> I'm interested in building a wood framed canvas covered kayak. I live in
> the Ark-La-Tex area, near Texarkana. Is there anyone near here who kayaks?
> I can't find anyone! :-( I want to build for cost reasons (I can't justify
> spending $1300+ on a rigid or folding kayak; but I can justify learning
> about their construction and spending $300 or so).

> Thanks! Basil Arrick basil_arrick@yahoo.com

Basil,

I highly recommend that you check out two books. "Wood and Canvas Kayak Building" by George Putz, and "The Aleutian Kayak" by Wolfgang Brink.

I have built the Putz Walrus 17, and think it is a great kayak. There are some minor modifications to the kayak that I will make when I do another, I have already incorporated these into a plywood and glass on frame kayak following the same basic design. Check into it and let me know if you want to build the Putz Walrus and I will let you know what my changes would be. I would also use the shortened forms that Paul spoke of. I did the same thing, but made the calculations myself.

The Walrus tracks quite well, but yet it carves crisp sharp turns when up on edge. Mine cost about $200 to build, and weighs in at 33 pounds. The Pic below is my Putz Walrus 17 being paddled by my wife.

Sorry, I don't live in your area, but if you come up to Puget Sound, I'll let you try mine out. ;-)

I think Paul Bowen in New Orleans made a canvas kayak, his e-mail was listed as fresian@BellSouth.net. I found him on the Redfish Homebuilders Directory. You can check the link below for others close by.

Mike