: I have been interested in learning how to build fiberglass kayaks for a few
: years now. I'm seeking information on where I can learn about building
: kayaks, design, and techniques. I would also be interested in learning
: from someone who currently builds kayaks within the are I live, Portland,
: Oregon. Any and all information is appreciated. Thank you

The majority of people on this board are amateur builders, so I guess you could say that we are also trying to learn the trade.

The good news is that there are not a lot of trade secrets to unveil. There is a lot of information out there, but sometimes finding exactly what you need can be a challenge.

The first thing to do is find out if there are any companies in your area that make canoes and kayaks from fiberglass, or any other materials. A quick search through the local phone book under canoes or boats will show you any listings for boat makers. If there aren't any, get the name and address of a local boat retail dealer, and go to visit them. They buy their boats from manufacturers, of course, and so a knowledgable salesperson would probably know where every boat in the place was made. Pick their brains on a slow day and you'll end up iwht a good idea of local boat builders. Then go visit the boat yards. Explain your interest in learning and ask if they have jobs available. they may not want to pay you, so ask if they have internships, too.

Even if there are no jobs, if you present yourself politely here is a good chance that you may be given a short tour of the facility. Compliance with safety laws may make that difficult, but some boat shops encourage visitors, and some encourage buyers and potential buyer to inspect the work they do, so they may just be used to giving impromtu tours.

Other than that, read, read and read some more. Thre are a lot of books listed on Amazon.com, if you search for "boat building", or "canoe building". Print out the information, or copy it off the screen with a pencil and paper, and take the title of the book, the author, the publisher and (if you can get it) the ISBN (International Standard Book Number) over to your local library. Ask the librarian about "interlibrary loan". With the information you have, your librarian will have an easy time finding what library has this book in their collection. Then they just borrow the book from that library for you. It can take a few days to get the books, but usually you pay nothing to borrow them. this way you get background knowledge at little or no cost.

If you can find addresses of other boat builders around the country, write to them and ask about information on boat building. See if they have tours. Take your vacation time and use it to travel to different boatshops. e-mail makes this a very simple and quick process, and you might be able to line up several shops on an extended tour.

Best of luck in your studies.

PGJ