: Relatively new to the site and have appreciated the responses and expertise
: apparent in the posts, so I thought I'd bring a question to the group.

: I'd like to build an expedition kayak for my wife to use this summer. time is
: of the essence and I find myself wondering about cost/benefit of buying
: the strips already shaped v. doing it myself. Do any of you veterans out
: there have any thoughts on the matter? average time absorbed in ripping
: and routing? sources of strips? approximate cost and whether its worth the
: cost of buying?

: I realize, as much as I can without having built one before, that beginning a
: project of this complexity with a deadline so close that I'm not doing
: myself any favors. I'm not completely sold out that I'm moving ahead with
: an immediate start, but its looking like I might give it a try.

: Any feedback would go a long way.

: listening,

: Steve

Hi Steve,

Personally I use a rolling bevel, so no routing, and rip (and plane) the strips myself. Takes perhaps a couple hours to do that work. Compared to the number of hours you'll have in kayak it's a very small percentage of time.

The cost of precut strips talked me out of that option very quickly. Think I spent maybe $200 on the wood for the last boat. For that kind of difference in price I can spend a couple hours cutting wood

Bill H.