unifence". I've got a couple...
Strip Planking 02: Cutting & Milling Cedar Stri...
Nick Schade writes: This is my setup for milling strips. I use a Delta Unisaw, with a Freud "Diablo" blade, the fence is the Delta "Unifence". I've got a couple...
![Strip Planking 01: Cutting Forms for Strip-Built Kayaks [video]](http://clcboats.com/cdn/shop/articles/clc-cutting-kayak-forms.png?v=1728318204&width=533)
Strip Planking 01: Cutting Forms for Strip-Buil...
Nick Schade writes: The first step to assuring your boat comes out right is to assure you have accurate forms. You could buy a kit with pre-cut forms made on...
Strip Planking 01: Cutting Forms for Strip-Buil...
Nick Schade writes: The first step to assuring your boat comes out right is to assure you have accurate forms. You could buy a kit with pre-cut forms made on...
![Petrel Build: 11 Repairing a Split Strip [video]](http://clcboats.com/cdn/shop/articles/clc-fixing-split-strip-1.png?v=1728317958&width=533)
Petrel Build: 11 Repairing a Split Strip [video]
Nick Schade writes: The first part of this video make look familiar. While releasing the hull from the forms in the last video, I ended up splitting one of the...
Petrel Build: 11 Repairing a Split Strip [video]
Nick Schade writes: The first part of this video make look familiar. While releasing the hull from the forms in the last video, I ended up splitting one of the...
![Petrel Build: 10 Flipping the Forms and Releasing the Hull [video]](http://clcboats.com/cdn/shop/articles/clc-flipping-forms-1.png?v=1728317769&width=533)
Petrel Build: 10 Flipping the Forms and Releasi...
Nick Schade writes: After the stripping is done on the hull, it is time to flip it over. I got Robin to help and rested the now-upright hull on some...
Petrel Build: 10 Flipping the Forms and Releasi...
Nick Schade writes: After the stripping is done on the hull, it is time to flip it over. I got Robin to help and rested the now-upright hull on some...
![Petrel Build: 09 Fitting the Closing Strip [video]](http://clcboats.com/cdn/shop/articles/clc-the-closing-strip.png?v=1728317485&width=533)
Petrel Build: 09 Fitting the Closing Strip [video]
Nick Schade writes: After working diligently on stripping the bottom you eventually come to a time when there is just one strip left. If you are using cove and bead...
Petrel Build: 09 Fitting the Closing Strip [video]
Nick Schade writes: After working diligently on stripping the bottom you eventually come to a time when there is just one strip left. If you are using cove and bead...
Petrel Build: 08 Stripping up the Bottom [video]
Nick Schade writes: Stripping the bottom is much like installing the cheater strips, with the major difference that you need to shape and fit both ends of the strip so...
Petrel Build: 08 Stripping up the Bottom [video]
Nick Schade writes: Stripping the bottom is much like installing the cheater strips, with the major difference that you need to shape and fit both ends of the strip so...
Petrel Build: 07 Installing the Keel Strips [vi...
Nick Schade writes: On this Petrel I chose to do a "side herringbone" stripping pattern on the bottom. This involves running strips down the keel line and then filling in...
Petrel Build: 07 Installing the Keel Strips [vi...
Nick Schade writes: On this Petrel I chose to do a "side herringbone" stripping pattern on the bottom. This involves running strips down the keel line and then filling in...
Petrel Build: 03 Assembling Forms [video]
Nick Schade writes: The easiest way to set up the forms for woodstrip kayak is using an internal strongback. Here I use a 2" x 4" x 13' aluminum extrusion...
Petrel Build: 03 Assembling Forms [video]
Nick Schade writes: The easiest way to set up the forms for woodstrip kayak is using an internal strongback. Here I use a 2" x 4" x 13' aluminum extrusion...
![Petrel Build: 02 Milling Bookmatched Cedar Strips [video]](http://clcboats.com/cdn/shop/articles/clc-milling-bookmatched-cedar-strips.png?v=1728315500&width=533)
Petrel Build: 02 Milling Bookmatched Cedar Stri...
Nick Schade writes: Cutting strips is always a little tedious. It is primarily a matter of feeding the wood through the saw. When you intend to bookmatch the strips on...
Petrel Build: 02 Milling Bookmatched Cedar Stri...
Nick Schade writes: Cutting strips is always a little tedious. It is primarily a matter of feeding the wood through the saw. When you intend to bookmatch the strips on...
![Petrel Build: 01 Making the Forms [video]](http://clcboats.com/cdn/shop/articles/clc-making-forms-cutting-guides.png?v=1728315248&width=533)
Petrel Build: 01 Making the Forms [video]
Nick Schade writes: I've started building a Petrel for a customer. I'll be using 3/16" western red cedar, book matching and building without staples. In this video I'm doing one...
Petrel Build: 01 Making the Forms [video]
Nick Schade writes: I've started building a Petrel for a customer. I'll be using 3/16" western red cedar, book matching and building without staples. In this video I'm doing one...
Hybrid Decks - How to Build a Kayak With a Ceda...
Most people find the look of a cedar strip deck irresistible. Several CLC kayak kits, including Shearwaters and Mill Creeks, come with cedar strip decks as an option, but did...
Hybrid Decks - How to Build a Kayak With a Ceda...
Most people find the look of a cedar strip deck irresistible. Several CLC kayak kits, including Shearwaters and Mill Creeks, come with cedar strip decks as an option, but did...
How Many Cedar Strips Will I Need?
The world of small boats is replete with handsome designs for boats meant to be skinned in thin cedar planking. There are the lovely kayaks and canoes by Nick Schade...
How Many Cedar Strips Will I Need?
The world of small boats is replete with handsome designs for boats meant to be skinned in thin cedar planking. There are the lovely kayaks and canoes by Nick Schade...
Petrel Build: 06 Stripping Past the Chine [video]
Nick Schade writes: The Petrel has a hard chine. This creates some issues specific to the boat that must be dealt with. You want the strips to reach the chine...
Petrel Build: 06 Stripping Past the Chine [video]
Nick Schade writes: The Petrel has a hard chine. This creates some issues specific to the boat that must be dealt with. You want the strips to reach the chine...
Petrel Build: 05 Installing Cheater Strips [video]
Nick Schade writes: In the previous video I installed two strips, the Sheer Strip which follows the shear line and then the second strip which follows a more natural bend....
Petrel Build: 05 Installing Cheater Strips [video]
Nick Schade writes: In the previous video I installed two strips, the Sheer Strip which follows the shear line and then the second strip which follows a more natural bend....
Petrel Build: 04 Installing the Sheer Strips [v...
Nick Schade writes: All the strips follow the first one in one way or another, therefore it is important to get the first strip along the sheer right. On most...
Petrel Build: 04 Installing the Sheer Strips [v...
Nick Schade writes: All the strips follow the first one in one way or another, therefore it is important to get the first strip along the sheer right. On most...