How to build a cardboard kayak for less than 40$ (Updated with template)

Step 9 Mark, cut and laminate, or waterproof.

Next, lay out your kayak on your sheet of plyboard that you just finished, and use a chalk line to snap the lines. Then using your skill saw and a fine toothed blade, cut the cardboard to all but the last layer, and bevel the cut so that when you bend it up, the two surfaces you just cut, come together so you can glue them. After that, apply the contact paper to the entire surface, making sure to get all the edges corners and nooks and crannies. this step is crucial, if not done properly your kayak will soak up water like the big cardboard sponge that it is, and you will be the proud but not so dry owner of the first ever cardboard submarine! Also, it is much easyier to waterproof the kayak while it is still in a flat sheet form, rather than all folded up.

waterproofing can also be done by applying SEVERAL (as in more than one) liberal coats of helmsman spar polyurethane.

Comments

[sarahrunner]

oh my goodness this sounds complicated now!! 'use a chalk line to snap the lines' help!! I don't know what that means!! Does it just mean mark where you want to cut?

[Zetheros]

I think what he means is to use a chalk string. Basically, it's a string covered in powdered chalk. You connect one end of the string to where you want the end of the line to be, and connect the other end of the string to where you want the line to end. You then pinch the middle of the string, pull straight up, and let go. The string should slap right onto the material, leaving an almost perfect line of chalk in place.

[randomray]

Right on the button and it is far easier to get a long straight line then a straight edge . When done it rolls up into a little ball . Any home center or hardware store will have them .

[msd8]

yeah, chalk line is just as you described.

[Metalcaster14]

I'm not sure if it's the same thing but could you also use that cardboard that's 4-5 times thicker than normal corrugated cardboard? They usually use it in those massive boxes for watermelons at grocery stores. Also at Costco they use it alot.

[msd8]

Oh yes, absolutely. I imagine that stuff would work super well. The stuff I used was in fact 2 times as thick as normal cardboard, it was double layered. Good to know about costco, though they don't have too many of those in NH..... if any, but thanks again for the tip.

[hogthrob]

this photos a little blurred did you drink all the beer bottles when removing? ;0)

[msd8]

hahahaha, sadly no, and most of them were filled with water anyways. The flash on my camera made everything look odd, but sadly without the flash, crisp pictures were hard to obtain.