Satisfaction

There is a sense of satisfaction that we can only be had by taking on new challenges. For some one of the new challenges they dream of is to get out on the water on a boat that they have constructed. Whether it is their intention to circle the local pond or the globe they want to be on the water in a boat that they have constructed. The motivation may be financial, for others it may be aesthetic they don't want their boat to be just another plastic clone, and for still others who enjoy woodworking it may simply be about the process, rather than the actual end use that leads them down this road. Whether you are a woodworker or a novice, modern glues and building methods have put the achievement of this dream within the reach of most people.

The plan and kit sets we have put together will enable you to get on the water in your own handcrafted creation. These plan sets are designed to meet you at a place you feel comfortable, with differing building requirements, from our 'lumberyard' boats to our cedar strip canoes and hybrid kayaks. All the plans are set up to make the process of building as straight forward as possible. The option of using CNC routing allows you to start with precision pre-cut parts to further simplify building your boat.

Just want to get out on the water? Do not have the time or the space to build? Contact us regarding a boat built just for you, if your desire is for a handcrafted wooden boat and wish to save a few dollars we have some used boats and prototypes for sale and we will entertain reasonable offers for their purchase, see the boats for sale page. Should you not see what you are looking for on the web site at present contact us, we are willing to take on custom projects or to modify an existing design to suit your needs. There are also a number of boats of various types at different stages of development that have not yet made it to the web site one of which may suit you; many of these can be found in our catalogue.

As you read this the thought of taking on such a project such as this may seem intimidating I have a couple of quotes for you to consider, the first from traditional boat builder and designer Capt. Pete Culler as quoted in the book Pete Culler on Wooden Boats pg.11 (Editor John Burke)

"Any man who wants to can produce a good boat. It takes some study, some practice and, of course, experience. The experience starts coming the minute you begin and not one jot before. I sometimes hear the wail "I have no experience." Start. Start anything, and experience comes. Some say building a boat is one of man's nobler efforts. Maybe so; it's a lot of fun, anyway. As one of my builder friends says, "It's only a boat; go ahead and build it." If the first effort is a bit lumpy, so what? There will be another much less lumpy later on."

This was written back when plans consisted of a few sheets of paper with hand drawn lines and much was left up to the imagination and abilities of the builder. Today much has changed our plans are aimed at the majority of the world who with some common sense and guidance can build a boat. To help you achieve that goal our plans contain detailed instructions on how to build the particular craft you have chosen. For many of the boats it is possible to have the parts pre-cut by a computer controlled router. All our plan sets come with an instruction book many with full size patterns and drawings to assist you in reaching your goal. Plans and building methods have changed greatly, but the dream of getting out on the water has not, nor has the desire to experience the joy that comes from doing so in a boat that you have built.

A final note before you look through the site or contact us to design the boat that suits you, I include a line from Buehlers Backyard Boatbuilding (his methods are a little rough for some builders but his desire is simply to get you out on the water).In his chapter entitled The Launching he says this

"Have a good launching party, you deserve it. Regardless of how beautiful or sloppy a job you've done on the boat, you still built it, which is a lot more than most folks ever do."

The focus of these web pages is on stitch and glue boats the canoe we presently offer is a cedar strip model and the Sport line of kayaks can have cedar strip or plywood decks.

The next page of the web site offers a glimpse into what is involved in the construction of a stitch and glue boat.

Lets get started the water awaits.