Boat Building Forum

Find advice on all aspects of building your own kayak, canoe or any lightweight boats

I build wood surfboards and kayaks kind of as a hobby-turned-business. I do have a "real job" because surfboards and kayaks just don't pay the bills! It's more of a hobby that I make a little money on from time to time, but I usually end up making more stuff for myself than anyone else. I live in the US Virgin Islands where it's always kayaking weather. My first wood kayak- the Shearwater Atlantic, has been my mainstay kayak. It's probably bigger and heavier than most would need but it is a champ in open water and down here we get 6 to 8 foot seas quite regularly. It's costly to live here and supplies are limited. Wood is a premium as is shop space, but the payoff is 82 degree water and air temps pretty much year round.