Skin on Frame Boat Building


Home Greenland Paddles Harpoons In stock List Instruction Os System Dry suits Prices & ordering Schedule Single Blade paddles Storm paddles Throwing Sticks Tuiliks Contact us	Across the arctic are various example of skin on frame kayaks designs from the Baidarka in the Aleutians to the various kayak designs found in Greenland. The Greenland kayak is the result of a long evolutionary design process that the Inuit people developed into art form. These skin on frame kayaks were made to be work horses in some of the most harsh conditions possible using only scavenged materials. The Greenland kayak designs are sleek and elegant, very tough, liter weight, and made to fit the user like a glove. In this workshop we will be building a basic Greenland kayak based on one of several common historical designs. Each boat will made to fit you, the builders body*. In essence we will start with a design idea and you will design your own boat within that style. You don't need to have any special skills to participate in this class. You do need to be prepared to work hard with a variety of hand tools. The Kayaks will start as raw lumber that has been milled for you to specification required, this is not a kit! In order to a save some time we will have prepared the lumber so that when you arrive we are ready to start building your boats. This class runs 8 to 10 days, during which we will explain how to use the tools, provide demonstrations and guidance on the skills and building techniques and assist you in building a boat of your own. at the end of the class you will go home with a boat that you have designed and built from stem to stern. The shop will provide a variety of tools for our use however you will be required to bring tools as well. Below is a list of tools that you will need for the class. you need all the tools on the required list. the optional tools are just that optional if you don't have them you need not buy them. If you have any questions please call or write to us and we will try to answer them for you.
	Required tools-
	1) 10, 2" spring clamps 2) 2 Quick grip clamps 3) 2 cam style boat straps (below) 4) sliding bevel 5) low angle block plane (buck is fine) 6) shears (Not the type with blades that pass one another) 7) gloves 8) an electric drill (cordless is preferred, below) 9) a small bit index set from 1/16" to 3/8" 10) Hammer or mallet 11) Japanese saw, fine tooth cross cut 12) Tape Measure 20' or 25' 13) small pencil sharpener 14) adjustable combination square 15) pencils (any type) 16) a 3/4" inch chisel 17) slick plane or radius plane
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	Optional tools-
	16) 1", 1 1/4 chisels (shown above) 18) Spoke shave (flat heel, shown above) 19) orbital sander with paper 20) plunge router (w/3/4" round over and 1/4" straight bits) (only bring if requested) 21) Hot Knife or soldering iron with narrow tip 22) Concave spoke shave 23) a few extra assorted clamps 24) Shop safety items , glasses or goggles, dust mask, ear protection don't worry if you don't have anything on the optional list it will not effect your boat building experience.

	Saw horses- (required)
	You will need a pair of (2) saw horses for the week. it is important that these be sturdy and at a good working height as you will be using them all week. The most important thing is that the saw horses must both be level on top. The horses I like to use are made with a few 2x4's and some plywood scraps. They are 37" H and 30"W. After a year of sitting out in the rain they are still fine to work on.

	Other items to bring-
	a calculator a pad of paper for note taking a lawn or camp chair to take a load off your feet from time to time. snacks , drinks warm cloths (layer up the shop is heated but not tropical by any measure)

	Before you come to class
	Its always good to do some home work before you begin a project. Some back ground reading will give you some ideas about the way the project will proceed. Here (right) are some recommended books that may be of some help in preparing for the class.


	About the Class
	Day 1	The first day we meet we will be introducing the class and discussing expectations. We will then cover some shop rules and become familiar with he facility. The rest of the evening will be spent designing our boats. We will be starting with a west Greenland boat concept and applying our own body measurements to create a kayak fitted to each of our bodies. We will then calculate our shop orders and form orders. As time permits we will start work on our boats
	Day 2	. This will be a long day so come prepared to stay late. We will be preparing our gunwales. By the end of the day we should have our gunwales cut and in the forms, deck beams installed and boats under tension.
	Day 3-5	These will be long days and we will doing to many things to list here. By the end of the 5th day we should be ready to seal the skin on our boats.
	Day 6	We will continue to seal our boats.
	Day 7 Finishing up	We will put on our deck lines and hardware and finish the details of the craft this should be a short day..

	*This Class is intended to teach participants the carpentry skills used when building a skin on frame sea kayak. Over the course of the week(s) that this class is conducted you will be practicing these skill by making a skin on frame kayak. These boats are your own design. We at Tuktu paddles and our affiliates do not attest to the sea worthiness of any craft produced in this class and do not assume any liability what so ever should you choose to paddle these craft. You and you alone assume all liability if you choose to use craft built during the class on the water.

	Check our schedule for upcoming class dates
Contact us at tuktupaddles@verizon.net or by phone (609) 412-9966 or write to us at Tuktu paddles LLC PO Box 162 Oceanville NJ 08231