Our founder, Bill Robbins, was a student at Wooden Boat School's firstFine Woodstrip Kayak Construction class taught by Ted Moores. After completingthe class, many fellow students wondered how to build these exceptionalkayaks in a time efficient manner. Bill realized the beauty of a kayak,when paddling, is in the natural wooden deck, and the time consuming anddifficult part was forming a reliable hull. As a result, WOODEN NICKEL KAYAKShas developed a new process for both strip deck kayaks and curved plywooddeck kayaks that combines the durability of fiberglass and the beauty ofa wooden deck in a quick and easy to assemble kit.
All WOODEN NICKEL KAYAKS kits come with a fully finished single piecefiberglass hull, seat, and seat back, ready for a curved plywood or beadand cove strip deck. All interior framework (sheer clamps, deck beams, carlins,and breasthooks) comes assembled and dry fitted, allowing building in approximatelyhalf of the time. Our curved plywood decks do not require stitch and glueseams or fiberglassing. Our strip decks require no elaborate strongback,as the station molds are set inside the fiberglass hull and are temporarilyattached to the sheer clamp.
There are many unique features found on WOODEN NICKEL KAYAKS in additionto the fully finished fiberglass hull, seat, and seat back. These uniquefeatures include custom cockpit sizing, hidden hatch covers, and a Bungee®shock cord deck mounting system. Unique options that are available includedeck inlays, deck stain, a second bulkhead, and/or a deck line mountingsystem. Yakima adjustable footbraces are standard in all our kayak kits.Additional options are a Feathercraft rudder and epoxy supplies.
Coaming and cockpit spray skirt lips are easily sized to fit the individualbuilder's preference, without gluing additional small pieces of wood together.You can have a snug or roomy cockpit and can choose a keyhole design foradded bracing. You select the size and shape from our plans, or create yourown shape, combining any additional features you may desire.
Hatch covers are fitted into bulkheads to show the natural beauty ofthe wood grain deck and minimize water from entering through the hatch covers.WOODEN NICKEL KAYAKS has developed custom non-jamming stainless steel hardwarefor a watertight seal. Without openings on the deck, hatch compartmentsstay dry under all conditions.
WOODEN NICKEL KAYAKS kits use an exclusive Bungee shock cord mountingsystem which completely eliminates all cleats and strap eyes topside. Thereis no concern with scraping your body when making wet re-entries. Belowthe deck the mounting system is free of rivet ends, nuts, or screw endswhich can tear or puncture a dry bag. This makes for an ultra smooth watertightdeck.
Simple basic hand tools are the only items required to complete a WOODENNICKEL KAYAKS kit. These tools include jig and hand saws, drill and bits,a low angle block plane, screw drivers, files, a 3/4" chisel, a sandingblock, a soldering gun, a heat gun, a carpenters square, a tape measure,and saw horses. A minimum of 15 assorted spring, "C", and barclamps are also required.
WOODEN NICKEL KAYAKS has worked hard to furnish kits that an averageperson can complete. By providing a proven single piece fiberglass hull,most of the technical work is already completed. We have deleted messy fiberglassstitch and glue seams in our curved plywood deck kits as well as eliminatedthe strongback in our strip kits. All interior framework (sheer clamps,deck beams, carlins, and breasthooks) comes fully assembled and dry fitted.
WOODEN NICKEL KAYAKS selected West Systems Epoxy because it is easy touse and widely available. It is an extremely thorough system that has beentime tested over many years. Of the four hardeners available in this system,the #207 hardener was chosen because of it's clear coating characteristicand long working time.
WOODEN NICKEL KAYAKS kits come with a comprehensive illustrated buildersguide with photographs. A 90 minute video showing the complete buildingof a curved plywood deck kayak is available as an option. We also offera toll free customer help line.
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