> Three good sources for building skin-on-frame kayaks are:

> 1) The Aleutian Kayak by Wolfgang Brink 2) Wood and Canvas Kayak Building
> by George Putz 3) Baidarka by George Dyson

> Brink describes how to build a single baidarka, but his descriptions are
> general enough that they could be applied to a double.

> Putz presents plans for a 17 ft. single with a small cockpit and a 18.5
> ft. open cockpit boat.

> Both Brink and Putz use canvas over wood construction.

> Dyson's book is a little different, going into the history of baidarakas
> and his history of building aluminum framed baidarkas covered with nylon
> fabric. His book contains plans for a double, but the building detail is
> for aluminum tubing. It could undoubtably be adapted to wood consrtuction.
> Dyson's book is worth owing for anyone who has ever though about kayaks
> and their history.

Putz's 18.5 can be stretched easily to 20 feet. It could also be made with 2 seperate cockpits. This would make a very nice double. It would be a good length, but a little narrower than most doubles, so it would help make it easier to paddle.

The Dyson boat would be easy to adapt to plywood forms and wood stringers. The book give the dimensions of the forms, you would just have to use different materials.

The Guillemot Double in Nick's book could be made as a wood and canvas boat, buy cutting out the center of the forms and running stringers over them. This was done to the single S&G Guillemot. Check it out at: http://www.guillemot-kayaks.com/Building/Stitch&Glue/Canvas/Canvas.html

Mike