Hi George,

There's some really cool construction methods that are suitable for large yacht construction. Most involve Computer Aided Manufacturing techniques, pioneered by the Japanese in large (>100,000 ton) ship construction. Computer control of cutting techniques (abrasive water jet, oxy-acetelene torch, laser, etc.) are all current state-of-the-art in most "production" yacht and commercial yards. Even CLK is using computer-controlled routers to cut kit parts for kayaks.

Ditto for materials. The Baltek material sounds great for other-than-kayak construction. Resin-injection techniques for production kayak builders is probably viable. Certainly, roto-moulding makes viable commercial 'yaks. Just because I wouldn't own one doesn't mean someone else wouldn't. I'd hate to try and make a roto-moulded boat at home!!

The key is time and money. These are mutually exclusive entities for most of us. The great fun for me in trying to build kayaks is to emulate as much of the production techniques as are economically feasible, to reduce the amount of hand work involved in construction. My goal for my personal boats is not professional mass production, but simply to increase the percieved "quality" of my boats while not getting buried in anal-retentive details that reduce the time I have left to paddle them.

Time to get off my soap box. I'm sure I'm preaching to the choir.

Regards,

Pete