> Hi All- I have started the West Greenland boat fromn a video by Bob
> Boucher. I am looking for a source of fresh-cut white or red oak; precut
> into the sizes specified in the plans. I don't have easy access to a saw
> to cut the stock myself. Does anyone know of a source of precut rib stock?
> I have searched on the net, but didn't come up with anything. Thanks in
> advance for your help. Jack Gilman

Hi Jack- Welcome to qayaq building. Can't help you with the ribs except to mention that a hardwood supplier,boat builder, furniture maker or high school woodshop are the places to look to get your flatsawn ribstock from. My first qayaq was built from Boucher's video and this what I learned about ribs... make them 1/4 " thick and soak them for at least 3 days before you use them. In Sea Kayaker magazine Chris Cunningham had a two part article on building a Greenland qayaq covered in 15oz canvas, he describes building a rib bending jig and I strongly advise you to get the articles( available from the magazine ) and build the rib jig. Boucher advises about 18 degrees of deadrise in the middle, this is way too much and contributes to a tippy boat especially if you are a beginner- try for 9 degrees of deadrise in the middle, to do this you will need to increase the depth of the chines to 1-1.125" X 3/4" thick and reducing the keelson to 1" in depth... this will make for a flatter bottom. Boucher's video is pretty good overall.

For inspiration visit Harvey Golden's excellent website - home.pacifier.com/~qayaq/

Persistence pays off!

Tom