Building Fuselage Frame Boats
 A guide to building skin Kayaks and Canoes



Are you ready for a 35 pound boat?

Tired of struggling with that heavy plastic kayak? Are you looking for a lightweight boat but not willing to take out a second mortgage to buy it? What if I told you that you could build a boat weighting less than 35 lbs for $300 to $500?

It is not only possible, it is relatively easy using fuselage frame construction. I am not talking about a boxy looking boat that paddles like a barge either. These are sleek looking craft with great manners that you will want to paddle.

My book will walk you through the process of building your own skin on frame canoe or kayak. I start by addressing the space needed to build a boat and the few tool that are needed. Then I go into detail on laying out the frames from a table of offsets. I show you how to assemble the frame by lashing the members together rather than using epoxy. How to sew on the skin on the frame, waterproofing the skin, rigging the boat, all the steps up to launching the boat.

Read a review by David Eden of Atlantic Sea Kayaker magazine.



My newest book, More Fuselage Frame Boats.
New methods and five new boats! Including rowing boats.

Click here for details.

Skin on frame boats are believed to have been around for thousands of years and have proven to be an excellent way to build a boat. The fuselage frame is a more recent adaptation of the original skin on frame boats and this method of construction dates back at least 100 years.

Building a fuselage frame only requires a minimal amount of material and basic skills. The main things are; a sheet of marine plywood, a lightweight wood for the stringers, a few yards of a synthetic fabric and something to waterproof the skin. Materials for a basic 17' kayak can be had for approximately $300.

Adding a seat, deck rigging and adjustable footrest, and material for float bags would add another $100 to $150 dollars. For less than $500 you can build well equipped lightweight, high performance boat.

View a preview
We pulled a few random pages to give you an idea of what is in the book. I
made sure it included the three boats that the offsets are provided for.

CORRECTIONS As hard as we try to make the book perfect it just isn't possible. Look here for any corrections or revisions.

You can order your autographed copy of the book from the Store



No, they are not fragile!


Boats you can build, offsets are included.

Included in the book are offsets for three of my boat designs. The StoneFly canoe which was designed as single person boat with fishing in mind. Curlew, a 15' Sea Kayak aimed at the average paddler. A new design, Poco Barta, a 17' foot sea kayak with a bit more performance potential for the stronger paddler.

STONEFLY





CURLEW