Building the Greenland Kayak : A Manual for Its Contruction and Use

If you’re building a Greenland Kayak like I just did it’s good to research all the different ways one can be built. This book is a wonderful resource and I highly recommend it to you wether you’re building a Kayak or just want to learn how it’s done. Cheers!

I was searching for a build guide or set of plans to build myself a kayak that I would be proud to be seen in and paddle. After a lot of searching and posting questions on Kayak Build forums I pretty soon discovered that "Building the Greenland Kayak" by Chris Cunningham is one of the most informative and successful guides you can get. So I bought the book and followed along, like any instruction manual there are parts that you don't get the first time, maybe even the third time, but all I can empahisize is that you re-read that section, you'll get it in the end. For me, I got confused in the section to do with rib sizing, I just did not get the instructions the first time I read it. This book takes you step by step on how to re-create an authentic and very pleasing kayak, both to paddle and to look at. My build took me a year and I didn't skin my kayak the way Chris did, I followed a more new age method using balistic nylon and a 2 part polyeurathane resin which worked fabulously. The result is a kayak that starts conversations, gets warm welcomes in any boating circles and usually draws attention at any kayak put in or venue. So if you are shy, buy a plywood kit or a plastic kayak, don't build one of these.The wood working skills needed to complete this build aren't cabinet maker quality, but you need to be able to plane to a line, cut straight lines and make good joints. If you can cut mortise and tenon joints well by hand you'll have all that you need. Hand power tools are not essentials, but well recommended and all I can stress is that you take your time. The most time consuming piece being the rib cutting, soaking and steaming. Wood varies incredibly when it comes to steaming and soaking, what works for one person may and most likely will not work for another. So be patient, I spent nearly 4 months on getting the ribs right and I'm pleased I took the time and didn't rush or settle for anything less than a near perfectly steamed rib. Make sure you read the book from cover to cover before you start and keep notes for when you build the next one.The result is a kayak that will paddle very well in the sea and in cross winds, it'll be comfortable, and you'll be the envy of all your kayaking friends. It's well worth the time and effort, you won't be sorry when you get to take the first paddle. The kayak will be light, easy to carry and will handle very well. You'll be very happy you built it and you'll probably end up building more than one.Update - It's now 4 years since I built my greenland kayak following the instructions in Chris's book. I still am so pleased when I paddle it, as nothing else paddles so effortlessly and I still get lots of comments from people who see me with it or in it where ever I am.

After almost a year of work I am now the proud owner of a West Greenland kayak, a West Greenland paddle, custom-made fore and aft flotation bags (made with heat-sealable nylon), and a tuilik, or paddling jacket; now, the remarkable thing is I made all these things myself! Rarely do I write an Amazon book review where I give a book a 5 star rating without any reservations; this, however, is one of those books. Now, let's get down to business. The most pressing questions you ought to be asking if you're considering building this baby are 1) Can I really build a kayak using this book? 2)Do I need any other kayak-building literature? and 3)How long will this take me? Yes, you really can build a West Greenland kayak using this book and no--although additional sources may be helpful, they aren't required. The answer to the third question is a bit trickier. I spent 400-500 hours (maybe more), but keep in mind that I had no previous woodworking experience. If you're somewhat handy with wood/crafts, I can see the potential for a shorter time period. I have a complaint, however with the back cover of this book which talks about "a few weekends and a few evenings of work." Well, this estimate is not only overly optimistic, it's just plain false. Okay, let's get back to the book...Cunningham writes in a fluid style rather than a clearly itemized manner. Those who are used to following numbered instructions which accompany diagrams may find this confusing, but I found it to work great. The perfect balance of detail and conciseness is given, and the photos which accompany the text have been carefully selected to highlight critical steps in the process (the photos are in black and white, which sacrifices clarity a little). Although the book can be confusing in certain areas, building a Greenland kayak can be pretty confusing too--not, in my opinion, because it is "anthropometric", but because a kayak is a 3 dimensional object! Also, I never fully understood the text until I started building, and Cunningham talks about this in his introduction. Another remarkable thing about this book is its scope--it doesn't stop after teaching you how to build the kayak, but continues to teach you how to make the accessories (paddling jacket, spray skirt, hunting float, etc.), and all this is topped off with instruction for how to use the kayak! It talks about entering the kayak, the two main paddling strokes, 5 or 6 different types of Eskimo rolls, and more. Amazing book.My only complaints are minor. The section on how to make the tuiik was very confusing; I think it was intended for people who have some prior sewing experience. Second, the book can be a little detail-oriented, which makes it easy to lose track of the big picture. I would have found it helpful if a summarizing overview was given at the beginning of each chapter before the details commenced. Bottom line: beautiful boat, beautiful book. Well done Mr. Cunningham.

If you're interested in making a Skin On Frame Kayak or (SOF), this book comes highly recommended. But take caution there's no other design choice other than building the Greenland boat. Suppose the title of book infers that fact huh? You may scale the design up or down to suit your body type. However, there are no recommendations about altering the design to accommodate more hull speed or bow modifications to make the ride less bouncy in chop.Overall the book is very comprehensive. Detailed instructions walk the reader through the entire process from selecting the timber, constructing the various joints needed to complete the kayak, fabric selection and sewing.A few negatives thoughts:-The photos are black and white, low quality and at times blurry.-Some of the writing is ambiguous or vague, no doubt the author knows what he's talking about but fails to communicate his techniques.-No alternative hull designs offered, just the Greenland style hull. Admittedly it's a glorious looking boat, but it's rubbish to paddle in chop.Conclusion:Overall it's a great book, especially for the inexperienced builder. In my view, the book covers everything you need to know to complete an SOF and is more cost effective than enrolling in those kayak schools that walk you through pretty much the same stuff covered in the books but cost considerably more.Five stars.

Great content written in an easy to understand style, looses one star because (in common with pretty much every other similar sort of book published in the USA) the photographs, of which there are many, are low quality black and white images and while that might be understandable in a book from the 1970s there is really no excuse for one published in the 21st century.

Lots of detail, but the design is somewhat compromised by a "western mindset".The design describe is likely to be a lot heavier than the real macoy but the book still well worth the money.

I think that in this title, as usual in this kind of books, pro and cons are found in the same peculiarity: the author describes step by step his way of building, not investigating alternative solutions. But if I have to point out a single dislike, I say that I would have been pleased to find more about the kayak's design presented in the book. It's just a personal point of view, because I'm deeply fond of boat design and its relation with function.

This book is great. Tells the beginner how to build a skin on frame kayak from start to finish with details on size and shape tailored to the individuals build, personal touches, history, technique in the water, an alternative folding design, and more, packed with photographs too.

This is a first-quality resource for anyone interested in the origins of the sea kayak. And a real testament to the skills of the kayak makers, and the bravery of those who paddled them.