(Life) Beyond Boats
Lloyd Purdy, white knuckling the last move of a multi-pitch climb at Smith Rock, Terrebone Or in 2024. Less than a year after a Bankhart procedure on both shoulders. Climbing, trail riding, sailing, kayaking, paddle boarding — life in the outdoor adventure capital of the Pacific Northwest.
Looking forward to checking out the Bend Surf Festival at McKay Park on Sunday. I’ve heard of people building wood surf boards suitable for surfing the river wave at McKay Park. Maybe that’s something I’ll try building.
Today, I took some time off from boat building and guided a group from Portland on the amazing trails at Phil’s Trailhead.
Thanks Kevin, Jonathan, William , and Joe. Had a great time guiding you through the trails today. Tomorrow, we paddle!
Riding the trails at Phil’s Trailhead with a couple of visitors form Portland.
September 25, 2025
Took another break from building a custom cedar strip kayak to guide an overnight camping trip on the Deschutes River. Of course we loaded up two hand built kayaks for the adventure. Used camping hammocks instead of tents. It was great. Weather was superb, fish were rising, new guy did great with his 18 foot cedar strip kayak. Video below.
Short video showing kayak build and paddling on the Deschutes River.
Welcome to Kerf and Scarph.
Kerf and Scarph. Two woodworking and boat building terms that mean a lot in crafting wooden paddle craft and in life. Follow to find out more about my process of building custom hand crafted kayaks, SUPS, and canoes.
Kerf and Scarph. You might think that is a weird title for a blog about cedar strip boats - kayaks, SUPs and canoes. These two obscure woodworking and boat building terms are part of every wooden boat build. It’s a part of your life when you work hundreds of wood strips into wooden sculptures that float.
Kerf: The amount of wood removed during a cut.
Scarph: A joint pairs two pieces of wood that are tapered or beveled to create a long, angled surface creating a longer piece of wood with a strong bond.
For more than ten years, I’ve been building cedar strip “light craft”. Paddle powered vessels suitable for adventures on rivers, lakes, and coastal tides. My family, friends and I enjoyed them. I think I’ve gotten just about good enough to offer my serves to water-loving adventure seekers who want their own beautiful and durable wooden kayaks, paddle board, or canoe. Crafting cedar strip light craft includes more than just knowing about kerfs, scarfs, whiskey strips, and spar varnish. It’s about perfecting a craft. With that said, it’s time to launch!
Post 2
Whiskey Strip
Here’s a work-in-progress picture of an 18 foot cedar strip kayak I started working on in January 2025. At this point, I’m about ready to install the whiskey strip. It’s the final strip in the hull and it’s a difficult little maneuver to get the final strip to fit. By tradition, boat builders earn a sip of whiskey when they finish this step in the process, so I’m told.
If you feel like you’re joining me mid process, that’s because you are. I was waiting to see how this kayak would turn out before I started this blog and let adventurous water-loving people know I’m open for commissions. A couple more posts and you’ll be up-to-date.
Could I have used a photo editor to remove the lawn mower from the background? Sure. But it’s there to remind me to mow the lawn after I figure out how to fit this whiskey strip in.
Building the cockpit for a hand-built cedar strip kayak.
Post 3
Cut a Hole in it!?!
Building a cedar strip kayak or stand up paddle board takes faith. Faith in the process, your hands, your eye for a fair line and your tools. There are several instances where you build something beautiful and then cut it open.
Buildling the cockpit is a little bit like that. It’s the first (but not last) time you cut into the hull. It usually turns out well, but it’s still unnerving. Here’s a picture of the cockpit being built. The coaming will be built into this space. I’ll share pictures of that when I do it.
Project Update
Starting November 2025, I’ll be open for commissions if someone wants a hand built custom cedar kayak, paddle board, or canoe for your Pacific Northwest Adventure. I may have one prototype kayak on hand if you want one for Christmas 2025. Yep, it’s the one featured above. I’ll share a final photo when it’s ready.