Boat Building Forum

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Do you have the tools?
By:Dan Ruff
Date: 5/21/2003, 9:35 am
In Response To: Other: Buy kit, or build from scratch?? (David)

Whether you can save money building from plans instead of a kit depends on your situation.

I built a Mill Creek 13 for about $300 building from plans rather than a kit and using cheap Luan plywood instead of marine plywood. I also used Raka epoxy which is a little cheaper than other epoxies but is still high quality.

However, if you don't already have the tools, you will have to buy them which makes building from a kit much more attractive. To build my kayak from plans, I used a tablesaw to rip the sheer clamps, and a sabersaw to cut out the panels, I used a plane to cut the scarf joints and trim the panels to the cut line, I also used a japanese style pull saw for cutting the bevel on the sheer clamps at the stem and stern. And of course a sander for sanding the entire boat, but you will need that with a kit too. I also used lots of small hand and layout tools.

If you want to go cheaper than $300, you will need to look at skin on frame kayaks. But I would be impressed if you could build any kayak for much less than $300.

Messages In This Thread

Other: Buy kit, or build from scratch??
David -- 5/21/2003, 8:44 am
Here's a cheaper one *LINK*
Don Lucas -- 5/22/2003, 10:33 am
What I did. *LINK*
Brian McCarty -- 5/22/2003, 9:27 am
Re: Kits vs. Plans
C. Fronzek -- 5/22/2003, 1:18 am
Re: Kits vs. Plans
Don Martin -- 5/22/2003, 7:41 am
Re: Other: Buy kit, or build from scratch??
John B. -- 5/21/2003, 8:45 pm
Re: For DAVID! *NM*
John B. -- 5/21/2003, 8:47 pm
Re: Other: Buy kit, or build from scratch??
Don Lucas -- 5/21/2003, 7:56 pm
Re: Other: Buy kit, or build from scratch??
Glen Smith -- 5/21/2003, 7:31 pm
Three different types. *LINK*
Dan Ruff -- 5/21/2003, 2:37 pm
Just an idea
Brian Ervin -- 5/21/2003, 1:43 pm
Re: Just an idea *LINK* *Pic*
Andy Waddington -- 5/22/2003, 10:43 am
Re: excellent idea *NM*
LeeG -- 5/21/2003, 2:06 pm
Told you so :)
charles w -- 5/21/2003, 1:25 pm
Re: Other: Buy kit, or build from scratch?? *LINK*
Wes -- 5/21/2003, 11:05 am
Well i am totally new
David -- 5/21/2003, 11:14 am
Everyone here was totally new once
Andy Waddington -- 5/22/2003, 10:46 am
Re: Well i am totally new
Patsy -- 5/21/2003, 12:07 pm
Re: Well i am totally new
Taylor Warren -- 5/21/2003, 12:03 pm
whoops -sorry wrong link
Taylor Warren -- 5/21/2003, 12:05 pm
Re: Well i am totally new
Kurt Maurer -- 5/21/2003, 11:55 am
Re: Well i am totally new
Wes -- 5/21/2003, 11:24 am
Re: Well i am totally new
LeeG -- 5/21/2003, 11:50 am
Re: Well i am totally new
David -- 5/21/2003, 12:05 pm
Re: Well i am totally new
LeeG -- 5/21/2003, 12:11 pm
Re: Other: Buy kit, or build from scratch??
Bobby Curtis -- 5/21/2003, 9:53 am
Re: Other: Buy kit, or build from scratch?? *LINK* *Pic*
Kurt Maurer -- 5/21/2003, 10:33 am
Re: Other: Buy kit, or build from scratch?? *Pic*
Brian Ervin -- 5/21/2003, 9:51 am
Do you have the tools?
Dan Ruff -- 5/21/2003, 9:35 am
Re: Other: Buy kit, or build from scratch??
LeeG -- 5/21/2003, 9:17 am
Re: Other: Buy kit, or build from scratch??
Jay Babina -- 5/21/2003, 9:01 am
Re: Other: Buy kit, or build from scratch??
Andy Waddington -- 5/22/2003, 10:52 am
Re: Other: Buy kit, or build from scratch??
Jay Babina -- 5/22/2003, 11:19 am
Re: Therapy Costs $100/hr :D *NM*
Steve Frederick -- 5/22/2003, 7:25 pm