F.A.Q.

Q. How does a wood boat compare to a composite boat?

A. Wood is a very durable composite material in itself. Wood is nature's way of layering and laminating natural resins and lignin cellulose together throughout years of growth. Many large manufacturers of composite boats are now using foam cores to reduce weight and produce the lamination strength naturally found in wood.

Q. How much do the boats weigh compared to other boats of similar sizes?

A. Cedar strip kayaks are almost always lighter than boats made of other materials. Generally speaking, cedar is about 10% lighter than Kevlar and 20% lighter than solid fiberglass when comparing boats of similar size. This makes loading, transporting and portaging easier for solo paddlers.

Q. How much maintenance is there in a cedar strip boat?

A. As long as you take good care not to seriously damage the boat on rocks or shoreline hazards, all that is required is an annual sanding and varnishing. This amounts to a few hours over one weekend and requires no special tools. A good marine spar varnish protects the wood and epoxy from the damaging effects of the suns ultraviolet rays.

Q. They look so fragile. How durable is the boat?

A. The construction method of laminating the cedar strips between layers of fiberglass and epoxy resin creates a very strong yet flexible hull and is less likely to be crushed by strapping down too tightly or dented from impact. It would take a lot of force to puncture the hull. In essence, your boat is a fiberglass craft with a visible wood core.

Q. What happens if the hull is cracked or damaged?

A. The beauty of wood is that even if it cracks, breaks, or is severely damaged through misuse, the boat is always repairable. Wood can be replaced in the same manner that it was originally built. The boat is sheathed in fiberglass and epoxy again with the resulting repair being as strong as the originally constructed boat. This is not always the case with composite boats. Many hand crafted cedar strip and wood/canvas canoes are still being paddled after decades of use, damage and repair.

Q. How does the price compare?

A. Since every kayak and canoe is individually hand crafted to the customer's wishes and desires, costs vary depending on custom work. Custom building allows for decorative expression, placement of accessories, and above all - comfort. For relatively the same price as other top quality canoes and kayaks, you can own a piece of art.

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