I think 99% of what you are seeing is stripped into the boats. Here's how I did it.

1.) Put your design idea on paper (just sketch it out).

2.) Plane a few strips down to 1/4" x 1/4" - they will be floppy as spaghetti and should be used to outline your design on the forms (choose the wood to fit your color scheme - they will be a permanent part of your boat. Also bear in mind that certain species are more brittle than others (esp. red cedar). I used white pine.

3.) Fill in the gaps with various species.

Not difficult from a technical standpoint, but time consuming - I estimate that my design tripled my stripping time - but the result is worth it and the process is fun as well.

I've attached a link to a photo sequence Nick posted as he stripped a pattern.

> I have seen pictures of a number of kayaks with all sorts of beautiful
> designs and patterns. I understand that you can create beautiful patterns
> in strip built boats by alternating strips of different woods. I'm
> wondering how the patterns on other types of boats such as the Redfish
> line are made. These patterns don't appear to be possible by alternating
> different types of wood strips.