A man kayaking at sunset in a craft similar to the ones constructed in classes.
In the United States, several companies offer classes where you can build your own kayak. Classes cover the fundamentals of wooden boat craft, including make various styles off kayaks. For anyone interested in boat building, these classes are a suitable introduction. As well as learning new carpentry skills, participants invariably go home with a brand new kayak.
Cape Falcon Kayak
Cape Falcon Kayak offers hands-on workshops and courses in Portland and Manzanita, Oregon and Orcas Island, Washington. Classes are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Classes cover all aspects of kayak building. Students all move at the same pace, which means that on the seventh and final day of class every kayak must be ready to launch. Cape Falcon Kayak supplies all the materials, but students must bring their own tools. Students can camp on-site for free or reserve other accommodations recommended by Cape Falcon Kayak.
Wooden Boat School
The Wooden Boat School in Brooklin, Maine offers a variety of boat building classes, including ones on sea kayaks. The sea kayak courses last six days and focus on stitch and glue techniques and joining work. At the end of the six days, participants can take their new Night Heron sea kayak home.
North House Folk School
Located in Grand Marais, Minnesota, the North House Folk School offers a comprehensive 12-day workshop on kayak construction. In the workshop, students work with a partner to build a Greenlandic Inuit kayak. Instructors help students choose a design and guide them through the construction process. Because everything is made from scratch, students cut panels and create wood joins from raw materials. Instructors contact students a month before class starts to discuss the type of kayak they want to build. The materials are waiting for students when they arrive. Courses are available throughout the year.
Chesapeake Light Craft
Chesapeake Light Craft offers week-long kayak building courses in Maryland, Washington and Maine. Students learn build a small duck-style kayak using a Chesapeake Light Craft construction kit. Instructors discuss sanding techniques and properly varnish the craft, as well as walking students through each step of the construction process. Students must provide their own tools, including respirator masks, cordless drills and wooden planes. Special tools, such as epoxy spreaders, are provided by Chesapeake Light Craft.
Tags: Cape Falcon, Cape Falcon Kayak, Chesapeake Light, Chesapeake Light Craft, Falcon Kayak, Light Craft, boat building
