Has anybody here built their own kayak?

My brother-in-law built one or two, and I think he used kits. I guess he had an advantage, because he used to work at a place that built boats.

I have watched someone make a wood cannoe. Took forever, but by the end I thought the guy did a really good job. I think it is more about being into woodworking for him though.

I think that this is the kind of thing for the true adventurer... me, I'll buy mine premade.. ;)

I wouldn't go as far as to build my own, after all, it sounds like an incredibly complicated thing to do.

Nope. That sounds like something I'd only attempt once I'm a really old man with lots of time to be careful and little else to do. I'd be too afraid of messing up and losing money on the materials.

I have bought a canoe kit, but I didnt think you could build your own kayak too. I dont think I would want to though, so much more streamlined and complicated than a canoe.

I agree - I think a canoe would probably be less involved to build than a kayak.

My brother-in-law kind of gets into these different hobbies every now and then.

I would never build one myself.It is just too much work and efforts for me. I think I should leave this things to the pro. After all, I don't want the kayak fell apart during my trip down the river.

Anyone who has ever seen a real birch canoe in action will tell you it is a work of art. I saw a guy in one once on the Penobscot river in Maine. The canoe was as beautiful as the scenery.