H e r e h o m e b i o s i t i n e r a r yUpdated r e c e n t l y o n g o i n g b u i l d i n g f i t t i n g S O F W o r k s h o p sNEW v i d e o Q A J A Q P I X Y O G A P I X 2 0 0 7 g r e e t i n g ! O f S p e c i a l N o t e Q a a n n a t K a t t u f f i a t Q a j a q U S A H a r v e y G o l d e n ' s T r a d i t i o n a l A r c t i c S k i n b o a t s W a l d e n Q a j a q S o c i e t y S e n d T h e m T o G r e e n l a n d

Interested in a Skin on Frame Kayak Workshop? Have you been fascinated by the historical roots of the kayak? Tired of rattling around in a kayak that is too big for you, or too much of a design compromise? Are you curious enough to want to build one yourself? Have you ever been tempted to build your own kayak, but you are baffled by the dark art of bending ribs, or you are intimidated by sewing and finishing a kayak skin? Now is your opportunity! Build a kayak that suits how and where you like to paddle. Whether you would like a rolling kayak, a flat water day kayak or a rough water kayak, Expressively and practically parsed by several different arctic cultures, skin on frame technology lends itself amicably to solving all of these design riddles and more. The Greenlandic qajaq is one of the most utilitarian and intimate of all boat traditions. All of these choices can be accommodated in these workshops. With an eye toward appropriate technology and design, I am a woodworker by trade, an architect by training, and kayaker by passion. I will mentor you through the myriad choices, materials, and steps involved in the crafting a traditional Greenlandic skin on frame qajaq. Begin to master the simple tools and skills required to continue to build other kayak, once you are well on your way. The workshops are not a stroll through, assembling a kit. For a minimum 10 days, at a minimum of 10 hours a day, one step at a time, this journey will reflect your present and your future, building a kayak that fits you in a way that you have only dreamt about, until know. One hundred hours. One kayak you will love. A short list of simple hand tools is required of each student. Simple woodworking skills are highly recommended. For a photographic example of process at one workshop, the first two weeks in August of 2006, I did a workshop near Sharkey Point on Seneca Lake, New York Area. Jennifer Pivovar and Brad Carmen worked incredibly hard, and their efforts rewarded them with two SOF, one sweet little rolling kayak for Jennifer, and Brad's kayak, based on his frame and some ideas taken from one of my SOF. Pictures are here. Schedule of workshops, with openings listed, below. Please contact me directly for more detail. 2 0 0 8 After workshops in Florida, two in New York State, and one in Minnesota, our calendar for the rest of 2008 is devoted to finishing several custom builds, but a still possible window for a class in the 2008 calendar is after november 1. I am trying to sort out a good locaton in Connecticut, but right now odds are less than wildly optimistic! 2 0 0 9 I may be able to squeeze in a Toronto workshop in January, details right around the corner! Definite dates are: February 2-13 NEW In association with Howard Adams, who'll host a SOF workshop in Daytona Florida. This class currently has FIVE openings. March 13-24 At Eden Mills Nature Center in Pylesville, Maryland. This class is currently FULL! May 6-17 A 'qajaq house' in Isle of Skye, Scotland, in association with Gordon and Morag Brown of Skyak Adventures. This workshop currently has FIVE openings. Please e-mail me if you are interested in the skinny!. June 17-28 UPDATE A boathouse workshop on Vinalhaven, Maine. This workshop currently has TWO openings. Please e-mail me if you are interested. A fall workshop in the Courtenay vicinity of British Columbia is in the works! A December 2009 / January 2010 workshop in sunny and warm Perth, Australia is also on the planning boards. If you would like to help host a workshop, I will send you some info on how this all works. Please do not hesitate to contact me! O n g o i n g For more on how a kayak can be built to suit follow this path. For more on my background as a builder and designer please try this link. All Photos by Turner Wilson © 2006-2008, unless otherwise noted. Comments? Questions? Send mail to: h2o@kayakways.net G o T o p !