The primary activity at Brewery Creek Small Boat Shop is boat building instruction. The course outline is simple – students come into the shop for five to seven days, and together we build the boats to suit their needs. Only one or two students are taught at a time – the small class size allows me to be flexible in scheduling. Some students use their vacation time, others spread the building process over several weeks.

Whatever the schedule, each boat is brought to the ready-to-paint stage under the supervision and guidance of myself or one of my shop associates. Once the frame is complete, the skin is stretched on drum-tight. Painting can be negotiated separately, but it is much less costly for students to do this at home.

West Greenland kayak
The West Greenland kayak can be built in the space of five days to the ready-to-paint stage. This is one of the most straightforward of the kayaks to build and is a favorite of first time builders.
$2,050

Baidarka
The Baidarka in its single, double or triple cockpit form is the most complex of the kayaks I instruct students to build. There are more pieces and more joints than in any of the other kayaks. The reward however, is a lightweight, high-performance touring or racing kayak. The single Baidarka takes six days to build and the triple, seven days. For an expedition version of the Baidarka, an additional construction day is required to install two extra cargo hatches with dry seal linings.
Single: $2,150
Double: $2,350
Triple: $2,550
Expedition Package - $350

North Alaska recovery kayak
The recovery kayak can take many forms. The length of this adaptable lightweight kayak can range from a 7' surf boat to a 12' marsh explorer or pond kayak. The time required to build any one of them varies from three to four days. This is an excellent parent/child project or for young builders aged 9 or older.
7-10 ft: $1,250
10-13ft: $1,400

Baffin Island kayak
The Baffin Island style kayak is similar in both shape and complexity to the West Greenland kayak. The original kayaks were about 20 feet long; however, we also build a scaled down version, in the 17' range. This boat takes five days to build.
Original: $2,250
Scaled down: $2,150

King Island kayak
This kayak takes five days to build. It's only 15' long but quite deep.
$1,950

Netsilingmeot kayak
The Netsilingmeot kayak takes five days to build. This is the kayak that we built with three elders in Kugaaruk (Pelly Bay), Nunavut. For far north adventurers, this course is also available in Kugaaruk, taught by the elders of the community. The course includes building the kayak out on the land, a short tour in your completed kayak, and shipment of your boat as far as the port of Montreal.
(link to Pelly Bay Story on website).
Vancouver course: $1,950
Kugaaruk course: Contact us for details.

Yukon River canoe
The Upper Yukon River Canoe takes five days to build.
$1,850

Canadian Canoe
A lightweight (under 40 lb.) canoe can be built in six days.
$2,150

Pram Dinghy
A pram dinghy in the 8' to 10' range takes five days to build.
$1,850

Providence River Boat
The Providence River boat will take from three to four weeks to build. This project requires wood working experience or experience building another skin-on-frame boat.
$3,400
Sailing rig or oars — price varies depending on design.

Rowboat
Rowboats require five to seven days to build depending upon length and transom design. Contact Robert for more information.
$1,850 +

Coracle
Three days are needed to build a coracle.
$950