Customer Reviews

Wood & Canvas Kayak Building

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is not traditional kayak building. It is modern, "Popular Mechanics" style kayak building, which means the boat will be fine for what it is, but overbuilt, too heavy, and basically nothing like the sleek racy craft that it could be. The design and construction is suited for the amateur builder who wants as little of a woodworking challenge as possible, which makes it perfect for a project to build with kids. A parent and child could have great fun building a boat such as this. So, keeping that in mind, it's just fine. For real kayak building in the traditional manner see Cunningham's "Building the West Greenland Kayak", or Morris's "Building Skin on Frame Boats".

This is a very detailed book for those of us that intend to build kayaks without a lot of fancy tools. I'm now nearly finished building a kayak based on the instructions in this book, and I haven't yet found any instruction that was amiss or that caused problems in the construction.

The book (1991) describes how to build either a 17ft. or 18ft. wood-frame canvas kayak. It contains nicely drawn plans of a classic design from 1923.

There's a lot of work involved, but none of the steps are overly complicated or require significant woodworking expertise. Other than basic hand tools, the only tools I've had to buy were a jig-saw, a hand-held power saw, and a drawknife. Material costs today would range about $400 - far short of the $1,300 for a plastic sea kayak of the same length.

This book is very well written, and has a touch of humor. I especially appreciate the attention to traditional boat-building techniques. Photos help you in the process. In all a very readable book...Thanks George!

When I first saw this book I thought: "What fool would build a canvas kayak?" I picked it up anyway, along with a half dozen other books on kayaks from the local public library. I eventually chose to build the 18 1/2 foot canvas kayak in this book for three reasons: 1) The lines of this boat are much more pleasing than any of the plywood kayaks I was considering, 2) the author's attitude toward materials matched my own -- build it from cheap stuff and rebuild it in 5 years after it rots -- no okume plywood necessary, and 3) No need for a lot of fiberglass and the mess/smell that involves. Just wood, canvas and oil-based paint.

I've had the kayak for 8 years now and it has not needed a rebuild because I keep it hanging from the ceiling in the garage. I've paddled it around lakes in Washington and Idaho. It's a beautiful boat, but quite heavy. It's hard for me (6' 200# male) to pull it off the top of the truck and launch it by myself, but I can do it in a pinch.

That said, the whole process was a great learning experience and got me started boating in the most peaceful and pleasant way. I've since built two other boats and am currently working on another. I've learned to build them lighter now, using different materials, but I still use the basic lines of the kayaks in this book.

This book was a great place to start, and I still read it often.

I built two boats from this book back in the early 90's in Washington State. It was the only one of its kind I could find ( no internet access at the time available to me). Both boats are still in better than excellent shape. I've had nothing but wonderful experiences in them. I also get more compliments on them even now, as well as surprised looks when people find out what they're made of. The instructions were clear, humorous, and, well, easy to follow. I do, however, wish I had seen the plethora of books available online today on the subject. It seems like there's a lot more information on the subject. But, I was pleased to see all the positive reviews for Mr. Putz's book. I was also surprised to see that one person built his kayak from this book, and it wound up being a behemoth that was difficult to transport. I'd be interested in what happened, because my boats weigh in at a mere 30 to 35 lbs. each! I can easily lift them over my head with one hand (unloaded, of course). I believe the reason I built my boats from George's book was partially for that reason: to build a light, strong craft from readily available, and inexpensive materials. At the time I built mine, It ran about $300.00 for BOTH boats. I couldn't touch ONE boat for that price then or now. Give George Putz's book a read, at least, if you're going the wood and canvas route. You won't be disappointed!

Using the simple and very humorous guidelines, I can now report the completion of a beautiful(to Me)streamlined and VERY LITE touring kayak! (17' and weighs under 28lbs.)My first review was of the positive "YOU CAN DO THIS" attitude that George Putz gushes, but now, this is now a personal testimony to the beauty of self-reliance this book offers....plus, saving the environment of some "nasty" flaking plastic.(Ask the fish, they gag on the stuff)
...I HAVE LEARNED ALOT about kayak design/construct...that is priceless, thanks George!

Finally found a quick, down and dirty kayak design and build primer!
(makes one anxious to build ,or, should I say, "roll" their very own boat design)
Mystery of the boat's "innards" from keelson to gunwales- George readily explaines in a "'round the campfire", down-right friendly, fashion.
Putzs' hand's-on attitude and the "you too can do this", plus, the two acommpanying tried and true blueprint's / offsets, make's for easy to build, easy to modify - plans and materials selections.

Do I recommend it? Heartily !

This is basically a cookbook approack to kayak building. I've never built anything more complicated than aa "a frame" birdhouse, and I am now tackling my own canvas covered kayak. Thanks George, for such an easy to follow book.

If you are a beginner looking for a, relatively speaking, quick and easy way to build your first kayak, this book is for you. While these kayaks probably are not ones that will push the envelope, they will serve the recreational kayaker well. Also included with the book is the article of the kayak that inspired George's design and if you compare the design to others kayaks that are on the market you will see that their designs were inspired by it too (Klepper and the old Folbots, though heavily modified, resemble both George's Walrus as well as the original Walrus design). While I probably will not build this kayak as my first, I do plan on using many of the weight savings ideas that are evident in George's design. There is an excellent chapter that discusses the various issues with repairing problems after the kayak has seen some use. Other books tend to leave this info. out.

One area I was disappointed in is that I believe the author should have shown an alternative building method that utilized the actual plywood floor frames instead of using the stands, then going back and replacing the stands with plywood frames. The other point that I disagreed with was the author's attitude toward plastic kayaks, there is enough room on the water for kayaks of all kinds. The author's writing style was different, very much down to earth although opinionated in some respects, but does not detract from the book at all, IMHO.

I have to admit it - I did not build this kayak. In fact, I have never built a kayak, and most likely I never will build a kayak. I already have a kayak which I like a lot, and if I wanted another one I would probably go store bought. But still...

People like to make things, and when I can not make real things I do it vicariously, which makes this book a particularly good match for me. I almost felt like I was in the shop, smelling wood chips and epoxy as I read it. The author is always entertaining, almost always clear as a bell, and reasonably well organized. There are a few places where I might have put the picture a page earlier, or even used a line drawing, but once you understand his style, you know that if you just keep reading the mystery will be solved straightaway. He explains the technique so thoroughly that the reader has no doubt that this is a job they could do, and do well. One must only begin.

This Book will inspire anyone interested in canoeing to get out and do it, read and re read to get to the finer points, set up the workshop and order the material. I have noticed this book available and recomended by a local boat builder, so even the professionals know its value