Customer Reviews

Kayak Craft

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I recently purchased "KayakCraft" and found it to be an excellent complementary book to Nick Schade's "The Strip-Built Sea Kayak". Very little is actually repetitive from the earlier book, and it describes different building methods and systems.

The finishing and joinery techniques described will help the builder make a really professional craft.

Moore's instructions are such that the builder does not have to skimp on quality, or take shortcuts in the finished product; rather, the techniques described will allow the builder to build a quality kayak, efficiently.

The published test-panel failures for different thicknesses and materials are helpful in determining tradeoffs between the different layups.

KayakCraft focuses intensely on the building of one of the 4 kayak designs presented in the book. Author Ted Moores takes a little different approach than some of the other do-it-yourself kayak authors. He begans with the idea that the reader wants to build a professional quality cedar strip kayak. Each step in the building process is carefully explained with both text and illustrations as Ted goes through the process of building the 17-foot Endeavour sea kayak.

The book is filled with photos and illustrations. The combined work on the photos by Ted and his daughter Jennifer shows in great detail what each step in the construction looks like. The photos are small but plentiful, which allows them to be right next to the related text. They excel at showing just what the text refers to, without a lot of distractions or turning of pages. This is a case where a picture really can be worth a thousand words.

By the time you get to Moores' list of sources in the back of the book, which by it's self would be a valuable reference for the novice kayak builder, every step in building a fine kayak has been detailed. Footbraces, rudders, hatches and bulkheads are all covered with the same thoroughness that is the hallmark of this book.

I've built 3 boats using the techniques taught by Ted Moores that are illustrated in this book. I've found the information well written and detailed. It's nice to know that all the work put into building your kayak will yield a beautiful and STRONG boat that will brings years of enjoyment and envy. Any body with the basic of woodworking skills can build this kayak. Go for it!

Excellent bood for the novice to the experenced. If you are looking for a book full of those little time saving techniques that result into a great kayak, this is the book. Ted takes you through all the steps from setting up a straight jig to applying fiberglass in a way that eliminates most of the sanding. The kayak as presented is strong and durable for most expedition and general kayak use. If one wants to increase the strenght, there are many references on the Internet that would enhance those desires. Notwithstanding, Kayakcraft rates up there as one of the best "how to" books.

This is really a great book! I also have "The Strip-Built Sea Kayak" by Nick Schade. These books complement each other very well. "KayakCraft" includes plans for kayaks which are somewhat different in style and construction methods from those in Schade's book. The kayaks differ in style especially with respect to the shape near the shearline, the degree of rocker and the kind of stems. Also, the "strongback" used in construction is basically different. Schade favours a 2X4 inch strongback while Moores prefers a building jig which is a long narrow table. It's good to be aware of the comparative advantages and disatvantages of both approaches are, so that you can make your own choices. I will end up favouring some approaches from one book and some from the other, to suit my own circumstances. I am glad I got both books. The kayaks in "KayakCraft" have very beautiful lines, and from reports on internet bulletin boards, I gather that they are proven designs that perform very well. The plans include the Endeavour 17', Venture 14', Resolute 16.5', and a two seater the Reliance 20.5'. The biggest choice the builder has is to select which kayak to build. This book offers beautiful and significantly different options. Many thanks to Ted Moores. This is a very significant contribution to the craft of building kayaks. It's definitely destined to be a classic!

I see several people are having trouble with the offset tables. They are really not complicated at all. The appendix explains exactly how to use this information to create the station molds you will need to begin planking the boat on the strongback (the temporary building jig/frame of the boat). I know they work because I used them to build my boat without the $100 worth of plans. This can be done with ruler and pencil or CAD if you have access to it.

If after reading the appendix you still don't understand it, go to the builder's forum on bearmountainboats.com and either search through the history or start a new thread to get your answers. Lots of helpful folks on there willing to answer.

Also, there are updates to the offset tables on the website, so you can get the latest updates before starting to layout your station molds! Does that sound like a conspiracy to sell plans?

I don't know what the guy who rated this book one star is trying to build, but whatever it is, it's an engineering problem far beyond the scope of this book, or any other book of its type. One would have to get into serious engineering analysis to answer that question.

This book is for building touring and pleasure kayaks. If that's what you want to build, this is arguably the best book to do it with. Sounds like Nick Schade's book is really good too. I hope to read it someday.

I own the Kayakcraft and Canoecraft books. I had little trouble following the tables in the canoecraft and I was able design other canoes. The Kayakcraft book seems to offer useful information for construction but the tables leave me stumped. No doubt they are hoping to sell plans along with the book.

This book is a must in any kayak builder's library. Very well written with clear comments on each stage of kayak construction, supplemented with excellent photographs. In addition, one can find in this book a detailed instruction on the stapleless kayak construction method and a miriad of practical tips on, among others, strongback assembly, sanding techniques, decorative methods of stripping and so on. A wealth of author's experiences talk through the pages. There is one feature of this book that makes it different from other books on kayak construction. The method of construction described allows one to build a kayak completely in two parts (hull and deck, inside and outside) and join them as the very last step by a simple glueing method. I built my first kayak using a different method and ended up with a pain in the neck and lower back supplemented by contortionist's skills while trying to finish the work inside the joined deck and hull.
While there is no book that tells everything on kayak construction this one comes close as an excellent reference for a novice and experienced builders alike.
As a suplementary reading, I would strongly recomment another book by Ted Moores "Canoecraft" with its excellent coverage of wood stripping and, in particular,fiberglassing techniques.

Ted Moores has again taken the subject of strip building of personnal watercraft and opened it up to the average builder. By taking the process through step by step explanations, he makes it easy for anyone with average woodworking skills to take on what may seem like a monumental project. The process of strip building is not as difficult as it may seem and Mr. Moores is careful to point out the pitfalls that may accompany such a project. The chapter on kayak design by Steve Killing was informative and a definate plus for the publication. As a builder of a good number of boats using this method, I eagerly awaited this publication and am happy that I have added it to my library.

I don't know how anybody could go wrong buying this book ! I purchased Ted's first book Canoecraft way back in 1983 and it's covers are well worn a great book .It was the definative book at its time and I feel that Kayak Craft is the same today . If someone isn't able to build a kayak from this book ,then they aren't trying or shouldn't be trying .
I built several canoes with Ted's fist book and never bought a plan ever .
If you read thuroughly and pay attention it won't be hard.
Don't be afraid of this book . I'm glad I bought it the only way that this book could be better for me is if the very numerous and professional pictures were color . This is a very thorough book with nothing missing .