Time to Load and Go! Months of browsing ads on Facebook Marketplace finally paid off with the purchase of a great trailer. It was one of few used trailers having a clean title.

At last it is time to launch these vessels and see how they perform. The first will be a family-only “soft” launch event. Later I’ll schedule a public “launch party”.

With four coats of varnish applied I’m moving on to outfitting the kayaks. It is time to install the hatches, seats and foot rests.

This process is exciting! It is so rewarding to see the beauty of the wood grain revealed by this quality wood finish.

I test floated one of the kayaks in my neighbor’s pool. It felt so good to sit down in that boat…it seemed quite stable.

Paddles and seat back rests are accessories commonly purchased as commercial products to complete one’s kayak. I decided to construct my own.

I can build three kayaks in 2-1/2 minutes! Well, maybe if you watch my 2 minute and 20 second timelapse video.

There it is… This “oval of clamps” photo is proof I’m on the back end of the curve. The kayaks really look like kayaks now.

Exterior work is far easier than interior, but there is still an awful lot of sanding… Ensuring the plywood and joints are smooth before proceeding with epoxy and fiberglass sheathing is laborious

We’re really building boats! Work was completed on the interior of decks and hulls, allowing the pairs to be bonded together - forever taking the shape of kayaks.

Watch a parade, sand the kayaks, watch another parade, mix and apply some epoxy, catch a third parade, more sanding… sleep.

No, you can’t hurry love when you’re building three kayaks from plans.

Winter has arrived in south Louisiana as evidenced by this icicle dangling from a hose bib. The cool weather halts epoxy work as it won’t cure.

Time to cut the hatches! I was nervous about this step, but I took my time and it was easy.

Divine providence has provided an opportunity to resume building kayaks.

The “big wait” is what much of 2021 turned into. Spring 2021 brought lots of rain to south Louisiana.

It is a relief… to be finished with cutting out the panels. I anticipated it would be challenging but it took much longer than I expected.

Measure twice…cut once! We begin the careful process of cutting the components for the kayaks from plywood sheets.

Making room to assemble these boats seems nearly as challenging as building them.

It’s time to start the project by ordering plans and materials! I narrowed down my choices but still agonized over the final decisions.

I’ve been dreaming of owning a fast, light kayak for years…decades really. I got the bug shortly after moving to Sarasota on Florida’s Gulf coast in 2000.

I’m not the only builder who has documented their stitch-n-glue kayak project.