Willow Sea Kayak

Bill Thomas’ design parameters and construction choices have been carefully choreographed to create strong, attractive boats that can be assembled from a kit by homebuilders or students during one-week classes. The goal has been to create boats that are solid predictable performers for beginners, yet continue to be fulfilling boats as a paddler’s skills improve. Camp Chewonki has selected the design for their Builders program. The kids spend 2 weeks building their own Willow kayaks, then paddle them on 3 week expedition along the coast of Maine.

The Willow is built stitch-n-glue, using okoume plywood and fiberglass cloth set in epoxy for a strong and lightweight hull. It is hard chined, with cambered deck, a bit of rocker, pronounced dead-rise, and low freeboard. The deck is steeply cambered in front of the keyholed cockpit and low aft.

For more information and a discussion of the design choices: www.billthomaswoodworking.com/willow_kayaks.html

46 page manual included.