Category Archives: Canoe & Kayak Construction

Types of Strip Plank Material

by Brian Knight—GBI Technical Advisor

Modern strip composite construction uses narrow strips of wood or foam to make a low density core material. These strips are easy for one person to handle and are readily assembled into complex shapes. However, this assembled structure does not have much strength until it is covered inside and out with a high density fiber reinforced skin—usually fiberglass cloth. The process of making and fitting the narrow strips together is more time consuming than bending a sheet of plywood, but the technique allows for more creativity in the design. Continue reading

How Tough are They?

By Captain James R. Watson

Once I went over a small falls in my stripper kayak. At the bottom was broken concrete with rebar in it. I clenched my teeth as the little kayak ground over it—hoping I’d built it tough enough. Fortunately, when I pulled to the bank to inspect the damage, there were only superficial scrapes. Continue reading

Panel Warping

By Tom Pawlak — GBI Technical Advisor

CAUTION: Strip planked projects can warp to the point of being unusable if one side of the wood core is fiberglassed and the other side is left unsealed. Changes in wood moisture content on the unsealed side will cause the project to change shape. The potential for warping is greatest on thin wood-strip projects like canoes and kayaks. The thinner the planking, the greater the risk. Continue reading

varnish over epoxy

Getting the Clearest Fiberglass Finish

by Jim Derck—GBI Technical Advisor

If you are using the strip planking method to build a canoe, kayak or even a telescope, you already appreciate the beauty of wood. The following tips will help you achieve the clearest possible fiberglass coating to protect and reinforce the wood and show off your handiwork. Continue reading

A Few Good Books

by Captain James R. Watson
canoecraft

Canoecraft by Ted Moores and Marylyn Mohr

Canoecraft—By Ted Moores & Marilyn Mohr

Step-by-step instructions for building a strip composite canoe. Features detailed drawings and photographs. Includes offsets for 7 designs. Revised and expanded. 32 pages.

 

 

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strip canoe

Readers’ Projects, Issue 9

Cedar and Cherry Strip Canoe

This cedar and cherry strip canoe was built by Rex Southwell of Port Charlotte, Florida. Continue reading

Olympic Kayak Repair Team

By Max Wellhouse

Our volunteer boat repair crew at the 1996 Olympic Whitewater Slalom event was well prepared with a generous supply of WEST SYSTEM® 105 Resin and 205 Hardener. Our job was to fix the damage that the rocks and hydraulics of the powerful Ocoee river inflicted on the 120 boats competing in the Games. One hundred and thirty five athletes from over 30 countries came to test their skill at the 25-gate Whitewater course. Located in southeast Tennessee, it was the only medal event outside of Georgia. In this 400 meter event, paddlers are timed from start to finish, with minor time penalties for touching the poles and major penalties for missing gates entirely. Continue reading

Jean-Yves Poirer's Zinnia

Readers’ Projects, Issue 8

Jean-Yves Poirier’s Strip-Planked Boats

Jean-Yves Poirier of Atyre, France, built these strip planked boats with WEST SYSTEM Epoxy. Above— ZINNA, a half replica of an English 19th-century racing dinghy, 18′ long, 177 sq. ft. sail area, 400 pounds. Below—NYMPHEA, an ultralight Thames rowing skiff, 23′ long, 145 pounds. Continue reading