One-on-One Courses
Prices are subject to change.
Greenland Kayak
These kayaks are as fun to build as they are to use. Built by eye and sized by your body measurements, the yellow cedar frame is lashed together with synthetic sinew and then sewn into a tough ballistic nylon skin and coated with polyurethane.
Traditional skin-on-frame construction requires no previous experience. You will learn how to simply construct complex joints, steam bend ribs and trust your eye.
For those who want to go deep into the history of human ingenuity, this ancient form of construction will take you there.
This one-on-one course takes 5 days to complete. You will go home with a boat ready for paint. All materials except finishes are included.
Cost: $3700 plus applicable taxes. Price subject to change.
Location: Nomad Boatbuilding Workshop
Dates: By Appointment
Baidarka Kayak
Built for big seas and longer expeditions, the Baidarka (Russian for small boat) is an intriguing craft. The articulated keel and bifurcated bow make the construction a little more challenging but also interesting. The Baidarka tends to be a little longer than Greenland kayaks and offer more storage space. They can be fitted with small access hatches and even rudders if you choose to spend a little more time.
The Baidarka is constructed with yellow cedar and lashed together with synthetic sinew. A tough ballistic nylon skin is sewn on and then coated with polyurethane.
This one-on-one course takes 6 days to complete. You will go home with a boat ready for paint.
No previous experience is necessary. All required tools are provided. All materials except finishes are included.
Cost: $4100 plus applicable taxes. Price subject to change.
Location: Nomad Boatbuilding Workshop
Dates: By Appointment
Qayapaq Kayak
The Qayapaq was developed in North Alaska around the early 1900s after the introduction of the rifle. It was used to retrieve seals that were shot from shore. These are great boats to get kids interested in building and paddling. They are about 8′-10′ long and about 24″ wide. They weigh about 20 lbs. so kids can easily carry them. These can also be scaled up a bit to fit adults and make great little craft for playing in the waves or poking around marinas.
The Qayapaq is constructed with yellow cedar and lashed together with synthetic sinew. A tough ballistic nylon skin is sewn on and then coated with polyurethane.
After four days you will go home with a kayak ready to paint.
No previous experience is necessary. All required tools are provided. All materials except finishes are included.
Cost: $2350 plus applicable taxes. Price subject to change.
Location: Nomad Boatbuilding Workshop
Dates: By appointment
Group Courses
Traditional Lapstrake Construction
Join me for a ten day course building a traditional lapstrake rowing dinghy.
This course is broken into two consecutive five day work weeks. In the course you will learn a wide variety of skills required to build in the traditional lapstrake style. We will start with setting up a mould and take you through all the steps of construction, planking stema bending and trimming out, resulting in a boat that is ready for paint.
No tools or previouse experience are neccesary. Just bring a willingness to learn and be ready for some challenging but rewarding work.
The finished boat is raffled off to support the Maritime centre.
Location: Cowichan Bay Maritime Centre
Date: October 16-20, 23-27, 2023
Cost: $2000
NOTE: Enrollment button takes you to the Cowichan Bay Maritime Centre Website
The Weekend Punt
We like to call this Boatbuilding 101. Accessible to all ages and skill levels, this course is a great way for families or small groups of friends to have fun, get their hands dirty and go home with a great practical little boat. Two to four participants per boat is ideal. We start on a Saturday and finish up Monday afternoon. You’ll go home with a boat that only needs a few hours of attention to get it painted and in the water.
The course works best when each boat has two participans building it, but and extra body can be added for a nominal fee of $250. Chidren 16 years and under are free.
All tools and materials are provided but contact us for a tool list if you would like to bring some of your own gear.
Location: Cowichan Bay Maritime Centre
Date: July 28-30, 2023
Cost: $1300 per boat.
Oar Carving
Join me for a two day course carving a pair of straight bladed oars.
This course will take you through the process of laying out and shaping a fine set of responsive oars that will be a pleasure to use for years and years. We will start with pre-assembled blanks and after some brief time with a bandsaw, pick up some sharp hand tools and enjoy a couple days of pleasant hands on activity mixed with conversation.
No tools or previouse experience are neccesary. Just bring a willingness to learn and be ready for some challenging but rewarding work.
You will go home with a fine set of oars ready for varnish and leathering.
Location: Cowichan Bay Maritime Centre
Date: Dec 8-9, 2023
Cost: $TBD
NOTE: Enrollment button takes you to the Cowichan Bay Maritime Centre Website
