Hi all,
I'm new to this forum but have picked up a lot of great tips & links already (some of them obviously too late). I'm in the middle of building a One Ocean Storm LT (am I allowed to say that on this forum) which is my first strip built kayak. I only came across timber kayaks by accident when I was searching the net for fibreglass sea kayaks, I already have a plastic fishing kayak which serves me quite well for the purpose for which it was designed but I'm finding that I enjoy just paddling about, particularly in the surf zone & close inshore. I knew I needed something a bit more sleek when a couple of sea kayaks just stealthily glided past me doing what seemed to be about 20 or 30 knots :-)
When I first saw these timber ones on the net I thought they would be heavy & outdated by the newer technology, I was dead wrong. I was absolutely amazed by their natural beauty & weight; I just had to make one, you probably know the feeling "I just have to do this!"
Anyway, back to topic.
Even though I'm only just up to the stage of sanding the glassed hull, here's a short list of the things I have learnt already that I've noted for myself. These are things that apply to me but may be helpful or at least may inspire more research for other newbies before jumping in & making similar mistakes. These may already be basics to the majority.

1. Read the plans & instructions thoroughly before starting (it's a man thing)
2. Don't be afraid to tackle new tasks just because you haven't done them before, it doesn't mean you can't do them.
3. Do some research & ask questions if you are unsure of a particular process. (another man thing)
4. Do take the time to set up the forms or stations properly, it pays dividends in the long term.
5. Don't rush joining the strips at the stems, take your time & get it right, it'll come back to bite you if you don't, sometimes close enough isn't good enough & you may end up using more filler than you're happy with. The same applies to holding the strips together & onto the forms.
6. Find a better way for fitting the final strip in the hull, it was very tedious.
7. Leave the staples in the sheer strip until after you've finished sanding.
8. Don't use a steel spatula with commercial fillers, it seems to react with the steel & leaves a dark taint in the mix which looks really ugly under glass, I ended up using a stainless steel butter knife but next time would use plastic & experiment more first.
9. Don't hold the staple gun against the timber when you pull the trigger 'cause it punches the staples too deep & you have to dig them out. Hold it back at least 2 or 3mm or make up an extension or packer for the tip of your gun.
10. Don't use staples in Australian hardwood (keel strips), you'll never get them out again, they break off & are there to stay.
11. Make sure the previous coat of epoxy is not still tacky when you put on an extra abrasion strip 'cause it is difficult to slide around to get out any wrinkles.
12. Pay attention to the epoxy cure times & blushing before putting on another coat otherwise you may not notice that it hasn't bonded & when it's hardened, you'll have to sand it all off again.

If I, as a newbie, have a list like this , then others who have made many more kayaks must have similar lists of pet do's & dont's as they go through the process of building, even seemingly insignificant ones that could make a huge difference to "training wheel" first timers like me.
Anyway, that's my thoughts, any takers for lists ?

Glen G.

"Learn by the mistakes of others, you won't live long enough to make 'em all yourself" 'not sure who said that :-)