One more thought - if you mill your own strips, you can retain the milling sequence so as to have nicely bookmatched wood available for laying your grain and color pattern. I don't know whether kits provide strips that are sequenced or not, but if you mill your own, it is relatively easy to keep strips ordered so you have control over color and grain in the boat.

Have fun, and let us know how it turns out.

Best regards,

Allan Edie

: I want to build a strip kayak. I have built one SOF-F1, working on
: a CLC kit and hoping to build a bidarka this summer in a class
: with Mr. Brinck.
: So I figure I should have a strip built boat in the fleet.

: How does the cost compare between a complete kit, and buying
: supplies in the amounts for just one boat. I live in the LA
: area,
: I would consider kits from Guillemont, which means CLC if I
: understand correctly and Joe Greely and One ocean.
: I am fat and short belong to a club and don't get into the boat
: very often. Still have not got a roll down, but it is coming.
: I am looking for a day touring boat that has some stability and
: good speed. I know that is a trade off.

: I don't have a great deal of equipment, table saw, and skill saw
: and a bunch of clamps. I have a hunch getting the whole set up
: would minimize mistakes. The CLC kit is a stitch and glue Arctic
: Hawk, which has taken a long time to get to where I am in the
: process. Found out my skin does not like fiberglass so now have
: pretty good protective gear and will always wear it. (Takes a
: long time for rash to go down once I get a skin issue going).

: After the strip or may as a work up to it I think I will try a Yost
: boat the frame less /blow it up (Sonnet?) sounds very
: interesting and a lot easier to get to the water. Water so far
: has been the Colorado river and some harbors around LA, still
: taking classes and learning.

: But I found I love building boats too.

: Thanks for all the wisdom and smiles this forum has provided.

: Thoughts are welcome. One of my consideration is the cost of
: shipping and buying more tools. (Love tools,but they do cost
: money :(
: Thanks.