: I'm sitting here trying to get up the courage to build a kayak. I have had
: Nick's websight bookmarked for about four years!! I really appreciate the
: resource this list provides...June is my target month (!) to start. You
: folks are great encouragers!

: Thanks,
: Chuck

Chuck....don't listen to these guys. Turn off your computer and run as fast as you can. They are addicts and like all addicts they are trying to drag you into a life like they have. I know...it happened to me. Once I had spare time and spare change. An addict loses both of those immediately. The time is sucked away making big boards into little boards then twisting them in unnatural ways...endless beveling, coving and beading. Then there is the sanding...I did that a lot. Mindless stares and a constant ROS buzz sucked up the hours. Sure they tell you that a boat can be built for less then $500...and it's probably true. But I got it bad...first it was the dealer at the lumberyard...then the pusher at the hardware store...then a big taste at Woodworkers Warehouse. I made my first cut in January when I built my strongback on my kitchen floor during a snowstorm. Since then I can't tell you how many cuts I've made but before long I was doing it every night. My house still smells like cedar. When the wood was used up I graduated to the hard stuff....epoxy and glass. That's when it gets really bad. It takes you over completely. First it makes you rush and then it makes you wait. And the waiting is bad...you need to touch the boat but you can't...it's hell. I thought it will end soon....the boat should be finished this month. But I'm already looking for those good deals on wood and thinking about the next one. Help me....

But the good part...I almost have a new boat and all the tools I need to start another one. My boat is not as pretty as the artwork you'll see here but I built it myself...and it may even float. Just that feeling is worth the hours and dollars. I have no doubt there will be another one and it will be built faster, be cheaper and look nicer.

Don't start building a kayak. Start building a strongback. The rest will fall into place.