with

Kayak Plans and Kits

 

 

 

In this era where less and less is made in the United States and corporations decide what choices we will have,

it is wonderful that you can still build a boat for yourself that is lighter, faster and more beautiful

than anything spit out by a big company.

 

I'm often asked, "Can I build one? I don't have a lot of woodworking experience."

 

I say, "If you thought about building one, you can! Building a boat never even crosses the mind of someone who can't."

Desire and tenacity will overcome any lack of skill, which you will learn building this boat. And when you are finished,

you will be rightly proud of what you have done. And what you have learned, is that you can do a lot more than you ever

imagined. The skills you learn and the power of what you CAN DO, will flow over into other areas of your life.

 

New Updated --Shop Tips page has information all strip builders should know!

 

Kayak and Paddle Plans & Kits

Over 3000 sea kayaks are being built around the world from Laughing Loon plans. Kayaks are being built in: the Caribbean, Brazil, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, the South Pacific, Finland, Sweden, Norway, England, Ireland, Holland, Germany, France,Slovinia, Switzerland, and Italy. And of course all over Canada and the United States, including Puerto Rico. And the list is growing.

I have been truly amazed at how much interest there is in sea kayaking around the world. I am very proud of the overwhelmingly positive response of people to my kayak designs.

I do a number of things differently than most other builders. I have a quite a few tips to make strip building easier for you. The big three tips are: use 3/16" strips, use northern white cedar for your hull bottom, and use a heat gun to bend tough to place strips with ease. For more details follow this link.

 

I have received a great deal of positive feedback from builders saying they found my plans to be clear and easy to follow. I have written these plans describing in detail how I build wood-strip boats. My assumption is that folks buying my plans have not built a boat before. I have worked step by step through these instructions to make boat building accessible to you.

"Compliments for your plans and instructions!
Building Georgian Bay with your plans was very easy,
step by step explanations, helpful drawings, many tricks!"

Martin Lacher, Switzerland

 

"Edgar, Judy and myself have just completed one of your Panache designs.
It paddles even better than it looks."

Jen, Edgar and Judy, Homegrown Boats, Cape Cod, MA

 

"Your directions were very easy to understand.
Everything worked well with no problems."

Thomas Templeton, PA

 

"I have built two of your Georgian Bay Kayak designs and I wanted to thank you for the great instructions and pictures you provide with your plans. You really know how to get your point across in an understandable manner and you also give some great tips! Using a sharpened scraper on the hull and deck really works great!!"

Thanks again. Bryan C.

 

"How well written your plans are and how well thought out is the design."

George Bush, OR



My plans include a 88 page book of instructions with over 200 illustrations and photographs of work methods and jigs. I provide a materials list, research reading list and all my sources for woods, resins, fiberglass cloth and hardware.

Building time for the kayak designs is approximately 300 hours. Materials cost is in the range of $500 to $700 US dollars. I give you the experience of my building advice and my materials sources to save you a lot of leg work. My hope is for you to be successful and to enjoy building your Laughing Loon kayak.

..Plans include:


These instructions are very detailed, with many new photographs and elaborate illustrations to make the building process clear and easy.

Construction methods have been simplified and there are new tips and strip building secrets revealed.There are extensive source listings for materials, woods, and tools. I give you all my sources so you don't have to waste a lot of time searching for materials. I explain wood strip building in a way to insure your success.

My instruction book includes a tutorial on working with epoxy resin and fiberglass cloth, which reveals a simple method to produce transparent, beautiful, results.

Glass wet out on boat

I explain epoxy resins and suggest how to best use them to keep the weight of your boat down.

 

You may order the new building instructions separately, to review the process and decide whether you will go on to build one of these beautiful boats.

 

If you are not sure if you can handle this project or just wish to review the instruction book before buying the full plans, I suggest you buy the instruction book only, for the specific kayak you wish to build.

NEW! For those of you who love the intriguing look, and are excited about the outstanding paddling characteristics of my baidarka designs, but are afraid they may be too difficult for you to build, I'm now including the stern station template for my baidarkas WITH the purchase of the instruction book. So you can now build the bow AND stern of the baidarka BEFORE committing yourself to the full project.

Plans Instruction Book sold separately $25 US / $30 International

Indicate which kayak you wish the instruction book for.

If you then wish to buy the full plans set, $20 will be deducted from the cost.

Plans and instruction books are not returnable

..Ordering Kayak Plans;

Fire Star $145 Shooting Star $140North Star $135

Disko Bay $130 Panache $125 Georgian Bay $120

NEW! Twin Star $150

Add $5 for shipping to Canada / $10 International

All prices are in US dollars.

ABOVE PRICES INCLUDE STANDARD SHIPPING CHARGES

Standard shipping is by priority US mail in the United States.
International orders are shipped via US air mail.

Maine residents include 5% sales tax.

Make check or money order payable to: Laughing Loon

For Fast Delivery
Visa & Mastercard credit cards accepted

International Orders Payment on foreign orders must be made in U.S. dollars. Visa & Mastercard credit cards accepted. Canadian postal money orders, in U.S. funds, are acceptable. Cash, in U.S. funds, is acceptable on international orders. Foreign bank checks must list a US affiliate bank on the face of the check.

 

To Place an Order

or to contact me about finished boats or
E-mail credit card orders to me at:

For security, send only half of your card# at a time, in two E-mail postings.


Please include you name, address, phone number and E-mail address.
For credit card orders indicate the type of card, Visa or Master Card, the card number and expiration date.

Or, phone in an order at 207-549-3531

You may leave your order on our answering machine if we are not available Please speak slowly and clearly

Or, mail your order to:
Laughing Loon
344 Gardiner Rd.
Jefferson, Maine 04348

Panache on Eggemoggin ReachTHANK YOU!

 

For a hard copy of information on my designs and plans offerings send for my brochure. In the US $1 or International $2 US funds. My color catalog is $5 in the US, or International, $8 US funds.

(The Catalog and brochure duplicate information on this web site.)

 

Cancellation fees


Kits are available for Laughing Loon designs from

 

Classic Boat Kits

 

and from Newfound Woodworks

 

and also from

Noah's Marine Supply

 

 

 

Located in England for our friends across the pond

 

 

Please follow these links to receive specific information
on what they have to offer.


Home / Boats Home / PLACE AN ORDER / Boats for Sale / Kayak Plans / Canoe Plans / Classes / Kits / Video

Kayaks / Fire Star / Shooting Star / North Star / Disko Bay / Georgian Bay / Panache / Twin Star tandem

Canoes / Solo Portage / Wee Robbie / Wee Vera / Wee Two / Paddles


Shop Tips / Stapleless Stripping / Hand Beveling / Transparent Lay-ups

Home Builder Comments &Photos / Trips / Links

Cancellation fees

 

Email Laughing Loon