: I'm getting ready to build a SOF using Chris Cunningham's book.
: Maybe I'm missing something, but I can't figure out why, if the
: keelson, chines, and gunwales are to have an actual dimension of
: 3/4", he suggests resawing them from 2x lumber. Why not
: just use 1x nominal lumber?

Like Bill said, it's to get the bend characteristics the same, but- cutting it is a pretty big drawback. I have a top-of-the line professional cabinet saw, but to cut an 18' gunwale on a stationary table saw you need a building at least 40' long. When I used 8/4 stock I had to go over to the shop of a commercial cabinet-maker friend to use his saw. You can always get a wide piece of 4/4 stock and use a circular saw with a rip guide to cut it. A saw like that is designed to cut that dimension of stock with no problems.

: Also, is there any harm in building a slightly more relaxed fit to
: the kayak?

Yes, I think there is harm, but quite benign harm. I know lots of first time builders and almost all of them say that they wish they'd made their kayaks smaller, but they were worried that it would be too small. They say if they had it to do over they'd build it smaller. I don't think it will be uncomfortable- you'll just have to learn how to enter, sit in, and get out of a kayak like that. And also to be considered- if you already have another kayak you paddle a lot what is your SOF for? Is it going to duplicate the uses for your other kayak, or do you intend it for a different purpose?

Before you dedicate yourself to building a kayak close to the size of what you've already got check out Brian Schulz's article on using a Greenland Kayak on his Cape Falcon Kayaks site, and cruise through Turner Wilson's sizing info on Kayakways.net and see what you think before you dive in.

Above all- although Cunningham's book does not give a lot of chance for design latitude the way some other texts do, if you haven't looked through Kayaks of Greenland yet, you should think about getting a copy and taking a spin through it to see what actual historic kayaks looked like and get an eye for their lines. It will decrease your chance of error.

m