I will agree with Paul. Don't build the S&G Guillemot unless you are willing to take on a relatively unsupported project. I put the plans up on the web site because, although I thought they had potential, I was too lazy to do everything that would make the project more foolproof. I think the boat has a unique shape for a stitch and glue, but this does create some unique building problems.

I don't remember how I located the cockpit when I made the boat. You could take a measurement off the drawing on the web page. Although this won't be super accurate, the drawing is to scale so you should get a rough idea.

My journal may serve as a rough guide to building the boat, but I strongly recommend getting "The Kayak Shop" by Chris Kulczycki. He goes into more detail regarding how to build a stitch and glue all of which is applicable to my design. His book won't protect you from mistakes with my design, but it should reduce the number you make.

I do offer full-sized drawings of all the panels, but this just saves you having to draw your own from the offsets. The drawings do not offer any more information than is available on the website.

> Hi James,

> I have just about finished building this boat. I've had lots of problems
> because there are no instructions, and for this reason I wouldn't recomend
> that anyone build it (though, I remain greatful to Nick for providing the
> plans). There have been several occasions where I've done no work for
> several weeks because I wasn't sure how to proceed, only by coming to this
> board and really turning the problem over in my mind have I resolved these
> difficulties.

> Since I started building I've bought both Chris' and Nick's books, and can
> see how easy it could have been if I had only waited until I could afford
> these books (they cost about $50 apiece here in Australia). The amount
> saved by building one of Chris' boats from the plans in the book would
> easily cover the cost of both books-for example 5 sheets of ply for Nick's
> S&G, 2 Sheets of ply for the Yare in Chris' book. Chris's boats seem to go
> together a lot faster and look prettier (well, prettier than mine).

> If you still feel that this is the boat for you, and I must admit that
> I've enjoyed the challenge, I seem to remember that the plans give a
> measurement from the stem to the front of the cockpit, and mention
> somewhere else the length of the cockpit (sorry i can't be more specific,
> but I'm at work and don't have a lot of time to look it up).

> Hope this has been some help,

> Paul.