Boatbuilding Tips
Our vast collection of boatbuilding tips, drawn from decades of experience in supporting backyard boatbuilders.
02: History & Basics of Stitch and Glue Boatbui...
Part 2: John Harris outlines the history and basics of stitch-and-glue boatbuilding.
02: History & Basics of Stitch and Glue Boatbui...
Part 2: John Harris outlines the history and basics of stitch-and-glue boatbuilding.
01: Introduction to Building a Stitch & Glue Ka...
Part 1: An introduction to the Chesapeake 16 kayak.
01: Introduction to Building a Stitch & Glue Ka...
Part 1: An introduction to the Chesapeake 16 kayak.
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...
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...