Hi Tom,

Congratulations on most expertly communicating what you are looking for. Boy have you come to the right place. Isn't it amazing that you can type a few words into your computer - send it to the right place - and WHAM - experts from all over send you their advice - almost immediately. When I first started messing around on the internet 10 years ago I never would have guessed it would have come this far this fast.

Oops - we're supposed to be talking boat building here...

I've built three stitch and glue craft and one fabric on frame kayak inspired by those paddled by the natives of the Aleutian islands around the turn of the century. While building the wood / fiberglass boats was kind of fun and the resulting boats are great - the joy and satisfaction I have felt in building the fabric on frame is hard to describe. The fabric over frame requires you to learn a bit more woodworking - but I was once a klutzy computer programmer and I was able to pick up the skills rapidly - so I'm positive you could do it. The frame goes together at a very rapid pace - little to no sanding is required - and you don't have to work with the potentially toxic epoxy.

If you don't want to do any sewing you can build one of the boats George Putz describes in his book - I don't remember the name - a growing number of folks who frequent this site have built them. If you want to go the more traditional route and don't mind the sewing - you could try the Aleutian Baidarka described in WOlfgang Brinck's book. I have attached a couple of URLs to internet sites with tons of info for you. BTW - seriously consider carving yourself a paddle like the one Wolfgang describes. I'm SO impressed with the performance of the Aleut-style paddle with the dyhedral (lump down the middle) power face design. The thing doesn't want to swim up and down like most store bought paddles I have tried - it just feels "right' in your hands - and it seems like you go faster with less effort - though this could be all in my head.

- mailing list frequented by the skin boat folks
http://robroy.totalsports.net/baidarka/

- I got to spend almost three weeks at Kayak Way building my baidarka in August
http://www.rockisland.com/~kyak

- tons of scholarly info on traditional kayaks

http://www.arctickayaks.com/

- site of a guy that has studied, built and paddled tons of traditional kayaks

http://home.pacifier.com/~qayaq/

- Wolfgang Brinck's site
http://www.wolfgangbrinck.com

Whatever you decide Tom - I think building a kayak will be an awesome senior project. I wish I would have thought of it back when I was a senior.

Good Luck,
PC