Hi Danny,

Yes, it's do-able...like Tony mentioned, there was one in a past issue of Sea Kayaker.

Any design for a wooden Stitch and Glue kayak will work in aluminum sheet, because the design is "developable", or has the ability to be formed from flat panels.

Do an internet search for some of these kayaks - there are also links to these manufacturers on my homepage--see below:

• Guillemot S&G
  
• Squeedunk Cormorant
  
• Shearwater Merganser
  
• CLC Arctic Hawk
  
• CLC West River 162/180
  
• CLC Pax 20
  
• Pygmy Osprey
  
• Pygmy Queen Charlotte
  

But...I don't think you'll get a lighter weight in aluminum. Boats the size of Jon boats or small runabouts that carry small outboard motors can be built lighter to handle the same loads.

Boats as small as canoes and kayaks need a minimum aluminum sheet thickness to maintain stiffness...this will make it slightly heavier than the equivalent stiffness and strength in wood.

Aluminum is cold and noisy, in my honest opinion.

If you're comfortable working it, then by all means do so. You will be the end user of the boat, and you must also pay for the materials and enjoy the building process. There's no way you must build a wooden kayak "because we said so", especially if working with wood is more frustrating for you.

If you could anodize it, it would be gorgeous!!!

Keep us posted with your decision and your progress!!

Shawn

: Has anyone built a kayak from aluminum? Canoes and jonboats made of aluminum
: work well. I can work sheet aluminum easier than wood and can get a
: lighter weight. I would like to built from a wood design. If anyone has
: any info, please email met @ wendydanny98@hotmail.com