: I am thinking about building Severn compounded-plywood S&G kayak,the one in
: Chris Kulczyki's book "The New Kayak Shop". He describes it as
: being quite tricky. Has anyone built this type of boat and can you tell me
: how tricky you found it.

: I have built three hard chine boats, ones similar to the chesapeakes ( they
: are Aquarius Seascapes by a Canadian Designer)so I have experience in boat
: building. I am wondering if the compound style is something I should be
: leery about?

: I am thinking of building this style because the kayak will be for my kids
: who are 10 +/- years old. I want something they can use for the next 5 to
: 10 years. This style seems like the best option based on such things as
: cost, function, weight, constructability etc. If anyone has comments on
: this aspect as well, I would like to hear them.

I built a Yare form the earlier book "The Kayak Shop". It took me two tries to glue the hull together. The hull on the Yare is glued in two steps. The first, the middle half of the keel is glued with the dihedral of the keel ¾ inch off of flat, but to do so the panels are temporarily bowed front to back between saw horses. Both sides of this half of the seam are then taped, epoxied and cured. Then the second step, the sheer at the center is drawn together to the finished width with a pipe clamp and then the front and rear quarter of the keel can be stitched, glued, taped and epoxied. I had problems getting a smooth transition along the keel at the transition points between the two steps. When stitching the second step, you have to file the panel edges at the transition and then draw them tightly together or a bump will form in the keel.

I have not looked closely at the Severn, but I understand it evolved from the Yare design. If it is as round bottomed as the Yare is, I would not build it for my kids. My Yare is very tender and tips over every time a novice paddler looks away. My kids won't even get in it. It only has primary stability when it is upside down and it is a beast for me to roll. I am glad I put bulkheads in it (the plans don't require them) as the floatation is necessary for a wet reentry. I also added a skeg because it breached with any hint of a following sea (or boat wake).

Now that I am more practiced in it, I paddle it frequently in the bays and outer harbor (behind the breakwater) and really enjoy using it. I am planning to build a Ches 17 so I have a kayak stable enough to fish from.

Since you have already built three boats I would say go for it. (I used lauan at $7.50 a sheet so if I gave up after attempting the hull not much was invested.) But be sure the design satifies you intended use.