> I have finally made the decision to take on a winter project of building a
> strip kayak. Reading through this board (and the archives!) has greatly
> boosted my confidence in my ability to actually build something that
> floats! I have read Nick's book, watched the "HomeGrown Boats"
> videos and just got Ted Moores' book (Needless to say I am an information
> and research junkie). With all of this input I have decided to build, for
> the most part, using Nick's techniques (i.e. the internal boxbeam as
> opposed to the external strongback). I am planning to build the Great Auk
> as I am both a novice woodworker and a novice paddler. My questions at
> this point: 1) is it worth it to buy the premade forms? 2) I don't have
> the tools or the patience to make my own strips but don't know how many of
> what types I need (i.e. full length, half size for accents, no bead and
> cove on some etc). How to I determine this before I place an order? 3) Is
> the Great Auk a good choice (mostly flat water lakes with some potential
> for overnight) and 4) Any advice for "selling" my wife on the
> need for more tools! Thanks everyone for a terrific board and I'm sure I
> will be back with more questions as I actually get into the project.

> Rick

Rick, I recently started a expedition single and I cut my forms last weekend I had the full sized form sheets from the plans to glue to the form material and it still took a lot more time to do than I had allocated. I personally found making the strips an easier job.

I used a hand held jig saw to cut the forms to rough shape and cut close to the lines with a band saw. I then used my stationary disc sander to finish to the lines. On the tight curve areas I used a drum sander on my drill press. The 2x4 cutouts for the strongback I cut with a router. You may do just fine with just a hand held jig saw.

Larry C.