| Unquestionably, the
most often asked question is: "How Much does it cost to build a wood
strip kayak?". Unfortunately, there is no exact answer. Some builders have tools and some materials at hand, while others are starting from scratch. Some builders only want a decent 'Toyota' kayak while others will not put up with anything less than a "Ferrari" with all the bells and whistles. The table below shows the material cost for a "Ferrari" Cape Ann Double. The largest savings can be made on Epoxy which can vary up to 50% in cost. The construction cost for a top notch single kayak using the best materials can be estimated roughly by the surface area. Let's say the material cost of the double is $17.45 per square foot, so the estimated cost for the Cape Ann Storm, for example, would be $17,45/ft^2 x 52ft^2 = $907. (this includes carbon fiber, most expensive epoxy, rudder, plans etc..). The minimal cost of building the Storm is about $650. Tools cost are never part of boat building estimates but I have included the prices you might expect to pay for some of the basic tools. In addition to the table below, take a look at a more detailed list of tools and consumables for Stitch & Glue kayaks and kits. The majority of the items will also be used in strip kayak construction. |
| MATERIALS | Cost ($) | Subtotal ($) |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar planks 80ft x 1"x6" | 127 | 127 |
| Cedar planks (50ft^2 of 1/4" strips) | 70 | 197 |
| Mahogany 2 x (1"x4"x 8' ) | 20 | 217 |
| plywood for spine (4' x 8' ) | 30 | 247 |
| particleboard for stations 2 x(5/8"x4' x 8' ) | 21 | 268 |
| glue Tightbond II (1gallon) | 25 | 293 |
| Ocume plywood for bulkheads (4'x4') | 25 | 318 |
| Fiberglass + glass tape | 176 | 494 |
| graphite for coaming 1yd^2 5oz. Twill | 50 | 544 |
| Epoxy 3gal West system | 246 | 790 |
| epoxy thickeners (silica, microfibers) | 30 | 820 |
| Minicel foam for seats | 40 | 860 |
| footbraces Yakima 2 sets | 70 | 930 |
| cable for rudder | 30 | 960 |
| Hardware | ||
| bungee cords, cord, stainless hooks | 20 | 980 |
| stainless screws | 10 | 990 |
| silicone sealant for bulkheads 2 tubes | 9 | 999 |
| brushes (foam and bristle) | 10 | 1009 |
| sandpaper (40, 60, 180, 220, 360, 400) | 20 | 1029 |
| Lacquer thinner (1gal) | 8 | 1037 |
| Varnish 2 quarts | 40 | 1077 |
| staples 3 packets (14mm Arrow) | 10 | 1087 |
| Miscellaneous stuff | 100 | 1187 |
| Rudder (homebuilt) | 95 | 1282 |
| Plans package | 125 | 1407 |
| TOTAL | $1407 | |
| Tools | ||
| hook & loop 5" round sander | 40 | 1447 |
| Japanese pull saw | 25 | 1472 |
| Jigsaw | 30 | 1502 |
| jigsaw blades 10 fine toothed blades | 11 | 1513 |
| clamps 7 (sale on 8") | 32 | 1545 |
| router bit - bead | 30 | 1575 |
| router bit - cove (Amana triple bit) | 52 | 1627 |
| 7 1/4" ripping table saw blade | 22 | 1649 |
| block plane 6" | 14 | 1663 |
| TOTAL | $1663 |