Very interesting, Dan. I've already half-built the BP in my mind using plywood!! I can't see it being that difficult building right on the frames with the plywood. I actually started a very similar type of build years ago, i.e., frames dimensions were given and I was left to loft the plywood from them.

To be honest, when I first saw pictures of the BP, I thought it was a plywood boat.

Now the wheels are really turning!!!!

Sean

: My understanding is there is even a boat-building shop in Sweden
: (Petrus Kayak) that offers classes building S&G BP's. One of
: these days I need to try it myself. The design screams to be
: done in plywood. From Bjorn's BP page:
: "Since there are no panel expansions ... the proper way would
: be to erect molds as for a strip project, and trace the panel
: shapes in place on the molds. Building on molds offers a far
: better control over the hull shape than the more common
: stitching "in free air"..." and later:

: "Waterholic, there is a new development in the S&G department.
: Petrus Kajaks in Tranås has initiated kayak building classes
: (which I have written about recently), where the participants
: build their own S&G Black Pearl in 8 days with access to a
: modern boat shop, professional tools and guidance from a master
: boatbuilder. Kits can be supplied for those who prefer to work
: in their own shop (as can professionally built and finished
: kayaks).

: As a consequence of this I will not for the time being develope S&G
: plans with printed panels expansions. The basis for my BP is the
: limitless adjustment to the builder/paddler. This is lost when
: going S&G, and therefore I prefer that the builder, interested
: in a S&G version does the adaptation directly on the molds of
: the adjusted kayak setup. It takes a couple of hours more than
: cutting panels from paper or film patterns, but I consider it
: worthwhile.

: Black Pearl is a small kayak, depending on a very good fit to work
: as advertised, and the margins of error are small."

: I know you can use really wide strips.

: You'll be ok weight-wise. According to my little spreadsheet, using
: eastern white pine instead of white cedar would add about two
: pounds. The curvature around the cockpit will give you some
: headaches but it gives me headaches using northern white cedar.