Skip to main content
Home
Guillemot Kayaks
Exceptional Designs for DIY Boat Builders

Main navigation

  • Catalog
  • Information
  • Blog
  • Events
  • Gallery
  • About
  • Installing cedar strips
    Learn everything
  • Applying glue to a strip
    you need to know
  • Sanding the wood fair
    To make yourself
  • Fiberglassing
    A strong and beautiful
  • wood Petrel sea kayak bow
    Wood Boat

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Information

Information

  • Small Boat Plans

    Small Boat Plans

    Guillemot Kayaks specializes in design small boats for DIY boat builders

  • The Strip-Built Sea Kayak

    Instruction Books

    Nick has written the definitive books on using the strip-built technique to build kayaks and other small boats

  • Boat building video

    Boat Building Video

    Nick Schade has made over 100 videos showing almost all aspects of building small strip built boats

  • Small Boat Kits

    Small Boat Kits

    We have teamed up with Chesapeake Light Craft to provide complete kits for our boat designs

Guillemot Kayaks specializes in small wooden boats that are light enough to transport on the roof of your car. We sell plans for do-it-yourself boat builders, offer complete kits, teach classes, and build fine custom boats.

Browse Our Boat Designs

On these pages you will find information about designing, building and using kayaks. This is not meant to be stuff that only pertains to Guillemot Kayaks but is useful for anyone interested in kayaks and kayaking, and actually much of what you will find here is useful for other small boats including sailboats and row boats.

  • Products and Services
  • FAQ
  • Kayak Design
  • Boat Building - Making Kayaks, Canoes, and Small Boats
  • Kayaking Technique
  • Kayaking Trips

Book traversal links for Information

  • Products and Services ›
  • Building
  • Guillemot Kayaks
  • Project Planning

Cart

Shopping cart 0 items

Information

  • Products and Services
  • FAQ
  • Kayak Design
  • Boat Building - Making Kayaks, Canoes, and Small Boats
  • Kayaking Technique
  • Kayaking Trips

Nick's Blog

Preview image for the video "Survival of the Wooden Canoe (Feature Documentary)".
Ted Moores and The Survival of the Wooden Canoe

Nobody has had more influence on the growth of wood strip canoes than Ted Moores of Bear Mountain Boats.

Read More
Preview image for the video "Learning from Mistakes: Kayak Building Challenges and Triumphs".
Overcoming Challenges in Kayak Building
Nick builds a commemorative kayak, demonstrating that craftsmanship is about balancing beauty, functionality, and personal meaning. Through careful wood selection, technical skill, and creative problem-solving, he creates a meaningful memorial for a client, emphasizing that perfection lies not in flawlessness, but in purpose and connection.
Read More
Preview image for the video "Stripping the Solo microBootlegger".
Stripping a Solo Micro Bootlegger Kayak (Time-Lapse)
A time-lapse of installing cedar strips on the Solo microBootlegger kayak. Throughout the process, Nick explains his techniques and the tools he uses, offering viewers a detailed look at the cedar strip building process.
Read More
Preview image for the video "Staining the Recess - microBootlegger Sport - E30".
Staining a Kayak Coaming Recess: Tips and Techniques - E30
Nick, a wooden kayak builder, prepares to stain the coaming recess components for a client’s kayak.
Read More
Preview image for the video "Building My Dream Kayak - Design/Build of a Hi-Performance Mahogany/Carbon/Epoxy Sea Kayak".
Building "Runner": A 17ft Sea Kayak for Downwind Paddling and Surfing
This video documents the design process and construction of a custom sea kayak, named "Runner," by renowned boat designer and builder Nick Schade.
Read More
Read More Articles

Recommended Products

  • Guillemot Fast Double Wooden Sea Kayak

    Fast Double

    A fast efficient tandem kayak for skilled paddlers
    Learn More
  • Foam Kayak Seat

    Learn More
  • Solo microBootlegger Recreational Kayak

    Solo microBootlegger

    A comfortable spacious recreational kayak
    Learn More
  • Endeavour 17 wood strip touring kayak

    Endeavour

    Classic Touring Kayak
    Learn More
  • Great Auk Double Tandem Sea Kayak

    Great Auk Double

    A comfortable and efficient sea kayak for two paddlers
    Learn More
  • Stitch and Glue Night Heron Sea Kayak

    Stitch and Glue Night Heron

    A capable high performance sea kayak built using the stitch and glue method
    Learn More
View More of Our Products

Upcoming Events

  • Fine Strip Planked Boats Class at Woodenboat School

    Fine Strip Planked Boats Class @WoodenBoat School

    Jun 8, 2025
    Nick Schade’s course teaches strip-planked boatbuilding, creating two designs: the Adirondack Guide Boat and the microBootlegger Sport sea kayak.
    Read More
  • paddling a wooden kayak on the coast of Maine

    Elements of Coastal Kayaking II @WoodenBoat School

    Jun 15, 2025
    Sea kayaking course covers strokes, braces, maneuvering, safety, navigation, and more. Students can bring their own kayaks or try Nick’s high-performance designs.
    Read More
  • Chesapeake Light Craft Booth at the WoodenBoat Show

    The WoodenBoat Show at Mystic Seaport

    Jun 27, 2025
    Guillemot Kayaks joins Chesapeake Light Craft in the WoodenBoat Show in Mystic, CT, showcasing boats and providing demonstrations on construction techniques. The show features over 100 wooden boats, maritime art, antiques, tools, books, and nautical gear.
    Read More
Learn About Other Events

Footer

  • Home
  • Catalog
  • Information
  • About
  • Contact

User account menu

  • Log in

Popular Tags

Video
Boat Building Techniques
Strip Built
Sea Kayak
Recreational Kayak
Classes
Stitch and Glue
Stripping
Design
Petrel
Stitch and Glue Petrel "Play"
microBootlegger Sport
MicroBootlegger
History
Epoxy
WoodenBoat School
Fiberglassing
Chesapeake Light Craft
Petrel "Play"
Night Heron
Gatherings
Guillemot Kayaks
Tools
Business
Making Petrel Play
Coaming
Shows and Exhibitions
Tandem
Technique
Trips
Sanding
Connecticut Valley School of Woodworking
Wood
Books
Project Overview
Sea Kayaking
Strip-Built
Forms
On The Water
Stitch and Glue Night Heron

© 1994–2023 - Nick Schade - All Rights Reserved