Building a Paddle Board with George Vondriska: Behind the Scenes of Our Jarvis x WWGA Collaboration

Last year, I had the chance to drive up to Hudson, Wisconsin to meet one of the most trusted voices in woodworking — George Vondriska from Woodworkers Guild of America (WWGA).

If you’re not familiar with George, he’s a longtime educator, master woodworker, and the guy behind many of the Guild’s most-loved video tutorials. So when the idea came up to have him build one of our Jarvis Boards Frame Kits on camera — I didn’t hesitate. We packed up the truck with boards, parts, and tools and made the trip north.

Over a couple of chilly Midwest days, we transformed a box of laser-cut plywood into a real wooden paddle board right in George’s shop.

What We Built

The board we chose for this project is our most popular model the All Around SUP — an all-around shape designed for balance, glide, and beginner-friendly performance. We sent George a couple of our full-size frame kits, which includes all the internal ribs and stringers needed to build the core of the board.

This build used the same materials and steps we provide to hobbyist woodworkers all across the country:

• Laser-cut plywood ribs & stringers
• Assembly using tongue-and-groove joints
• Sheer clamps and rocker table techniques
• Deck and hull skinning options
• Tips on sanding, fiberglassing, and finishing

For George, the process was a blend of familiar woodworking techniques and new boat-building methods — the kind of project that keeps even experienced makers curious and engaged.

Why This Collaboration Mattered

Jarvis Boards has always focused on craftsmanship, durability, and American-made production. Partnering with the Woodworkers Guild was a natural fit. Their audience shares the same love for hands-on building, and George brought a thoughtful, detailed approach to the entire process.

As someone who spends most days in our Chicago shop building boards, it was inspiring to see the project from a new perspective — and even more rewarding to help demystify the process for others who might be thinking about taking it on.

What You’ll Learn from the Series

The video series walks through the entire build process in a step-by-step, approachable way:

• Unboxing and understanding your frame kit
• Milling your strips
• How to cut scarf joints
• Gluing and clamping best practices
• Shaping and prep for fiberglass
• Final sanding and finishing

It’s a great visual resource whether you’re planning your own build or just curious about how a wooden paddle board comes together.

A Note from Eric

Getting to work alongside George and share this process with the WWGA community was a highlight of the year. I hope the project inspires more makers to pick up their tools, clear out a weekend (or several), and build something they’ll be proud of for decades.

— Eric, Owner & Builder at Jarvis Boards

Interested in building your own? Check out our Frame Kits and Building Supplies and get started on your next passion project today.