Yes and yes to your questions.

David Zimmerly's 2 part article on building an Aleut kayak in Small Boat Journal pre-dates Wolfgang Brinck's book by a dozen years and is sufficiently clear for a handyman. Wolfgang's book is more geared to a complete beginner and is well written.

I have built 3 Aleut styled kayaks including a replica of the Atka Island boat that Zimmerly's and Brinck's writings are concerned with. The replica is a fine boat for cruising and is meant to be ballasted. Raw beginners will find it a little unstable at first but after some practice that will pass.

Keep in mind that Inuit kayaks were designed to meet specific conditions and that todays recreational kayakers may want something different.

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