When I moved to Tupperville about five years ago, I was pretty much retired, but looking for ways to keep myself busy. One of the first things I decided to do was build myself a kayak, pretty much like the one I had in England as a boy. That was built from some plans published in Practical Mechanics I think, and that was certainly the plan I found on the internet, and decided to build. It was cheap to do in those times, and fairly cheap to do now, because it was a hardwood frame with a canvas “skin’.

Wallaceburg has a rich history of boat building, as do the First Nations community on Walpole Island so it has always seemed to me that there should be some residual skills in the area. I am astonished that in this day and age, when artisans are coming back in to their own, that no one is boat building in the area. We have potters, but no boat builders, and incidentally, no glass blowers, but that is another subject.

I am interested in seeing if there is some interest. Maybe in a group discussing the merits of a co-operative, or at least an informal group where ideas, tools and expertise could be traded.

Any takers?

I should explain myself better.

I don’t expect to sell my kayaks. If nothing else, the insurance would be prohibitive. What I have seen, in both Ontario and BC, and in both instances, these were native, Is a facility where a person could build a boat, various kinds, with the guidance of an artisan experienced in the process. In both cases these were residential, you went for two weeks, and built your own boat, had room and board. I think that is just as possible here. In this case I would not be the artisan, but I do have an extensive business background, and so could help with the business model if required. My interest is mostly in seeing this come to fruition.

In the other scenario, I could see a need for a facility where you could store your boat, and have access to a workshop where you could build and refurbish, and shoot the breeze with other like minded souls.

At the moment just want to see if there is any interest, or other ideas.

Thanks for the reply