To : B. Giles

Thanks for your suggestions regarding using bamboo. We have a mat here made of bamboo we call "sawali". It is indeed being used as sidings for outriggered boats, I may try this but I'm sure it would be quite thick already and may be heavier. I would try to have a bamboo mat made to order, using thinner strips. If you'd give me your e-mail address I would keep you posted on this. To : rickmotoAsilk.net

Thank You for your guidance, I would be downloading your suggested plans for reference and probable use. Unfortunately I could not find enough free plans, however I am basing my plans on what I've gotten so far. To : Stan Heeres

I am trying to build a kayak. What we usally have here are dug-out canoes and outriggers. Most are too heavy for easy portability. We have here small dug-out canoes, which we call "bigiw", it is a single seater used just like a kayak, using a wood (log)we call "tipo", it's quite light but too heavy for a single person to carry.

I am very happy for everyones help, kayaks are not used here in the Philippines except by tourists. We are a country composed of more or less 7,100 islands depending on the tides. we have small rowing boats that are used instead of a kayak. the concept behind a kayak and its versatility has driven me to try to build one. I would be using it as a pleasure boat to go in and around mangroves and helping friends and countrymen to appreciate the bounties of nature and hopefully preserve it in the process. I would be keeping everyone interested posted about any developments in my project. Again thanks to everyone.