Hi all.

I'm a first time boat builder.
Been "lurking" around for over a month now on Boatdesign forums, and other forums to learn about boats. I would like to build a Kayak, for using on the backwater canals. It's still water, not flowing, no plan to use it in the sea, the depth must be from about 2 feet to 14 feet, not much of debris or logs in the water, so I'm looking at a small Kayak Like boat. Like to get some suggestions from this forum.

1. Looking for it to be light. Very Light. say about 7 to 20 KG.
2. Happy with a single cockpit, now.
3. thinking of a skin on frame? Kayak
4. CHEAP. I'm building it in India, my resources are very meek.
5. Will use it for weekend trips, just to paddle around few KMs and back. Dunno if I would be camping etc...

I have been active on a thread in boatdesignforums, here is the link to it: http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/boat-design/small-kayak-backwater-canals-25058.html

BAMBOO:
I plan to use Bamboo for the frame.
Bamboo is cheap, I can get them in plenty. 20 feet bamboos, 10 - 15 of them for about $7 to $10, which is like 1 inch to 1.5 inches in dia. Bigger bamboos are available, 20 footers, 5 inch dia for about $1, I plan to use these for the gunnels.
The smaller bamboo will be used as stingers and ribs. Ribs can be made with bamboo bending, green bamboo bends well with heat, else will lash it like the Nansen Kayak. [google Nansen's bamboo Kayak]. I can procure "cane" which can be real sturdy, sanded, varnished, and bent! It stays real strong and the bend does not loosen. If bamboo does not work for ribs, I would use cane!

Well the frame part is some what decided, as said above. I have to decide on the skin, the options I have are

SKIN
1. Canvas Tarp
2. Polyester Cloth
3. Poly Tarp
4. what else is cheap you suggest?
----- What thickness of skin do I need? if polyester cloth, what thickness is needed? What type of treatment is needed for the cloth? please brief this or point me to a proper resource.

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a. How to skin my kayak?
b. how to shrink it, [I have read about skinboat.org methods of heat shrinking, hot air gun]
c. how to paint it? [ will regular oil paint do the job?]
d. how to coat it with water-proof material?
e. Should I varnish it? if so what type of varnish, the only commonly available is Wood Varnish, its thin and alcoholic.

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SIZE and structure:

I weigh about 100 KG, and 5' and 10", I would like the boat to be about 8 feet to 10 feet, with a reasonable large cockpit. Please suggest the right length for the Kayak, stability matters, it will be a touring Kayak, I don't wanna get wet

looking forward for some tips and tricks.
thanks
MS