Sea kayaks expand the horizons and the possibilities. You can go out on harbours and big lakes or try coastal trips if you have gained the necessary experience.

Expect to take a couple of months to build one of these, unless it is the Yamba kit from BoatCraft Pacific or the Iluka stitch and glue designs. They can come together in a matter of weekends.

The ply construction gives each craft a light but durable hull, while the strip plank sea kayaks will be a little heavier than their ply cousins.

The TK1,Yamba and K1, all built by the same client in South Australia. 
Now he has a kayak for any occasion.

These are all built in 3mm thick plywood over timber longitudinals and ply bulkheads. The TK1 marathon boat and the K1 are single chine hulls, while the TK1 sprint boat is a double chine hull. TK1 's are 4750mm long by 590mm wide. The K1 is 5200mm long by 510mm wide. These hulls feature good stability for their class and have enough freeboard to cope well with moderately choppy conditions.

Plans for either version of the TK1 consist of a B1 sheet with construction, arrangement, rudder and other details, and full size templates for mould stations.

A marathon TK1, (so much for the golf clubs; better things for the buggy to carry)

Plans for the K1 are the same as for the TK1, but on an AO size sheet.

The plywood sea kayaks are all single chine hulls, built in 3mm or 4mm thick plywood, with a 200 gsm fabric on the exterior recommended. The Yamba design can be built as a single in either 4.9m or 5.5m lengths, and a double at 6.7m long. They are all 650mm wide, which makes them very stable. A skeg is included for control, but a rudder could be fitted if preferred.

Plans consist of a construction and arrangement plan, and a plan with full size templates for mould stations and stem/stern profile for the 5.5m hull. There is a separate additional plan for each of the 4.9 and 6.7m versions, showing how to re-space the 5.5m mould stations, and including revised templates as required.

The Iluka single is proportioned for the enthusiasts, 5.3m by 575mm wide. It is built from 4mm ply and 200gsm fabric for the hull and 3mm ply for the decks. This boat does not require a skeg or rudder for control.

Plans include a construction and arrangement plan and a sheet with the offsets for laying out the hull panels, and other details. Instructions are included for stitch and glue construction.

The 6.1m double is a compact boat for easier car-topping. It is 650mm wide for good stability, and buoyant at the bow to help it lift over waves. The single chine construction is similar to the Yamba designs.

Two plans cover the construction and arrangement and the full size templates for mould stations, stem and stern profiles.

The round bilge strip plank designs, in 6mm WR Cedar and 200 gsm fabric inside and out, are available as singles at 4.9m and 5.5m long, and a big double at 6.9m long. These designs are 600mm wide and a skeg is included for control.

The plans cover the construction and arrangement, details including rudder set up, and the full size templates for the mould stations, stem and stern profiles.

A strip plank seakayak on launching day in Melbourne.