|
|
|
The Building Process
How long does it take?
I have found that building a strip kayak is an incredibly challenging project, as it requires a wide variety of skills. While most of these skills are not beyond the grasp of the determined novice craftsman (or woman), it does present ample opportunities for growth and learning. While there are several excellent books covering "How To" build a strip boat (I highly recommend Nick Schade's "The Strip-Built Sea Kayak"), I did not find much that covered the topic of how long the project and the required tasks might take. This is, in all likelihood, due to the fact that there are as many methods and opinions on how to build as there are boats on the water. The table below shows the major tasks, durations, and elapsed timescale that it has taken me, a first-time builder, to build Nick Schade's Cedar Strip Great Auk Single. I used the staple method and an internal strongback. Actual mileage may differ. As far as the cost...well let's just not go there. I will say that if I take out all of the tools and stuff for which I used the boat as a convenient excuse to purchase, I spent about as much as I would have on a comparably sized rotomold plastic boat.
|
Task
|
Duration (hrs)
|
Elapsed Time
(hrs)
|
|
Forms - Cut patterns, Paste to plywood, cut and sand
forms
|
4
|
4
|
|
Strips - Cut from board stock (1700 lf)
|
7.5
|
11.5
|
|
Strips - Mill beads and coves
|
6
|
17.5
|
|
Strongback - Cut, route, and assemble box beam
|
3.5
|
21
|
|
Stands - Cut and assemble 2 stands
|
1.75
|
22.75
|
|
Misc. - Trace lines on forms, cut strongback holes,
mark reference lines on strongback
|
2.5
|
25.25
|
|
Forms - Mount on strongback and attach hull sheer
strips
|
12.5
|
37.75
|
|
Strip - Hull
|
15.5
|
53.25
|
|
Strip - Deck
|
15
|
68.25
|
|
Fair - Hull (outside)
|
4
|
72.25
|
|
Fair - Deck (outside)
|
8.5
|
80.75
|
|
Fill - Hull and Deck (outside)
|
4
|
84.75
|
|
Fair - Final - Hull and Deck (outside)
|
6.5
|
91.25
|
|
Glass - Hull (outside)
|
10.75
|
102
|
|
Strip - Cockpit Recess
|
7.5
|
109.5
|
|
Glass - Deck (outside)
|
6.5
|
116
|
|
Fair - Hull (inside)
|
2
|
118
|
|
Glass - Hull (inside)
|
6
|
124
|
|
Cockpit Coaming
|
3
|
127
|
|
Fair - Deck (inside)
|
3
|
130
|
|
Glass - Deck (inside)
|
7
|
137
|
|
Coaming Lip
|
10.25
|
147.25
|
|
Hatches
|
12
|
159.25
|
|
Connect Hull and Deck
|
9
|
168.25
|
|
Final Fill Coat
|
10
|
178.25
|
|
Fitting Out
|
6
|
184.25
|
|
Varnish
|
8
|
192.25
|
All images and text are copyright by Marcel Rodriguez unless otherwise noted and may not be used for commercial purposes without the prior written approval of the copyright holder. Noncommercial use is permitted.