I was thinking about suggesting used newspaper, but you beat me to it. If you do use paper, I have heard that thinned Dap Weldwood Plastic Resin makes a good waterproof paper mache'.

Mike

: Ya gotta remember that the original kayaks were constructed from inedible
: parts (skin, ribs, bones, sinew) that were thrown away from the walruses
: and seals that Northern people captured for food and fuel, so building
: kayaks from recylcables is kinda traditional. There are therefore many
: designs that can be made. A lot depends on what materials you have handy.
: (Personally, I've been contemplating building a boat from Chicago
: Tribunes. I'd like to turn out a boat made just from a single Sunday
: edition.)

: So, what do you have on hand? Also, what are the rules for this contest? How
: much can be new and how much has to be recycled? And a big question: How
: much time do you have to build this?

: As for a PVC boat. Go with the Putz design. Once you have the forms cut it
: should be a pretty quick job to wrap them with long strips of 1 inch PVC.
: You can use short sections of pvc for the trestle style birdge work he
: uses for stiffening the frame. If you can find some 45 degree connectors,
: you can use those to connect the trestling. For convenience, consider
: cutting away pieces from those connectors so they can install (with
: suitable solvent) at intervals along the chines.

: Bow and stern pieces can be gently heated and bent to shape.

: Do you need to make your paddles from recycled materials, too?

: Best of luck with this project.

: Paul g. Jacobson