: Anyone know of a book or web-based information on how to build a folding
: kayak? The cost of the commercially made ones are out of my reach.

: Thanks & Merry Christmas to the List!

: Craig

Clark Craft sells plans for a 12 1/2 foot long folding kayak. When I bought them they were $27.

You can order a Clark Craft catalog from www.clark-craft.com for, I believe,$5. They also sell a high quality, heavy weight #10 duck fabric for covering this craft.

I started building one of these without the folding hardware, making it a rigid, not a folding model and found the construction was pretty simple: cut a few frames out of plywood with a sabre saw and rip some hardwood for the strips that run the length of the boat. The hardware for folding, and a few fittings, are cut from brass stock. Just follow the plans.

Your major cost is going to be for the skin. I have not been able to find the rubberized material specified in the plans for constructing the hull, but I have been experimenting with an alternate, and there seem to be several more ways that others have used. There are also various ways of attaching the skin.

I believe that it should be possible to make this boat a bit longer with only a few minor changes to the plans. Also, after looking over the plans, it seems that this style of construction might be adapted to other kayak designs. (George Putz's "Walrus" design is one I'm thinking of. Hmm, I wonder if Mike Hanks is thinking of building another one which would fold up) The big differences would be in the outlines of the frames -- which determine the cross-section of the hull-- and in the number and placement of the frames, as they provide support for the lengthwise strips. A longer boat would need more frames.

One nice thing about building folding boats is that you don't need a strongback. You cut the parts and assemble them. They interlock to keep things straight. You can do this on a grassy hill or sand dune as easily as on a flat, straight and level workbench.

Hope this helps.

Paul G. Jacobson