This blog describes my build of a Solo microBootlegger kayak as designed by Nick Schade of Guillemot Kayaks. Before I get into the nitty-gritty of this project I'd like to explain how I reached the decision to build this kayak. Back in 2011 I built an Acorn 15 rowing boat which I enjoyed rowing and still do. Time passed and I wanted a small boat the would fit inside ny 4x4 and be light and easy to carry; this was a Water Rat. I enjoyed rowing and thought I would try a rowing skiff with a sliding seat so I built a Derwent Skiff. This was a lovely boat and I enjoyed using it but my aging back couldn't handle the increased load caused by using my legs so I was back to rowing the Acorn 15 and paddling the Water Rat. Where I paddle regularly on the Brisbane River there is a small group of enthusiastic paddlers in a variety of kayaks including a beautiful kayak made by Struer.. Watching these guys started me thinking about building a longer paddle craft similar in appearance to the Struer. I was concerned about two things; could I manage the lifting involved in transporting a long boat on top of a car and would I enjoy it. I decided to build a quick and easy, low cost, stitch and glue kayak - a Chesapeake Light Craft CLC 16 - before I began a longer term, more difficult, higher cost strip built kayak. to test the water. I built the CLC 16 and found that I could handle it and enjoy using it but found the keyhole shaped cockpit opening was too small for my long and not so bendy legs (I made it bigger).

So, that's the background to my decision to build Nick Schade's Solo microBootlegger. Here's a picture of one that I found on the Internet.

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Isn't it a beautiful shape! Now read on.

Sunday, 22 March 2020

The Plans Arrived.

On  10/3/2020 the package from Nick Schade at Guillemot Kayaks  arrived.  Since then I've been working slowly, gathering tools and materials for the boat. In the package were the plans, a Roboplane, and Nick's book.


The Roboplane is a holder for the Veritas Mini Shoulder Plane. In the second photo the plane is  positioned in the Roboplane and held there by two rare earth magnets. This tool is used to plane a bevel on the last  strip fitted on the boat to allow the next strip to fit with no gaps.



Nick's book contains a wealth of information on strip planked boats and includes complete plans for 3 boats.  Another important source of information is the series of 69 videos made by Nick covering the complete built of a microBootlegger Sport.


The last items in the package were a T-shirt and cap. Now I have no excuse to not get on with the job.



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