What we would like to charge for the boats is one thing. What the market will bear is another. If there were a large market for $10,000 kayaks, a lot more of us who hang out on this forum would be professional kayak builders. I'm not arguing that the skill involved is worth it. Rather, I've been tracking the prices for used homebuilt S&G boats and find that that the ASKING prices range from $600 to $2500. I am not sure what people are actually paying. I do know that I bought a one year old CLC Triple, pretty well executed by a home builder, for $1200, which by my estimate is about $100 over my cost had I built it from a CLC kit. There was virtually nothing in it for the labor expended.

My own very subjective guesstimate is that that strip built boats by home builders would go for $2000 - $3500, and would vary greatly with the design and any unique features incorporated by the builder. Pro builders building to order would obviously get higher prices based on their reputations. For comparison, Actions Fish gets about 6K for stapled construction strip kayaks, about 10K for stapless by Benner Boat (see their websites: www.actionfish.com www.bennerboat.com). These companies are related.

Steve C

: With all due respect, I think you're way off. Betsy Bay sells their boats for
: $4000. and I believe the wood Arctic Hawk (Superior Kayak) is over $3500.
: (both S & Gs)

: This discussion has been on this board many times in the past. I wouldn't
: build a stripper for anyone for less than $10,000. The more of them I
: build, the better handle I have on the work, skill, patience and
: unexpected surprises. People pay $15,000 for kitchen cabinets and don't
: bat an eye. Because plastic and glass kayaks are cheap, people tend to
: disqualify the time and craft of building wood ones. Not me!

: Minimum wage? - this is highly skilled labor and deserves to be paid for,
: especially strip building.

: Selling one to someone you like make room in the garage is a different story.
: But to build under contract for money, it deserves craftsmanshp wages x
: hours put in, plus supplies etc. I think framing carpenters get over $30
: per hour.