2025 Delmarva Kayak Build

The Delmarva Paddlers Retreat’s traditional Greenland skin-on-frame kayak building class is back!

About the Build

The kayak build workshop, lead by Anders Thygesen, will give you the opportunity to learn the art of building your own skin on frame (SOF) kayak under skilled mentorship.

Build Dates & Tuition

Start Date: Friday, October 3rd

End Date: Thursday, October 9th

Early Bird Tuition: $2500 (before July 1st)

Regular Tuition: $2750 (after July 1st)

Tuition includes all materials and instruction to build a kayak with a sea sock, attendance at the Delmarva Paddlers Retreat, housing for the entire stay (build and retreat), and meals during the retreat. Meals during the build are not provided.

What to Expect

Anders will be in touch with you prior to the build to help you determine the type of the kayak you're interested in building, including taking measurements and discussing possible options to personalize your kayak in form and function. Each participant will build their own SOF with his skillful supervision using simple hand tools such as planes, chisels, and small hand saws. While a working knowledge of hand tools is helpful, basic instruction and guidance in the use of each tool will be provided for those who are less familiar. The goal is for you to have a framed and skinned kayak at the end of the course, so expect seven very long days of intense work. At the end of the class, Anders will guide you on how to complete final outfitting and finishing touches that remain to be worked on later.

What to Bring

Below is a complete list of tools needed by each builder. A PDF version is also available.

2 sawhorses to support the kayak during construction
1 small hand saw - small Japanese saws work fine
1 small surface/block plane
1 spokeshave
1 hammer
1 pair of pliers to pull out little temporary nails
1 combination or tri-square
1 adjustable T-bevel for drawing different angles
Battery-powered cordless drill - light duty is fine
Utility knife - Anders will have Mora Knives available for purchase
Pencils
Cabinet scraper and/or sand paper, 80 and 120 grit
3-6' pieces of medium thickness rope or 3 kayak straps (for strapping to the sawhorses)
As many little clamps as possible!

Build Refund Policy

Full refunds will be granted up to July 15th, less processing fees if applicable.

After July 15th we can only refund 50%. Again less processing fees when incurred.

After Sept 15th, we can only refund 25%. Again less processing fees when incurred.

Please note that we lock in our numbers for travel in May, purchase materials in August and commit to the the Camp around the Sept 15th. Once we do that most of your your registration money is spent. We know life happens and we will try to be fair. If someone registers late we may be able to apply it to a refund, but that is far from guaranteed.

About Anders

Your instructor, Anders Thygesen of Vestfossen, Norway, is an accomplished kayak builder, paddle maker, and expedition kayaker. He has supported his kayaking habit (and family) by building traditional qajaqs since 1996. His partner, Jannie Heegaard, a similarly accomplished kayaker, has assisted Anders build classes for several years. She will be on hand to guide your build and help you finish your kayak within the timeframe of the class. Anders and Jannie are favorite guests at Delmarva, and have taught several build classes through the years.

Anders models his build classes on the best tradition of the Inuit, where skills are passed on from person to person. You will enjoy the opportunity to personalize the kayak as you wish, both in form and function, as each participant builds their own kayak from scratch. We use simple hand tools, and while some instruction will be available in use of the tools, the student needs to have a working knowledge of planes, chisels and small hand saws. After an intense week of hard work, you should leave the Retreat with a completed skin-on-frame kayak. You may want to spend a little more time afterwards sanding, polishing, painting and performing other finishing touches on your new baby.

Learn more about Anders and what he does at Kajakkspesialisten. And don't miss his blog!

Also, here’s Peter Gengler's time-lapse film of Anders' kayak build at the 2017 Delmarva Paddlers Retreat.