> I am a new to kayaking, semi-competent with tools, looking for a new
> hobby. I found some pointers to the guillemot web page on
> alt.boat.paddling and got very excited. I bought and read most of Nick
> Schade's book and am now deciding if I should take the plunge into (what
> seems by this BBS to be very addictive) strip kayak building. I'm
> concidering the Guillemot. After reading the chatter in this BBS I have a
> few questions:
> 1) Cost of wood - I read a message that indicated that $30 wood was enough
> for a boat and another message that said $70 of wood = $3000 of strips.
> What would I expect to pay for enought pre-cut strips for Guillemot. I
> dont own a table or band saw, so to cut my own boards I would need to buy
> one (or find somewhere else to do this). How long would this take for a
> novice?
> 2) Do I have any chance of accuratly creating form templates from the
> table of numbers or will I save huge time and agravation by buying plans/
> precut forms.
> 4) Im just north of Boston, any suggestions for kit/supply stores.
> 5) I have a finished basement that no one uses. It is carpeted and has a
> stairway leading to the rest of house with a door at the top. If I cover
> the floor (tarps, maybe plywood) would I be ok or am I asking for trouble?
> fumes, dust...I have a garage....but its very cold right about now.
> Thanx for the help, Im pretty sure I'm gonna jump in, but costs may require
> some wife convincing.

You might want to consider building a stich & glue kayak this year so you can get it in the water this summer. Thats what I did last winter and now I'm building my first stripper. Then you can build some projects for your wife this summer (that will justify the table saw and maybe a router) and you'll be ready to build the stripper around Thanksgiving. Yes, this stuff is addicting.

I built in my fully carpeted basement and moved to the garage to do the big epoxy jobs in May. I get my red cedar from Home Depot although they only stock up to 14', redwood from Moynihan Lumber in Bevery and sometimes I can find clear white cedar 1x4's at Reliable Fence in Woburn. If you build a stitch and glue go to Boulter Plywood in Somerville. Look in the WantAds for a used table saw, that's where I got mine. Good Luck.