Woodworking: Can Woodworking Dreams Float?
Stan Orme, a man who spent most of his career in Telecommunications, always had a special talent. He had a knack for building things, a talent he described as his “first love”. Along with his wife, they didn’t just reside in houses but breathed new life into them. They undertook the renovation of multiple homes and even dared to design and construct one entirely on their own. In the final phase of his career, he transitioned into the grit and grind of construction. His skills found a new home in various projects. But his love for woodworking stood out.
“My love for timber”, he said, “inspired me to craft a kayak”.
The First Major Project
At the early age of sixteen he took on his first major project, constructing a timber-framed and plywood-clad cabin runabout boat. “It was Harley 15’6” New Vivid, powered by a 65HP mercury outboard”.
During his formative years on his parents’ farm, Stan was always nudged to create his own toys. He nostalgically shares, “there were so many guns, bows, arrows, and go-carts that emerged from Dad’s workshop.
As the prospect of retirement loomed, he started to look for a project that would keep him occupied. The idea of building a kayak somehow found its way to him. Once he came across cedar strip kayak construction, Stan “knew that was what [he] wanted to build”.
The Kayak Construction
Being a fan of Cedar wood, he procured 6m knot-free planks from New Zealand. He then transformed them into 5mm strips, enhancing the kayak’s lightness.
A bench saw and snips facilitated the cutting process, while a block plane refined the edges.
During a 2003 visit to Minnesota he acquired forty spring clamps from Menards to add to his toolkit, which were instrumental in securing the strips during the glue-drying phase.
The kayak’s foundation, the strong-back, was crafted from economical plywood. Then a jigsaw and block-plane were employed to shape the station forms.
Choosing the Right Products?
After extensive research, Stan opted for Entropy Resins® CLR Clear Laminating Epoxy. “It was extremely easy to use, and it achieved the perfect transparent finish I’d hoped for, enhancing the wood grain to perfection”.
With no specific plan in mind, he shares, “I looked for a designer and found one in Maine who offered good clear plans and instructions with online assistance. From there I was able to delineate what it was I wanted to build”. Residing next to the ocean in New Zealand, Stan believed a sea kayak would be best suited for the water conditions prevalent in his local bay.
Overcoming Hurdles
While crafting the kayak, he confronted a series of unexpected obstacles. Interestingly, the primary difficulty was not the assembly itself but the varnish. His choices were limited, causing a few bumps in the road. Yet, with time, Stan mastered the technique.
“I was not disappointed. Every aspect of the build, although sometimes challenging was thoroughly enjoyable. The instruction manual that came with the plans was so good, every step of the construction process was explained in detail.”
Nevertheless, life loves to throw a spanner in the works and in Stan’s case this consisted of moving house, twice! The task of transporting the partially constructed kayak, along with all the associated materials, without inflicting any damage, presented a formidable challenge for sure.
Future Plans
Since wrapping up the kayak project, Stan’s been keeping busy with a bunch of smaller, but equally interesting, projects. He put together a multi-tiered plant stand for his daughter, and even tackled all the construction work for his other daughter’s yard.
Currently, he is in the middle of crafting an art-deco styled tea trolley for his wife. The progress has been a bit slow, but as they say, “Rome wasn’t built in a day”. He is cleverly using leftover cedar strips to laminate the sides, and repurposing mahogany timber from an old dresser for the shelves.
His wife, having a good eye for detail, requested brass fittings to be the standout features on the hoops. The final addition will be the art-deco style castors that the trolley will be mounted on.
The Final Reward
“The most rewarding aspect of building the kayak was the joy of working with the western Red Cedar. It is such an easy timber to work with. To see the planks of cedar slowly turn into the sleek kayak.” And when it was done? He could stand back, look at it and say, “I built that!” That was the real golden moment.
His wife, recognising the effort and passion he had put into the project, insisted on a launch party. The event was a hit, with over thirty people turning up to witness the kayak’s maiden voyage. The beauty of the kayak even caught the attention of other beachgoers.
The best part? The rewarding feeling when the kayak draws interest, receiving the acknowledgment of his effort. The kayak’s weight is just 21kg, which speaks to its efficient design.
Advice For Others
Stan realised, in retrospect, that exploring different kayak styles before buying the plans would have been a wise move. His knowledge of kayaks was limited, but his desire to build one stemmed from pure enjoyment.
He recommends a thorough investigation of all necessary materials before starting. Assembling all required tools and machinery beforehand is crucial. It can be frustrating to discover a needed tool or machine is missing when you are in the middle of the process.
“Do not underestimate how long the project will take. Things always take longer than you expect.
But above all, enjoy the process. There is immense joy in watching your creation come into being, under your hands.”
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