> I'm an Exploring Technology teacher and our class is challenged to build a
> "boat" to race in a closed course for time. Catches: June 12th
> is race day; can NOT spend over $200. My thought was a kayak ... the net
> lead me here. A light "skin on frame" seems a good idea. I'm
> excited as are my students. I look to this as a great LEARNING experience.
> Any advice for me and/or the students would be appreciated. Thank you! Ray
> Matthews

Ray,

I am assuming you will build this inside the school building, and that it will be constructed by teenagers.

With those thoughts in mind: You want to avoid projects that involve materials that might be dangerous if inhaled. That means that inexpensive polyester resin is out of the question. Epoxy is not much safer, and with your cost constraint, you will probably want to choose a design that does not need to be covered with a layer of fiberglass cloth. (Small amounts of epoxy resin used for gluing are pretty tolerable.) That seems to rule out cedar strip methods. It also puts a crimp in building with stitch and glue techniques.

However, you can build skin on frame, and plywood on frame designs. I suggest the 18.5 foot "walrus" described in George Putz's book. With a large, open cockpit you can put in two or three paddlers, and the boat is slender enogh. It should go fast!

There are similar designs around, and most can be built for under $200, if you paint them instead of fiberglassing them.

If you go with a skin on frme design and use a skin material that you do NOT need to coat yourself, then the cost safety and building time should be well within you student's capabilities.

good luck with your project.

Paul G. Jacobson