"Building a boat isn't something that happens overnight," says Aaron Whipple, "so my dad and I would work on it for a few hours each day after school." Aaron was 11 when he asked his father, Dana, if they could build a kayak together. "I thought it was a great father and son project, so we each built a kayak and assembled them together. We cut out a large side panel for my boat, then a smaller for Aaron's kayak. Aaron couldn't operate all of the power tools, but he learned as we went along. Aaron was very involved in the entire process."
Dana is no novice when it comes to boat building, having taken courses on building wooden boats in Maine. "You need to be able to read and understand the plans," says Dana, it not complicated, but not following them exactly can sink the project -- so to speak." Plans are readily available from any marine shop or on the web. And, it's a good idea to pick up a book on boat building before you start on the project. Even the simplest designs require a good understanding of the nomenclature of boating.
"The hardest part was the sanding," says Aaron. "I sanded and sanded and it never seemed to end. It was worth all the effort, because the kayak is great looking." Dana added additional stability and safety features to improve the plans they purchased. "Aaron is an excellent boater who knows the fundamentals of kayaking, but I didn't want to take any chances. And, improving the stability allows Aaron to enjoy kayaking so much more."
Aaron is already planning to build a larger kayak, and possibly a rowboat as well. "It was great working with my dad. We got to know each other a lot better." Dana concurs with his son, and adds "that there were times you'd want to pull your hair out, but the experience is well worth the effort." The best part according to Aaron "was seeing it complete. To think this was once just a tree, a bunch of boards, is amazing. And, we did it ourselves."
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