The Aleutian Kayak
A construction manual
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The Aleutian Kayak

The Aleutian Kayak was the first comprehensive manual on traditional native kayak construction published in the United States. The book was published in 1993 and went out of print in 2004. I am currently working on a new edition of the book.
From the Publisher
For true traditionalists, here are the first complete plans and detailed building instructions for authentic Aleutian Kayak, the ancient voyaging and hunting craft of the nomadic Unangan of Alaska. Based on originals in museums in Oregon and California, these lightweight (35 Pounds, 17 feet long) skin-on-frame sea kayaks can be built to fit the owner's exact dimensions, using simple hand tools and readily obtainable materials, for less than $200, including paddles,spray skirt, and traditional paddling jacket. Known as Baidarkas among the Russian settlers of Alaska, these unique native American craft evolved over centuries to carry heavy loads swiftly over long distances in wind and wave, ideal for modern sea kayakers looking for an alternative to plastic replicas of short-range Greenland-style boats.
Future Plans
Since the time that I first wrote The Aleutian Kayak, I have learned more about the building of traditional baidarkas. Besides that, a fair number of people have built these boats, both from my book and in classes taught by various builders. So the collective expertise has advanced quite a bit in the last 10 years. In any case, I am working on putting out a new edition of the Aleutian Kayak that will include all the things I learned over the last 10 years.
All content copyright © 2004 Wolfgang Brinck. Personal non-commercial use permitted.