The hull and deck of a strip-planked boat are both
made of lightweight, resilient cedar strips that are formed around a rigid
building mold and glued edge to edge along the length of the boat. The resulting panels of strips glued together
are planed and sanded fair, then covered inside and out with fiberglass cloth,
which is actually cloth woven of minute fibers of normal glass. The glass is bonded to the wood with tough
epoxy resin, which laminates the cloth to the wood and fills in the weave of
the fabric, making it smooth and invisible except when viewed from the proper
angle under the right light. Yes, there
actually is cloth covering the wood.
This method creates a boat that is incredibly rugged
yet lightweight. A strip-planked boat is
just as strong, if not stronger, than its plastic production counterpart and
weighs much less. And because the
fiberglass covering becomes transparent in the building process, the full
beauty of the wood is allowed to show, creating a complex, beautiful natural
pattern that synthetic boats cannot even begin to imitate. A well-built strip-planked boat is the
ultimate union of form and function in a watercraft that is as useful and
durable as it is attractive.
This building style is also well suited
to a high level of personal customization. Virtually any shape and size of canoe or kayak can be created, and the
outfitting options on these boats are numerous, allowing the customer a level
of personalization that is impossible in a synthetic, mass-produced boat. The builder can work with the customer’s
ideas and desires to create a boat that is truly unique and suited to its
owner. For those seeking a beautiful,
functional and durable watercraft that they can truly call their own, a
handmade, custom strip-planked canoe or kayak is the first choice for a boat
that will bring the paddler years of enjoyment on the water.
Available Models
14 Foot Solo Kayak
Price:$3500.00
A lightweight, long, narrow single-paddler kayak. This kayak glides through the water easily and quickly. It is suitable for use on lakes, rivers and ponds. The kayak is fitted out with one cockpit and seat, and two hatches for access to the ends of the boat for storage on the water. This boat is well suited for the discerning paddler who wants a kayak that is as functional as it is aesthetic.
Weight: approximately 35 pounds
Width: 24 inches
Length: 14 feet
Bow Height: 15 inches Stern Height: 7 inches
12' Standup Paddleboard
This SUP is big and wide and very stable, yet still moves through the water at a good pace. It is very solidly built, providing a good platform for mid-lake swimming or diving. It can also be used with a double paddle as a sit on top kayak.
Weight: aproximately 65 pounds
Width: 32"
Length: 12'-6"
Other Options and Models
The Cedar-Strip building method is well suited to individual customization. The lack of a permanent building form means that individual styles, shapes, and sizes of boats can be made much more easily than can be done in the wood-canvas building style. Each boat can be custom designed and built to better suit the paddler's needs and desires. The customer should not hesitate to ask about custom options, and the styles and designs of available boats are not limited to those above.