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The
wood-fibreglass composite creates a structure that is relatively lightweight
for its strength. It will be easier to paddle and more responsive than other
heavier kayaks. And a lighter boat is much easier to load on the car and
carry down to the water. Making the kayak yourself lets you customize it exactly to your needs. Many of the building methods let you do simple tweaks of the design to get the performance you want. If you have unusual desires the kayak designers are often willing to create a custom design specifically suited to your needs. And as you build you can outfit the boat to meet your specific needs. If you want extra deck lines or a fishing rod holder, you don’t need to negotiate with the manufacturer to get what you want. The beauty of wood is undeniable. It has a visual richness that is only seen in natural materials. It does not take any particular skill to make wood look good. It is a forgiving material. The texture of the grain hides many mistakes. The real advantage of wood is it permits you to do it all yourself without sophisticated tools or skills. It is possible to make a full-fibreglass kayak at home, but it is a much more involved project. If the idea of moving across in the water in a craft you put together with your own hands appeals to you, making a wooden kayak is the best way to do it. The time spent in the garage will feel well spent when you place the boat in the water and head out across the bay.
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Kayak and Canoe plans and
kits from Seawing Boats where you can build a beautiful boat. Why build in
cedar? Well, a wooden kayak is not a compromise. It can be just as strong as
a pre-manufactured plastic, fibreglass or Kevlar boat. In fact a wooden
kayak often is a fibreglass kayak. Most of the building techniques
incorporate fibreglass into the finished boat as reinforcement. The
difference is the wood serves as a core material between layers of ‘glass.
This makes a boat that is generally stiffer than other kayaks. While it is
possible to scratch through the outer layer of glass to expose the wood core
to water, it is hard to break completely through a wooden kayak. Most
scratches are just cosmetic and don’t harm the boat.
