| I had picked up Canoecraft by Harrowsmith a canoe building
book about 10 years before venturing into the little wooden boat
building store I had driven by numerous times in south Edmonton.
When curiosity and the need to build a canoe finally overcame
me, I poked my head into Don's shop. I think my family wishes I
had not.
Don encouraged me to take the first steps toward the cedar
strip construction of my canoe and assured me that he had all of
the necessary materials for its construction including pre-cut
moulds and a strongback available for rent. While in his store
for the first time I saw the kayak kits he was working on as
well, but as pretty as they appeared at the time I forgot about
them in my enthusiasm for cedar strip construction. All that
winter
Waters Dancing proved an invaluable source of both materials
and advice, and Don proudly displayed a picture of my completed
craft in his countertop binder of photos.
After taking a year off from boat building, the kayak kits
finally got the better of me. I decided that there might be
economies of time in building two at once. Even if there were
not, I would at least have an extra so that I could paddle with
a kayakless friend. The kits do contain everything you will need
with the exception of the usual tools (mostly a drill). The
pieces are cut by computer and so need virtually no modification
or fiddling. I found the manual to be extraordinarily easy to
read and understand, thanks in large part to the generous use of
actual photos. Again, Don, Graham and the other
Waters Dancing
staff were always available at the store or by phone to answer
questions and make suggestions on those occasions when a picture
would not do.
It took me about three months of fairly steady evening and
weekend working to finish the two 17 foot sea kayaks. Wherever I
paddle, I receive compliments and inquiries from novices and
experts alike. I highly recommend
Waters Dancing kits to you as
a way of building what I believe is better than what is
commercially available.
This winter's project is the 16 foot Explorer from
Waters
Dancing
(like I need another canoe, right?).
Finished in the spring of 2000 and
I'm very pleased with the performance.
John Little
Edmonton, Alberta
January 2000
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