This kayak is intended to be a maneuverable, versatile, tight fitting high performance skin-on-frame day boat that weighs less than 20 lbs. I am hoping to cruise at a bit over 3 mph with a sprint speed a bit over 4. The short length should make it fun for river running up to class...
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Aleut Kayak Frame
17′ length 19″ width 30lbs I built this kayak 2 years ago for myself. The boat is typical of the few collected samples from the Aleutian chain in the 1800’s. Kayaks like this would have been used to hunt seals, walrus, halibut, and whales. Construction is of red cedar, ash, and cold bent...
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Adding Deck Rigging
Deck rigging is important, it holds your gear securely on deck and provides purchase for a carry or tow. With skin on frame you can add as many or as few lines as you need. The following is a brief tutorial of how I install deck lines. This method uses pre-drilled holes, but, there is...
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Voyage of Huevos al Gusto
Camp cruising the Sea of Cortez in a skin on frame boat “Why exactly do we have leave at 4 am?” Ginny asks as she hands down the last bag and I lash the waterproof duffel in place. “When you’re cruising,” I reply, “the weather and tide define everything you do. In this case, we’re...
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Mid 20th century West Greenland Kayak Replica
From Nuuk, the original is housed in the Musee de la Marine, in Paris. Ca. 1Bs.24LOA 16’3″ Beam 19 7/8″ Depth to sheer 6 15/16″ Built by Deb Millar as part of a class at the Essex Shipbuilding Museum in Massachusetts, this kayak is typical of similar mid 20th century West Greenland kayaks that...
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1850s Aleutian Double Kayak
Two hole Aleut kayak22’1″ long 23″ wide 9 5/8″ deep ca. 1850’s The original of this kayak replica resides in the National Museum of Finland. Thanks to Harvey Golden for lending me the survey. This kayak sits low in the water and rolls pretty good. I imagine with a full load it would sit...
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The Blue Canoe
I had a great time building this canoe. For no particular reason it is one of the most gratifying things I have ever built. I spent six smiling days putting this one together. And on the seventh day, I paddled. It was so easy that I am psyched to start teaching classes. length 16 feet...
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How to Skin a Kayak Quickly
This page shows my method for covering a skin on frame kayak. This may not be the best or even the most attractive way but it is certainly the quickest. I have used many systems and have more or less settled on this one as the most simple and reliable. I cover a lot of...
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Man Rolls Truck over Kayaks, and other photos
How tough are they? Anton Wilhelm found out when he rolled his pickup completely over these beautiful new kayaks (not built with me). The total damage can be seen in the last picture. A few cracked ribs and a deck beam broken at the mortise. This picture taken in a sea cave about 2 miles...
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Kayak Class Photos 2006
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Ginnyak II
NOTE: Ginnyak is out of production this year while I explore other design concepts, I have a redesign in my head right now for this kayak but I won’t get to building it for at least six months. So the drawings below are outdated, and I won’t be selling plans. The joy and curse...
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Slots, Arches, and Caves of Neah-Kah-Nie Mountain
I am fortunate to have a sea kayakers paradise at my doorstep. Unfortunately mother nature grants limited access to it. Even when it’s small, it’s big, powerful, and commands respect. For a few days every year, however, the mighty Pacific is calm as a lake. This provides a rare opportunity to get very close to the...
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Building a Kayak from Driftwood and Scraps: A Photo Documentary
It’s no secret that I love power tools. Like any fine instrument a quality power tool is an extension of the mind of the sculptor. For me, sliding a carbide steel miter saw blade down a perfect pencil line evokes deep satisfaction. My work is clean, probably as clean as it will ever get....
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PC-TIKS: Pacific Coast Traditional Inuit Kayak Symposium
Meet on the beach, the swell report is 3 feet at 11 seconds. Everyone is stoked for a nice afternoon paddle with a bit of caving and exploring. 45 minutes later on the outside…. we’re watching 10 footers plunging from top to bottom on the set waves. These are the first pulses from a far...
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Building a Greenland kayak replica
This West Greenland kayak was originally built by an Inuit hunter for a Canadian botanist in 1931. It now resides in the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Ottowa. Originally a commission for an avid female paddler, we chose this design based on information she gave me and for its classic ‘Greenland’ lines. Building a...
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