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how to build your own lightweight wooden kayak
The best easy to build stitch and glue kayak kits, and kayak plans
Ever thought about building your own wooden kayak or wooden canoe? Maybe you are familiar with stitch and glue kayaks and are looking for free kayak plans? Either way you are at the right place.
We are passionate about getting more people on the water building their own wood kayak. We have kayak plans and kits for, diy fishing kayaks, wood sit on top kayaks, as well as wooden touring kayaks. We can't wait to show you how to build your own wooden kayak at home using our diy kayak plans and templates.
The Laguna is a versatile all around sit on top wood kayak that is perfect for the whole family. Equally at home fitness paddling on lakes or catching reds at the bay, this is our most popular sit on top wooden kayak.
Looking for a DIY sit on top fishing kayak. Look no further than the Copano. We took all of the great features of the Laguna, shortened it and increased stability to make the ultimate fishing/recreational kayak.
The Matagorda is the one wood kayak that can do it all. It's got enough stability to work as a sit inside fishing kayak but is fast enough for extending touring and overnight camping. If you want an all around sit inside wood kayak, this is it!
How wood kayaks are made
Our wood kayaks are made using 4mm marine plywood using the "stitch and glue" method. This method starts with temporarily "tying" the wood panels together using thin wire. No wood working, measuring or special skills required.
Once the hull of your wood kayak has been "stitched" together, you'll permanently glue the seams using a mixture of thickened epoxy. While this step can be a bit messy, its a joy to permanently create the hull of your kayak. Once glued, the temporary wires will be removed creating a clean beautiful appearance.
Once glued together, the exterior of your kayak will be waterproofed using a thin layer of epoxy and fiberglass cloth. The provides tremendous impact and abrasion resistance ensuring that your kayak will last a long time.
After the fiberglass cloth has dried, you'll sand it down smooth and add your finishing touches. This could include painting the hull as well as other adding the seat and deck hardware. The only thing left is to hit the water!
Do I need specialized tools? - Not really. Orbital sander, hand saw, cordless drill and ( jigsaw or bandsaw if you don't order a pre-cut wood kit)
How much will it weigh? - This largely depends which kayak model that you use. On average, wood kayaks are significantly lighter than plastic kayaks weighing anywhere from 40 to 55 pounds.
Digital plans/paper plans or pre-cut wood kit? It's up to you and your time, along with your budget. Starting with digital or paper plans will be a bit cheaper but will add as much as 10 hours in time to cut out the wood pieces. Either way, you'll end up with a beautiful wood kayak and we offer all 3 options to suit a range of budgets.
How long will it take? Again, it depends on where you start and your skill. By starting with a pre-cut wood kit or complete kit save several hours off the build time. Working at a weekend warrior pace, you can expect this project to take 25 to 60 hours.
How much will it cost? - It depends. Starting with digital plans and being as budget conscious as possible, you could probably build one for as little as $650 dollars. Most will costs between $900 and $1200 to build.
Do I have what it takes to do this? - If you have you are comfortable with diy projects around the house, and are willing to learn and make mistakes, you most likely can. If you are on the fence, download a copy of our digital plans and see if it's right for you!
