> Hi all

> I'm relatively new to kayaking but see that building my own kayak will be
> both a realization of a dream and also the only affordable way to own it.
> I participate in adventure races that incorporate paddling legs and am
> looking for plans for a surf-ski or fast single kayak to build using foam
> stripping (yes, I realize that I'll lose the beautiful look of the wood,
> but I am experienced with this method from sailing dinghy building and
> suspect I can make it very light as well). Any ideas are welcomed. Thank
> you.

There are a tremendous number of strip built canoe designs on the market, and some online software to help you design your own. With foam strips you'll need basically the same kind of plans and frames as with wood strip building. Do you cover the forms with a series of battens to give a work surface to bend the foam around? if so,then you'll want to modify the forms to reduce them by the thickness of the battens you use. Otherwise, you have a LOT of designs to chose from.

Give some details about your size (height, weight, and shoe size -- seriously, as foot room can be a problem) and maybe others in your size can tell you what works for them.

I'm not sure that a surf ski would also work as a fast single kayak, though. Maybe look at a fast single that you can also surf in? It would probably be a bit longer than a surf ski.

Have you looked at the descriptions of the boats Nick designs? It would be a good start. They are on this BBS. Hit the homepage and follow the links.

Hope this helps.

Paul G. Jacobson