The Strip-Built Sea Kayak: Three Rugged, Beautiful Boats You Can Build [Paperback]

Nick Schade (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 31, 1998

Although books on strip building canoes abound, this is among the first to adapt the technique to crafting attractive, functional kayaks. Using high-quality, computer-generated illustrations and photographs to explain key techniques, the book provides complete plans and measurements for three different kayaks: 1) A simple solo craft for beginners, 2) A high-performance solo kayak for intermediate paddlers, and 3) A tandem design for two paddlers. With its easy-to-follow guidance and instructions, The Strip-Built Sea Kayak makes top-notch kayaks accessible to budget-minded paddlers.

Editorial Reviews

Review

``Nick Schade has managed to raise the craft of strip building to the art of graphic design in wood'' (Sea Kayaker )

From the Back Cover

Strip-building--assembling a pile of thin wood strips into a functional hull--has been a popular canoe-building method for many years. Now boatbuilder Nick Schade, an engineer by training and a self-professed sea kayaking addict, has refined this time-tested method to build the more complex shapes of sea kayaks. The method is simple, forgiving, allows a liberal amount of design flexibility, and requires a minimum number of tools. It's also relatively inexpensive: about $500 to $600 for one of the designs discussed here--one-quarter the price of a factory-built model. In The Strip-Built Sea Kayak, Schade presents full plans for three elegant designs inspired by the grace and seaworthiness of the Inuit and Aleut skin boats. Profusely illustrated instructions provide the details that will guide you through the process.

A complete novice will be able to construct a finished kayak after reading nothing but this book. And for an experienced builder, the techniques here can be expanded to create the perfect boat for you.

Strip-building is the most flexible, forgiving, and attractive way to build a small wood boat. Professional sea kayak builder Nick Schade presents complete plans and measurements for three kayaks:

• Great Auk, a fast, stable, comfortable single for beginners
• Guillemot, a beautiful, high-performance single for intermediate and skilled paddlers
• Guillemot Double, a spacious kayak for two

Here's all the information you'll need to build a sturdy, elegant sea kayak, from setting up shop to making a paddle.

"Nick Schade has managed to raise the craft of strip-building to the art of graphic design in wood."--Sea Kayaker

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: International Marine/Ragged Mountain Press; 1 edition (March 31, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 007057989X
• ISBN-13: 978-0070579897
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #117,127 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #8 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Outdoor Recreation > Kayaking > Sea Kayaking
  • #65 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Outdoor Recreation > Boating

More About the Author

I started building boats when I graduated from college and needed a boat of my own. With the goal of a small boat for exploring the coast of Maine, I designed and built my own sea kayak in 1986. Since then I have continued to design kayaks and developed techniques for building them, and have been self employed as a professional kayak designer and builder since 1995. I still approach boat design and building as a user of the finished product.

In 1998 I wrote "The Strip-Built Sea Kayak" which has become the bible for building kayaks using the strip-planked method. In 2009 my second book "Building Strip Planked Boats" came out detailing much of what I had learned the the intervening 11 years. The new book is provides boat builders with the knowledge to create any kind of small boat using the strip-built method.

I continue to design, build and use kayaks, refining my skills in all three. Guillemot Kayak designs are being built around the world and my finished boats are receiving recognition at top museums and exhibitions.

http://www.Guillemot-Kayaks.com/

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the best one folks!, December 13, 1999

By 

"jpshoo" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Strip-Built Sea Kayak: Three Rugged, Beautiful Boats You Can Build (Paperback)

There are perhaps four books out on building kayaks available through Amazon. This is the most recent to date, and definately the best of the four I've purchased so far. I just completed a canvas number on G. Putz's book, ( which is an exceptional book also), but I wish I had seen this one at the onset for it's strength as a general reference.

So far I've know of three basic kayak building techniques - canvas on frame, stitched plywood, and strip kayaks. This book describes the very advanced (and perhaps most beautiful) method of making a boat of strips with re-enforcing epoxy. They are absolutely beautiful creations, though probably a little heavier than the plywood ones.

This is a very highly detailed book with great photographs and computer generated diagrams. The author is a professional boat-builder who, like the magician that reveals his tricks, descibes everything - down to proper material selection, a list of current suppliers, plans (x3 + paddles), scientific details on boyancy and design, and numerous other details. This book is useful to those going off of other techniques and advices.

Skill-wise I would say that you'd have to be fairly advanced, not afraid to use epoxy and fiberglass, and the owner of at least a band-saw. ( unless you buy a kit or pre-cut wood)

A great resource! I'm building a strip one next!

P.S. - the guy who says that these boats aren't seaworthy is full of bunk!

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Obsession: Building my own Guillemot Kayak, August 8, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Strip-Built Sea Kayak: Three Rugged, Beautiful Boats You Can Build (Paperback)

My parents bought this book for my birthday two years ago. Last week I finished building a gorgeous (with all modesty) Guillemot Kayak. Mr. Shade seemed to understand that there were many "right" ways to do the same thing and he allowed for different skill levels. In addition, nearly every task was described with an accurate degree of difficulty and understanding of the problems associated with each task. In fact, the only difficulty I had was when I deviated from the book's instructions to complete the hatch hold downs. If you want to paddle and have fun, go buy a "plastic" kayak. If you want people to exclaim, "What a gorgeous boat! Where did you get it?" and will derive pleasure in saying, after an appropriate pause, "I built it myself", buy this book and get started. One warning. This is a BIG project and will take several hundred hours to complete (depending on your skill level), but the book can be read and followed by anyone with average woodworking skills and the end result is quite fantastic.

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Definitive Resource for Strip Built Kayaks, October 15, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Strip-Built Sea Kayak: Three Rugged, Beautiful Boats You Can Build (Paperback)

This is the best book I have ever seen on the subject of strip built technique. I have read this book, several times, and created a boat based on the designs from the author. This book has ALL the information needed to make a beautiful kayak. It is my primary shop reference, with specific details on design, how to assemble the strips, how to fair the boat, how to fiberglass, how to outfit and finish the boat. The steps are described in detail, and richly illustrated with informative pictures.

Thank you Nick Schade for your excellent book, your superb website and your magnificent boats. I picked this boat for all the wrong reasons. I had not paddled one, or evaluated the technical merits of it's design with respect to other boats. I didn't do a cost-benefit analysis or listen to the advice of friends. When I saw that boat, she stole my heart. Honestly, I can't imagine being happier with a boat if I had done all those other things anyway.

To think that by using what I learned in your book, in thirteen short weeks I watched a bundle of sticks and a roll of blueprints metamorphose into a such a beatutiful creature, is almost incredible. She may have come out of my basement through my hands, but she's your creation too, and I thank you for helping me make it real.

The single biggest disadvantage to having a boat made from this book is that it takes much longer to launch, because everyone around wants to know where you got such a lovely boat. This book will get you there, so plan ahead for the delays now.

Sincerely,

Ed Valley