Materials for skin on frame boatbuilding

Below is a list of the basic materials used in our boats. There is some variation in what is required for individual boats. You can view the materials lists in the sample plans for any of our kayak and canoe designs for free for much greater detail, and watch the materials videos in the free course previews. We’ve included links below for items we carry in our store, or where we have brand preferences. Full disclosure: some of these are Amazon affiliate links and theoretically give us a kickback, but we only recommend products I believe in regardless of the source.

Materials included in our Partial Kayak Building Kits are noted with an asterisk (*). We ship internationally, but if you are building outside the US and looking for local sources, check the Student Builds blog for suggestions for sourcing materials from builders near you.

Wood

In order to be successful in your build, you will need to be able to source clear, straight-grained lumber for your kayak or canoe. We go into this in great detail in the plans and videos, and you can access more detail in our free sample plans and preview videos before purchasing a course. The information here is meant as a basic guide to help you determine if you’ll be able to source the type of wood you need before you start your project. Check out the Wood Suppliers page and Student Builds blog for leads on where to find wood near you.

Softwood

Western Red Cedar is our preferred softwood. In general, for a kayak, you will need one clear softwood 1×12 the length of the gunwales (or equivalent boards, for example, two 1x6s), and a 1x8x8 or 1x8x10 depending upon the boat you are building. An additional 4x4x8 will give you the material needed for deck beams as well as a blank for a Greenland paddle. Canoes require boards 4 inches longer than the finished length of the canoe. Board width and quantity will depend on the boat you are building, see the plans for details. You will also need some smaller 1×8 or 1×12 pieces to build the canoe stems.

Bending Wood

All our boats require perfectly clear, straight-grained, GREEN (freshly cut, not kiln dried) bending stock for the ribs. Our preferred wood is white oak, though there are other woods that work. You will need 5/4 boards (1 5/16 inch after planing) for kayaks, 4/4 (1 inch after planing) for canoes. Check the plans for the exact quantity you will need, and watch the videos for details on grain orientation. Pre-cut ribs are also available from J. W. Swan and Sons.