Small Boat, Kayak, and Canoe Construction Books

This catalog page offers the hand picked selection of excellent books on small boat, kayak and canoe history, small craft construction and maintenance books for you consideration. Included are books for making birch bark canoes, Greenland kayaks, wooden strip canoes, Maine guide canoes, and canvas canoes. Even a book on how to make your own paddles.
Interest in making their own kayaks, canoes, and paddles is at an all-time high with recreational boaters. Additionally, many canoeists are discovering the deep satisfaction in creating their own equipment rather than adapting to the generic standards of boats and paddles available through retailers.
Books covering white water and sea kayaks, rowing and small sailing crafts, racing and rowing boats. Racing and sculling shells will also be included. Books for constructing all-wood rowing and sailing boats are also included.
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Small Boat, Kayak, and Canoe Construction Books

• Building the Greenland Kayak : A Manual for Its Construction and Use
  ~Usually Ships Within 2 Business Days
-Chris Cunningham / Paperback 240 pages / Published November 2002
Simplicity, elegance, performance, and speed: these are the hallmarks of the Greenland kayak.
This guide is great for the accomplished boatbuilder and the novice alike. This easy-to-use manual includes easy-to-follow building instructions accompanied by hundreds of photographs and guides you through the process of crafting your own craft. With complete lists of all the tools and materials you'll need. Building this lashed-frame, fabric covered sea kayak is both a means to acquiring a sleek, fast, universally admired boat and an excellent introduction to woodworking and boatbuilding for hobbyists. The author, a master shipbuilder, provides plenty of tips and pointers to help you build a kayak that is strong, flexible, and perfectly scaled to your dimensions. Detailed primers in lumber milling, fastening, rib bending, and measuring are also included.
The Greenland kayak can be built using 150 worth of hardware-store materials, a few basic tools, and a minimal investment of time. Also included are plans for a low-volume version designed for Eskimo rolling and an especially stable version for children. Includes discussions of kayaking equipment, paddling, paddling clothing, float bags, skegs, and rolling techniques.
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• Birchbark Canoe: Living Among the Algonquin
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-David Gidmark / Paperback 224 pages / Published September 1997
This interesting books explains how the birchbark canoe is built. Using traditional methods and techniques, the complete process is shown: from gathering the birch bark and collecting all the other required materials to constructing the complete canoe. Besides the building of a canoe, tanning hides, building snowshoes, and language skills are covered. Contains 70 photographs, 25 in color.
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• Canoe Paddles: A Complete Guide to Making Your Own
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-Graham Warren, David Gidmark / Paperback 144 pages / Published March 2001
This is a comprehensive and complete guide to making your own paddles. longtime canoeist and woodworker Graham Warren presents detailed blueprints for making paddles that you will build and use with confidence. Discusses how a paddle works when it meets the water and propels the canoe. Covers the selection of the best woods, adhesives and tools. Covers how to make a paddle with a single blade, a bent shaft or double blades. How best to protect a paddle with oil or varnish, what to look for when test-driving your paddle. Presents ideas for and how to decorate your paddle and how to care for and repair it. Warren also includes an appreciation of the evolution of the paddle, In a special chapter, renowned canoe-building and teacher David Gidmark discusses paddlemaking in the native tradition.
Includes ample photographs and drawings.
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• Building a Birchbark Canoe: The Algonquin Wabanaki Tciman
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-David Gidmark, Denis Alsford / Paperback 144 pages / Published March 2002
In this significant study of Algonquin birchbark canoes and their construction, the author reviews the early history of bark canoes, providing readers with an overview of construction methods and features the individual techniques of four traditional 20th-century Algonquin craftsmen and their assistants from Quebec and Ontario. Includes meticulously detailed descriptions of the step-by-step construction methods of these traditional builders which provides a penetrating insight into regional variations of the basic Algonquin methods. Of Particular interest is the adoption of tools and methods from the dominant non-Indian culture as shortcuts in building. For instance, the use of canvas and roofing tar to seal stitching in the canoe in place of the aboriginal deerskin and spruce gum pitch, and the acceptance of duct tape and C-clamps by a builder while still employing the crooked knife. A chapter on paddlemaking using traditional native methods is also included.
Includes a glossary of native construction terms, appendix of Algonquin canoe terminolog, a useful bibliography and generous photographic illustrations.
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• Birchbark Canoe: The Story of an Apprenticeship With the Indians
  ~ Special Order: Usually Ships Within 2-6 Weeks
-David Gidmark / Paperback 160 pages / Published May 1989
This thoroughly enjoyable book has the author's account of his long odyssey of learning about birchbard canoes. In addition this book documents his experiences living among the Algonkin Indians of the shores of Lake Superior, Quebec. While not a step-by-step canoe building manual, this book contains many excellent photos showing birchbark canoes being built. And much canoe building information is included. Includes 71 B/W photographs.
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• Building a Chippewa Indian Birchbark Canoe
  ~ This title is out of print, may be available used
-Robert Eugene Ritzenthaler / 47 pages, Reprint / Published 1972 & 1985
This excellent book is a republication of a Milwaukee Public Museum's Bulletin Series: Volume 19 #2, originally published 1950. This bulletin follows the complete construction process during the building of an actual birchbark canoe. All the step-by step details from gathering of the materials to the finished craft in the water. Includes 33 black& white photographs.
Although this book is out of print, our network of used bookstores may be able to find a copy for you.
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• The Survival of the Bark Canoe
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-John McPhee / Paperback 146 pages / Published October 1989
This book relates the story of the building of birch bark canoes and of a 150 mile trip trough the Maine woods in a bark canoe. The author also traces the evolution of the bark canoe, from its beginnings though the development of the huge canoes used by the fur traders of the Canadian north woods Includes a 12 page portfolio of the sketches of bark canoes and 5 pages of photos of models of different styles of canoes.
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• The Bark Canoes and Skin Boats of North America
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-Tappan Adney, Howard I. Chappelle, et al / Paperback 242 pages, Reprint Edition / Published March 1993
This Bulletin #230 from the United States National Museum is an excellent reference book. Contains an excellent history of bark and skin boats. Many illustrations.
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• Traditional Boatbuilding Made Easy: A 12 Foot Skiff for Oar and Sail
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-Richard Kolin / Paperback 85 pages / Published November 1996
Clearly written instructions and illustrations lead you through the construction process of the lapstrake hull of this skiff. The hull is made with wood planking and clenched copper nails. This project would be ideal for a first time boat builder.
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• 10 Wooden Boats You Can Build: For Sail, Motor, Paddle, and Oar (The Wooden Boat Series)
  ~Usually Ships Within 2 Business Days
-Paul G. McHenry / Paperback 217 pages / Published October 1989
This book has the complete plans, clearly written step-by-step building instructions, material lists, clear photographs, and detailed diagrams for 10 wooden boats that you can build. And the building bugs have been worked out because everyone of these boats have been built and put to the test and were built by people with all skill levels. Several of these boats are The Charles a sea kayak, a Norwegian lapstrake pram, and The Wee Lassie, a double-paddle canoe.
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• The Alentian Kayak: Origins, Construction, and Use of the Traditional Baidarka
  ~Out of Print, Available From Used Book Dealers
-Wolfgang Brinck / Paperback 176 pages / Published June 1995
An excellent book for the do-it-yourself kayak builder. A clearly written text, lots of pictures, and only very basic tools and materials make this boat building project one popular with the beginner.
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• The New Kayak Shop: More Elegant Wooden Kayaks Anyone Can Build
  ~Usually Ships Within 2 Business Days
-Chris Kulczycki / Paperback 320 pages / Published October 2000
This latest edition of a popular clearly written and well illustrated book shows step-by-step easy to understand instructions for building kayaks from high-grade marine plywood and epoxy. This manual provides complete plans, design considerations, tools, material lists, and construction directions for building three sea kayaks: a high-performance single, an expedition single, and a touring double. This book details three new Kulczycki designs that are more elegant and even more suitable for today's paddlers. The building instructions are also updated, with new sections on paint and varnish, seat construction, power tools, computer programs for amateur designers, and tips on building multi-chine and round-bottom boats. The New Kayak Shop offers the best, most refined designs and building methods in a single, accessible volume.
This book is recommended for anyone planning to go paddling in a kayak of their own creation.
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• Wood & Canvas Kayak Building
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-George Putz / Paperback 196 pages / Published December 1999
A well illustrated and detailed instruction manual on how to build two wood frame canvas kayaks. A 17-footer and a 18-footer.
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• Building Skin-on-Frame Boats
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-Robert Morris, Edward R. Turner / Paperback 271 pages / November 2000
This book shows how-to build classic skin-on-frame boats based upon the building techniques of the Inuit. Learn step-by-step how to construct seven boat styles, including a kayak, a canoe, and a small sailboat. Detailed instructions are complete with illustrations, detailed drawings, photos, boat plans, historical notes, personal anecdotes, a tool guide, and a thorough discussions of tools and construction techniques.
The author understands the whys of hulls and provides an extensive discussion of hulls design and dynamics. He explains why moving a strake closer to the keel or the gunwhales will change the behavior of a boat, and why you should keep the skin suspended off the ribs.
The author has built a lot of skin-on-frame boats in his shop, including kayaks, canoes, dinghies and other boats as well. He has used a number of different woods, skin materials, coatings, designs and techniques, and they're all summarized here in detail.
This book is a goldmine of ideas for experienced and novice boat builders alike.
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• The Strip-built Sea Kayak: Three Rugged, Beautiful Boats You Can Build
  ~Usually Ships Within 2 Business Days
-Nick Schade / Paperback 176 pages / Published April 1998
This book provides the detailed instructions to build sturdy sea kayaks. Three models are covered:
The Great Awk: A single solo craft
The Guillemet: A high performance solo craft
The Double Guillemet: A tandem design for two paddlers
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• Building Your Kevlar Canoe: A Foolproof Method and Three Foolproof Designs
  ~Usually Ships Within 2 Business Days
-James Moran, Stuart M. Kaminsky, Photographer / ISBN:
Paperback 194 pages / Published May 1995
DuPont's Kevlar is used to make a strong, light, and maintenance-free canoe for about $600 and a few weekends work. The construction method centers on using the foam sheathing used in home insulation, drywall compound, a hand plane and a pair of scissors. The three designs include a tripper for wilderness trips, a stable family canoe, and a swift solo canoe. With photos and illustrations.
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• Building the Maine Guide Canoe
  ~Usually Ships Within 2 Business Days
-Jerry Stelmok / Paperback 320 pages / Published January 2003
Written by a master canoe builder, this detailed work takes you through the entire building process and provides large vivid photos that detail every step of the way. Learn to make a light and portable, strong and seaworthy cedar and canvas canoe—a water creature that will be strong, long-lasting and a constant companion and a source of pleasure for hunting and traveling the wilderness waterways.
For any hunter who craves this kind of hunting adventure, or anyone who wants to build the type of canoe that Maine guides use to explore, fish and hunt the hard-to-get-to places—where big bucks die of old age and bass grow to 10 pounds—this is the book for you!
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• The Canoe: A Living Tradition
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-John Jennings, James Raffan, Eugene Y. Arima, David Finch, Don Garrdener, et al
Hardcover 288 pages / Published September 2002
This collection of essays combines history, construction, archaeology, and even a little sociology to create a thoroughly entertaining, beautifully illustrated coffee-table book. Canoes are an ancient form of transportation that many have relied on for survival through the centuries. This multipurpose craft, seemingly so simple in design, has an old and fascinating history. Canoes were the standard method of transportation for Native people for hundreds of years before Europeans came to North America.
Jennings and his 12 coauthors, experts in the field, worked in association with the staff of the 600-vessel collection of the Canadian Canoe Museum of Petersborough, Ontario to write this comprehensive volume on their history in North America. The book's text is primarily concerned with Canada but also details the historical canoes of Alaska, Washington, and the other northern states of the United States. Includes chapters on kayaks, umiaks (walrus or sealskin outercovering), birchbark canoes, dugouts, and their construction are adeptly written and wonderfully illustrated with over 400 photographs and maps. 19th-century Native Americans appear plying the waters or building their elegant crafts. Highly recommended for northern regional collections and wherever canoeing is popular.
Includes more than 400 photos and drawings.
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• Building Small Boats
  ~Usually Ships Within 2 Business Days
-Greg Rossel / Hardcover 288 pages / Published December 1998
An excellent and practical manual for guiding the first time small boat builder.
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• Buehler's Backyard Boatbuilding
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-George Buehler / Paperback 320 pages / Published July 1997
This excellent book is the "Bible" of boatbuilding to many boatbuilders. The clearly written information presents the technical know-how in a manner that is easily grasped.
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• Boatbuilding: A Complete Handbook of Wooden Boat Construction
  ~Usually Ships Within 2 Business Days
-Howard I. Chapelle, Jonathon Wilson / Hardcover 624 pages, Reprint Edition / Published July 1994
This excellent book covers many aspects of the design and construction of small, traditional wooden boats. It makes a good reference volume for your workshop.
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• Ultralight Boatbuilding
  ~Usually Ships Within 2 Business Days
-Thomas Hill. Frank Sletson / Paperback / Published December 1987
This is an excellent book to learn the techniques for building really light boats. The required procedures from start to finish are clearly explained. Covers tools, lofting, making jigs, planking, joinery, and finishing.
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• Featherweight Boatbuilding
  ~Usually Ships Within 2 Business Days
-Henry "Mac" McCarthy / Paperback 94 pages / Published November 1996
The book from the Wooden Boat Publishers explains the technique of building light weight water crafts in a manner that is quite easy to follow. One can complete a canoe for one easily by following the instructions.
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• The Elements of Boat Strength: For Builders, Designers, and Owners
  ~Usually Ships Within 2 Business Days
-Dave Gerr / Hardcover 352 pages / Published August 1999
The well written book is a significant text book on boatbuilding. Covers boat design, boat construction, boatbuilding materials, scantling, yacht design, and marine engineering. Details construction methods and recommended scantling dimensions for fiberglass, wood, aluminum, steel, and composite hulls. Includes a method of assessing structural strength in the context of the modern marine environment. Contains all of the formulas, tables, illustrations, and charts you need to judge how heavy each piece of your boat should be in order to last and be safe. With this book, a scientific calculator, and a pad of engineering paper, you should be able to design and specify all the components necessary to build a sound, long-lasting, rugged vessel.
However, this book should not be your only guide book if you are not an experienced boat designer and builder.
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• Boat Name Made Simple: The Complete Guide
  ~Usually Ships Within 2 Business Days
-Susan D. Artof, Paul Artof; Photographer / Paperback 172 pages, 3rd Edition / Published March 1999
This is the newest revised edition of this popular book. Explains selecting a name for your boat and how to document that name.
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