: Don't do it.

: It is much easier to build a new boat from scratch than to take
: apart an existing boat and completely rebuild it.

: You will be destroying a legacy your father left for the family to
: use, and--in the best case-- be replacing it with a year or two
: of parts and pieces that take up space in the house. In the
: worst case you'll turn it into a pile of scrap, and have no boat
: at all.

: Build a new boat from plans, or from a kit, and you'll have the
: cedar strip boat you want, and your family will be able to use
: your dad's boat, so you don't have to paddle alone.

: Read Nick's book.

: For a strip built boat you need some kind of a form to bend the
: strips around. You have an existing kayak, and would need to
: create forms from that before taking it apart. Each form would
: take a lot longer to create from an existing boat than to make
: from plans. Before you make the forms you would need to make
: tools to help you get the right shape and placement of the
: forms. In the possible case that your strips would be the same
: thickness as the existing plywood on your boat, you could make
: the forms fit the interior of your existing boat. But if your
: strips are a different thickness, then the forms will be made
: twice: Once as a copy of the hull measurements, and again to the
: measure you need for the strip-built version. For all that work
: you don't get a better boat.

: And you should be making one of them too! But the right way to do
: it is to start with good instructions and plans, not with an
: existing boat. leave dad's boat alone and build your own. After
: you've done that you'll have a good idea of how to refurbish
: either one--and if you still think you want to take apart an
: existing plywood boat to recreate it in cedar strips--well, it
: will be a choice you'll have the knowledge to make.

: PGJ

Hello Paul,
You make a very good point. I was looking over the amount of work that would be required to redo this boat, and then came inside to have a look on my computer. There was your message, as if someone had channeled through you to tell me to leave it alone! Don't blame me if you get the sudden urge for Duth cheese and pickled herring! (two of me Dad's favorites)
I think I may just sand it down to the wood, and give it a good couple coats of varnish. I looked into Nick Schade's book as well, and decided that I may as well try building one myself from a kit. This way, as you say, we'll have two boats. Thanks for the advice, and saving me from destroying my Dad's nice work.

Kevin