> I just spent a vacation in Maine and saw millions of corporate made kayaks
> - but not one kit. I had so hoped to be able to compare the performance of
> say, an Arctic Tern vs. a Nordkapp Jubilee. I know most of you kayakers
> out there are partial to the beauty of wooden boats, but as I saw a
> beautiful Nordakapp, I wondered how a well made strip and glue kit
> compares in terms of performance. Can somebody give me their honest
> assessment?I hate to think of spending a fair amount of money and time
> only to wish I had saved more money and bought a professionally made boat
> from one of the top companies. I love the idea, and know how proud I would
> be to build my own kayak - but I also would feel better knowing if it
> would be the performance equal of a top notch professionally made boat.
> Any feelings? Do any of you paddle both?

There is another side to this that has not been mentioned, and it concerns fit and paddling style. The big advantage to a comercially produced boat is that you can try out several models and brands to see which ones fit you physically. some modification is possible -- you can glue in additional padding or adjust the seat, for example -- but what you see is what you get. If you build a boat from plans, and you can try out a similar one first, then you can build in these modifications as you go.

With building your own you can also enter a new territory: You can create (or have created for you) plans for a boat that is custom designed just for you. Not only does the seat fit, but the length and width are ideal for the conditions in which you would paddle. You can have additional foot room, or larger gear storage compartments. with hatches anywhere your heart desires.

The difference between a custom designed boat and a store bought one is something like the difference between an off-the-rack dress and a custom wedding gown. With the dress you go and try things on until you get the right fit -- and then you alter the hem. With the wedding gown you go for a fitting where they measure you, and then they make the dress to your measure. The difference however is that many paddlers have changing tastes. Even if they have a perfectly suitable boat they want one with some other feature. Or, after paddling a while their skills change. A boat that was ideal for a beginner is no longer good enough. So, some people modify their plans and make a second boat, or even a third.

Once you know how to make the boat you realize that it is not a difficult process to go to an improved design. As for the cost of doing so? Well, if you can bear to part with it, you can probably sell your first boat for more enough to finance the second.

Also, boat designs improve, and boat companies keep bringing out newer models. The use of computers has greatly accelerated this process, but it still takes them a while to get a new design out to their dealers. You, on the other hand, if you are not happy with what is currently on the market near you, could be designing a better boat tonight, and be building it tomorrow. If you don't wnat to design it yourself, consider that there are many people who will do this for you.

With the exception of boats that go straight from computer to mold, the designs of the commercially produced boats were first built by hand -- probably of wood strips -- and tried out. Those that worked were duplicated in plastic or fiberglass. If you had the plans for these boats you could esentially make the identical item -- which means there would be no difference at all between them.

I got into boat building because the local stores did not have a boat in the size I wanted. Now there are more stors carrying a wider variety of craft, but the prices are way higher than I can afford, so I build my own to save money, or try out a different design.

Hope this helps

Paul G. Jacobson