Boat Building Techniques

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.

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.

Nick, a wooden kayak builder, prepares to stain the coaming recess components for a client’s kayak.

This video documents the design process and construction of a custom sea kayak, named "Runner," by renowned boat designer and builder Nick Schade.

Complete overview of the Petrel Play SG kayak build project from opening the kit to launching the kayak.

Nick and Bill sand and apply the first coat of varnish to the Petrel sea kayak kit from Chesapeake Light Craft. Nick shares tips on using coarse sandpaper for leveling, custom tools for tight spaces, and efficient varnishing techniques, emphasizing the importance of working quickly and maintaining a wet edge.

Nick methodically works through the crucial steps of preparing a kayak for a flawless varnish finish. He demonstrates techniques for cleaning up drips, leveling the surface through sanding, and prepping for the installation of deck lines and hardware. With a focus on attention to detail and proper technique, Nick shares his expertise to ensure a professional-looking final product.

Nick and Bill tackle the crucial sanding and leveling process on their Petrel Play SG sea kayak project. Using coarse sandpaper and specialized tools, they methodically work to remove high spots and create a smooth, even surface across the hull and deck. Careful attention is paid to areas like drips, bumps, and overlapping joints to ensure a level foundation for the upcoming fill coat. With the sanding complete, Nick demonstrates his technique for applying the fill coat, involving distributing, leveling, and tipping off the epoxy for a flawless finish. As they wrap up, they discuss the remaining steps, inching ever closer to the final sanding and varnishing stages of this intricate kayak build.

In this workshop episode, expert boat builder Nick guides Bill through the process of fiberglassing key areas on their Chesapeake Light Craft stitch-and-glue kayak kit. With careful instruction, they cut and apply bias-cut glass strips along the combing, deck, and keel line, ensuring proper reinforcement while tackling tricky contours. Nick's methodical approach and explanations provide valuable insights for aspiring builders.