Don't miss the quality Greenland-style kayaking links at the bottom of this page.
And for more considerable boats, see the pedal boat, the hybrid canoe, and the ultralight canoe sections on my home page.

So heres dee boats I've found
Most are kayaks. The three most interesting boats are listed first: 1) a canoe/kayak hybrid!, 2) a kayak that I believe meets my specs, and 3) an incredibly nice pedal boat. The remaining boats (kayaks, canoes, another pedal boat, and a sail boat) are listed by their beam, widest to narrowest. As you can see, pretty boats are a dime-a-dozen, but unfortunately there are very few that may meet my practicality specs for an everyday boat...
 
  .

Considerable Boats January 2003
Designer	Boat name	Length	Beam	Depth	Pounds	Materials	$ kit|plans|new
Verlen Kruger Canoes	Seawind deep hull version - hybrid canoe	17'2"	28	15.5	58#	fiberglass	$3,490US new
		Hybrid canoe; priced out of my league; therefore make one (a stripper with 2 inches of rocker would make this the perfect paddle boat)?; function (canoe hybrid!) and therefore great beauty and style; MI USA. A hybrid canoe is a partially decked canoe. It potentially combines the very best of both worlds - the control, efficiency/power, and finesse of a single-bladed canoe paddle with most of the open-water and high-wind capabilities of a decked kayak.
		$~5,600!=makeCDN bottom-line
Natural Designs (no www [Dan Ruuska now at: seattleairgear.com])	Polaris II	17'	25.5	13.5	46#	fiberglass	$1,500US new
		Make one?; C/A/RV/F; "discontinued"* 1989; good handling AND stable [this is the kayak that I compare all others too, though unfortunately I've never paddled one]. * Note: "Polaris II's are still being made in tiny quantities -- by Wilkenson's Boats [www? - Tom Wilkinson and Rebecca Fletcher on Camano Island WA USA (Phone 360 387-8420) $1,500[US] April 2001] for the National Outdoor Leadership School." --Dan Ruuska, April 2000
		$~2,400CDN;make?CDN bottom-line
Paul Gartside Ltd	Blue Skies - pedal boatupdated	20'	40	16.5	250#	stripper	CDN$175 plans
		Pedal boat; decked (dry); nice drive system totally retracts into hull!!!; 30" draft with the prop down; incredibly nice boat; homebuilt in 1996 by Bill Hayward, Mayne Is, BC Canada. Bill Hayward spent 15 months pedalling his kayak "Blue Skies" across 7000 miles of North America. Here's an interview WaveLength Magazine had with Bill titled "Blue Skies Across North America". Plans may be available if you can find Bill Hayward     New news received from Earl: You don't have to find Hayward - This boat was designed by Paul Gartside, who sells the plans at his web site gartsideboats.com (photos). It's listed as "20 ft River Cruiser Pedal Boat 'Blue Skies', Design #92"  :-)
		plans-only $175CDN bottom-line
The following boats are organized by their beam dimension, listed widest to narrowest...
Chesapeake Light Craft	Mbuli pacific proa - sail boat	20'	144 proa	?	450#	stitch-and-glue	$ 75US plans
		Sailing boat, stitch; small watertight cabin measuring 8' x 2'; or sleep or tent on the 8' x 10' trampoline; can be broken down for trailering in an hour; MD USA.
		plans-only $??CDN bottom-line
Sevylor	HF160 Trail Boat - backpacking inflatable	5'8"	42	?	4.75# COMPLETE!	inflatable	$ 60US complete
		Inflatable boat suitable for amphibous backpacking or bicycling. Less than five pounds complete with oars, stuff stuff/inflation pump, and repair materials. Here is a review.
		$~90CDN bottom-line
Monfort Associates	SnowShoe 16 - multi-person canoe	15'6"	36	14	32#	skin-on-frame	$145US partial kit
		Canoe; 70-90 hours, geodesic; 1.5-inches rocker; 1 2 or 3 people; economical price; price is for partial kit (kit+plans; excludes wood); ME USA.
		$~230+woodCDN bottom-line
Monfort Associates	SnowShoe 14 (canoe?)	14'	32	12.75	20#	skin-on-frame	$107US partial kit
		Canoe; 40-60 hours, geodesic; 2.5-inches rocker; beauty AND ecomonical price; partial kit (excludes wood); ME USA.
		$~170+woodCDN bottom-line
Bryan Boatbuilding (no www)	Thistle - pedal boat	12'	30	?	60#	lapstrake	CDN$? plans
		Pedal boat; ? hours, lapstrake; flexible fin pedal boat; plans come w/detailed instruction book; beauty (wood) AND function (pedal boat). Bryan Boatbuilding, RR#4, St. George, New Brunswick Canada E0G 2Y0; (506) 755-2486. See WoodenBoat issue #132 (Se/Oc 1996); and Messing About in Boats issue Feb 15 1995.
		plans-only $??CDN bottom-line
Pygmy Boats	Osprey Triple - multi-person	20'	30	13.5	64#	stitch-and-glue	$1,015US kit
		90 hours (over 3-8 weeks), stitch, multi-chine; deck chamber; versatile: 1 2 or 3 people; modify (1) into Blue Skies pedal boat? (2) into large Seawind hybrid canoe?; beauty; WA USA {compare to 29" beam Trillium}.
		$~1,600CDN bottom-line
Guillemot Kayaks	High Capacity Great Auk	18'	30!	?	?#	stripper	$ 85US plans
		? hours, strip; 30-inch stable; versatile: modify (1) into Blue Skies pedal boat? (2) into large Seawind hybrid canoe?; CT USA; "The Strip-Built Sea Kayak", Nick Schade.
		plans-only $??CDN bottom-line
Waters Dancing	Trillium 21 - multi-person	20'6"	29	?	66#	stitch-and-glue	CDN$1,800 kit
		120 hours, stitch, multi-chine (4); deck chamber; versatile: 1 2 or 3 people; modify (1) into Blue Skies pedal boat? (2) into large Seawind hybrid canoe?; beauty; Edmonton, Alberta Canada {compare to 30" beam Osprey Triple}.
		$1,800CDN bottom-line
Monfort Associates	Rob Roy 14	13'10"	27	11	20-25#	skin-on-frame	$142US partial kit
		120 hours, geodesic; 2.5-inches rocker; economical price; partial kit (excludes wood); ME USA.
		$~225+woodCDN bottom-line
Roy Folland Wooden Kayaks	Sea Lion	18'10"	25.5	?	44#	stitch-and-glue	CDN$1,230 kit
		? hours, stitch, hard chine; looks like good rocker; stable; Hudson, Quebec Canada.
		$1,230CDN bottom-line
Necky	Zoar 16 discontinued 2000|2001	16'	24.5	13	60#	plastic	CDN$1,300 new
		Plastic; the 16' Zoar was a good handling plastic ocean [I've used one & can recommend it]; multi-chine; used = economical price; WA USA. ·16'x25x12 63# plastic - Necky Eskia ·17'5"x26.5x13 66#Fiberglass 59#Kevlar - Necky Pinta = modify into Seawind hybrid canoe? ·16'x23.75x13 58# plastic - Boreal Design Muktuk (just for reference)
		$<400used?CDN bottom-line
Waters Dancing	Lightning 14	14'	24.5	?[to size 12 shoe]	35#	stitch-and-glue	CDN$1,165 kit
		85 hours, stitch, multi-chine; deck chamber; small & manoeuverable (AND beauty?); Edmonton, Alberta Canada {compare to 23" beam Arctic Tern 14}.
		$1,165CDN bottom-line
Waters Dancing	Solace 18XL Expedition	18'3"	24.25	?[to size 14-15 shoe]	50#	stitch-and-glue	CDN$1,445 kit
		95 hours, stitch, multi-chine (4); deck chamber(?); beauty?; Edmonton, Alberta Canada.
		$1,165CDN bottom-line
Guillemot Kayaks	Great Auk	17'	24	12	45#	stripper	$ 85US plans
		? hours, strip; stable; CT USA; "The Strip-Built Sea Kayak", Nick Schade.
		$1,765CDN bottom-line (Noahs Marine)
Laughing Loon	Georgian Bay	16'6"	24	12	35#	stripper	$105US plans
		500-700 hours, strip; looks to be safely stable; MA USA.
		$~1,400CDN bottom-line (Classic Boats)
Redfish Custom Kayak & Canoe	Spring Run	16'9"	23.9	?	36#	stripper	$1,300US kit
		? hours, strip; beauty; full-length strips; MAS epoxy; WA USA.
		$~2,100CDN bottom-line
Pygmy Boats	Arctic Tern High Volume	17'	23	13.5	43#	stitch-and-glue	$705US kit
		70 hours (over 3-8 weeks), stitch, hard chine; deck chamber; beauty, but tippy; WA USA.
		$~1,100CDN bottom-line
Pygmy Boats	Arctic Tern 14	14'	23	11	30#	stitch-and-glue	$625US kit
		60 hours (over 3-8 weeks), stitch, hard chine; deck chamber; small & manoeuverable AND beauty, but tippy and too low for size 12 feet; WA USA {compare to 24.5" beam Lightning 14}.
		$~1,000CDN bottom-line
Friedel Design (Scandinavia)	Navigator (at Newfound Woodworks website)	17'2"	22.75	?	38-44#	stitch-and-glue	$740US kit
		stitch, hard chine; deck chamber?; option to wood strip deck; very nice locking tab pattern as "scarfs"; beauty, but tippy; Hans says "Don't order anything unless you are a skilled builder I cant give you any support outside of Scandinavia"; Hans Friedel=Scandinavia, Newfound Woodworks=NH USA.
		$~1,200CDN bottom-line
Laughing Loon	North Star - baidarka	18'	22.5	13	40#	stripper	$140US plans
		500-700 hours, strip; bifurcated bow; beauty, but very tippy; MA USA.
		$~1,700CDN bottom-line (Classic Boats)
One Ocean Kayaks	Cirrus	17'5"	22	?	35#	stitch-and-glue	$105US plans
		stitch, nice? hard chine; chambered deck; flush hatches; beauty, but extremely tippy; MA USA.
		plans-only $??CDN bottom-line
Redfish Custom Kayak & Canoe	King	17'9"	21.4	?	38#	stripper	$1,300US kit
		? hours, strip; beauty, but extremely tippy; full-length strips; MAS epoxy; WA USA.
		$~2,100CDN bottom-line
Chesapeake Light Craft	Patuxent 19.5 (discontinued)	19'6"	21	11.5	34#	stitch-and-glue	$619US kit
		40-60 hours, stitch, hard chine?; 2.5 inches rocker; MAS epoxy; beauty, but extremely tippy; MD USA.
		$~1,000CDN bottom-line
Shearwater Boats	Baidarka - baidarka	16|17|19'	21	?	~45#	stitch-and-glue	$ 85US plans
		80-160 hours, stitch, multi-chine; bifurcated bow; beauty, but extremely tippy; three lengths & 21'x26; Baidarka Double available; CT USA. A kit for the Baidarka may be added to their line. See article on building the prototype.
		plans-only $??CDN bottom-line
Laughing Loon	Fire Star - baidarka	17'	21	12	38#	stripper	$150US plans
		500-700 hours, strip; bifurcated bow; beauty, but extremely tippy; MA USA.
		plans-only $??CDN bottom-line

Suppliers (Canadian, eh)
 

Classic Boats Kits, Dunrobin, Ontario Canada (cyberus.ca/~canoe/)

comments: full-length strips; apply strips w/o nails or staples (article)
Laughing Loon Georgian Bay: CDN$1,240+~170
Laughing Loon North Star: CDN$1,466+~230

Noah's Marine Supply, Toronto, Ontario Canada and Buffalo NY (noahsmarine.com)

comments: full-length strips
Laughing Loon Georgian Bay: CDN$1,645+160
Laughing Loon North Star: CDN$1,740+216
Guillemot Kayaks Great Auk: CDN$1,645+120

BoatCraft, Edmonton, Alberta Canada (boatcraft.com)

comments: has no kits (is a supplier recommended by Waters Dancing kits in the same city)

Links - Boat Building notes (and miscellaneous)
 

Why Would Anybody Want a Wood Kayak? by Shawn Baker

"By sourcing your own materials, you can build a stitch and glue kayak for as little as $300 US ($450 Cdn); woodstrip kayaks can cost as little as $350. Kits run from $700-1000. A skin-on-frame kayak with a wooden frame could be yours for little more than $100 in materials. The trade-off here is time. A stitch and glue kayak can take 80-120 hours to complete. A woodstrip kayak can take 200 hours for a simple design to 3-400 hours for an intricately stripped deck pattern." (wavelengthmagazine.com/2001/dj01why.php)

Another option -- Skin-on-frame kayaks

In addition to wood-strip and stitch-and-glue plywood construction methods there is the skin-on-frame (SOF) method used by northern folk for eons. It's so easy (and inexpensive) that there are no kits for SOF kayaks. Harvey Golden has a very nice site where he details the numerous replica kayaks he has constructed: "Traditional Kayaks and Umiaks - Appreciating and Understanding Arctic Kayak designs through their replication and use". Qajaq USA has a good resource page on building SOF kayaks, paddles, and gear. (qajaqusa.org/cgi-bin/GreenlandTechniqueForum_config.pl/read/8870 and home.pacifier.com/~qayaq/ and qajaqusa.org/Equipment/equipment.htm)

WaveLength magazine's Wooden Kayak Directory 2002-2003

(wavelengthmagazine.com/2003/dj03dir.php)

"Learning to Stitch and Glue" by Donna Wilford

A well writen article on building a wooden boat. (wavelengthmagazine.com/2001/dj01learn.php)

Interesting steering arrangement: adjustable Floorboard with Tiller steering

(watersdancing.com/waters/norm.htm)

Redfish's custom kayak seat

(redfishkayak.com/seats.htm)

Most visually appealling form of 'scarfing' goes to Newfound's "locking tabs"

(newfound.com/navigator.htm)

One Ocean Kayak's Kayak Building Materials & Resources

(oneoceankayaks.com/Resource.htm)

More than you ever wanted to know about epoxy (six compared) - The Epoxy Test

(oneoceankayaks.com/Epoxtest.htm)

Users of MAS epoxy: Chesapeake Light Craft, Redfish Custom Kayak & Canoe Co.

Neoprene mukluks:

MEC Swellies (Cdn$42 = approx US$27) are one-third the price of Chotas equivalent basic US$75 mukluk (mec.ca)

Possibly the best paddle trip ever

(watersdancing.com/waters/Trip-MeadowLake1999.htm)

Greenland-style paddling - links ;-)
Wanting to kayak with style?<winkwinknudgenudge> Be here everything to know...
 

"Arctic Kayak Paddles" by David Zimmerly

Discussion and measurements of traditional Arctic paddles - both single-bladed kayak paddles [:-):-):-)!!!] and double-bladed paddles. Sea Kayaker magazine, Winter 1984 pg 8-15

{I've located a copy of this fantastic article online! It is available as eight separate .PDF files as "1984 Arctic Paddle Design" at the top of David W. Zimmerly's paddle design page of all places. (arctickayaks.com/paddles.htm)}

(Or you can order the article by emailing Sea Kayaker magazine).

"Making a West Greenland Paddle", by Chuck Holst.

Then click on "Making a Greenland Paddle" at bottom of that page to call up the 57kb makegreen2.pdf file. (paddlewise.net/topics/boatequip/)

{Or, see it in web-friendly format, along with a nice construction report by Ross Leidy (blueheronkayaks.com/kayak/paddle/article/makegreen.htm)}

If you only read one how-to article on building a greenland kayak paddle, let this be it! "Width of a Greenland blade should be no wider than the paddler can grasp between the web of the thumb and the second joint of the forefinger. A paddle that has a blade too wide to grasp is not a Greenland paddle, because it cannot be used like one." Awesome :-)

"The Greenland Paddle: It's Construction and Use", by Gerry David

Some good information on greenland paddles. [Bonus: The blades are unfeathered - this fact alone solves the many negatives associated with "European" style paddles.] (seacanoe.org/grnpadle.htm)

"Maligiaq's Forward Stroke", by John Heath

Instead of holding the blade perpendicular, Greenland kayak champion Maligiaq Padilla paddles with the top edge of his Greenland-paddle blade tipped forward, about 40 degrees from vertical, to control edge vortex shedding. (seakayakermag.com/june2000/JuneHeath2.htm)

"Greenland Technique from the Source: Lessons Learned from Maligiaq Padilla", by Greg Stamer

Detailed description and analysis of Malgiaq's forward stroke technique. (qajaqusa.org/Technique/Greenland_technique_from_the_source.html)

"Greenland Style Paddling", by Brian Day

Overview of Greenland style paddling: equipment (the paddle), strokes (forward cruising stroke, sliding stroke, and power forward stroke), and braces (side sculling brace, back sculling brace, and the advanced balance brace). (paddlers.com/tech.asp?tid=29)

"The Tuilik - Then and Now", by Tom Carroll

The tuilik is a traditional spray skirt in the form of a hooded parka. See also Sea Kayaker magazine's review of two tuiliqs. (seacanoe.org/tuilik.htm and seakayakermag.com/oct99/tuiliqs.htm)

"The Petrussen Maneuver: A New Twist on an Old Technique", by Greg Stamer

The tuilik allows this amazing safety/resting position! (qajaqusa.org/QK/petrussen_maneuver/Petrussen_Maneuver.html)

Arctic Kayaks website of David W. Zimmerly (skin on frame kayaks)

Zimmerly is an arctic anthropologist and this site shares his research. It includes descriptions of kayak types, kayak construction, a database of kayaks, an annotated bibliography of Arctic Kayaks and books for sale. The database is a world inventory of over 230 aboriginal kayaks. (arctickayaks.com)

Greenland Kayak Club

Many excellent articles and forums. I've already referenced/linked to many of the articles available on this site.

BUT...
HOW SMART IS IT TO BUY A BOAT BOTH SIGHT UNSEEN AND WITHOUT A TEST PADDLE?!