FAQs: General & Beginners

Q: How much does it cost to build a Geodesic Airolite Boat?

A:  The obvious answer to this question is "It depends" but we'll try to be a little more specific.  As of the spring of 2024, with slightly inflated wood prices, the cost to build some of our most popular boats, 14 foot canoes, is: Plans and kit - $220, wood for boat hull - $75 to $100 depending on your location and type of wood, wood for strongback and station molds - $0 to $60 depending on what you have around the shop, miscellaneous hardware and pieces - $15.  These are reasonable prices that total up to just over $300 and it would be hard to spend over $400 for everything.  With Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace and supplies from friends and family, it could be a lot less.

 Q: Are these boats strong enough? How can they weigh so little?

A: Yes, Geodesic Airolite boats are exceptionally light but they are also exceptionally strong. For example, the 8-pound Sweet Pea has held 250-pounds of people (father and two small children) in calm water! The Geodesic Boat building concept came from various aircraft construction techniques and materials, so it is light weight and strong by its very nature. The use of Kevlar aramid fibers on most Geodesic Airolite models adds exceptional tortional rigidity with almost no weight.

Q: How long does it take to build a Geodesic Boat?
A: It depends upon the individual, their available time and work habits.  The more you start and stop, the longer the process.  The times that are posted on some pages are optimistic but achievable.  There will be some trial and error but it goes quicker as you develop confidence in the process. You could get an idea of the time by adding up the number of items on the bill of material; for example, the Sweet Pea Mark 2 has 19 items. It is a boat that might be built in 30 hours by a disciplined worker.  Some of the build time is spent building the strongback, steam box, stations and other components.  Our average canoe only has 17 wood pieces that comprise the frame (stringers, ribs, gunwales and keelson) and a few more pieces for the stems, decks, thwarts and floorboards.

Q: Which boat should I build?
A: A first-time boat builder should study all of the designs listed and choose a simple one. My advice would be to build a boat appropriately sized to handle the user, gear and conditions. The maximum weight limits for each design are very realistic but should be considered in your choice.

Q: How much room do I need?
A: This varies with the selected design. We recommend a few feet on all sides - it is helpful to be able to step back and view/admire your work from a distance. The Geodesic Airolite Boat building process is relatively clean and many people have built these boats in their apartment. Note that you will need proper ventalation for certain adhesives and sealants and you will need to be able to warm the room sufficiently for them to cure.

Q: What is included in a set of plans?
A: The plans consist of full sized patterns, detailed scaled drawings, a complete bill of materials, sailing rig on certain designs and a step-by-step construction manual. Plans are always priced separately from the partial kits.

Q: What is included in a partial kit?
A: It is a source of the unique materials selected for the particular boat design. Specifically; Cut to length 8.4 oz. 68" width, heat shrink 600D polyester, Kevlar roving, structural epoxy (1 to 1) mix thickened to a viscosity similar to Vaseline (very low toxicity) and Heat n Bond (hot melt glue tape). Note that the plans are NOT included in a partial kit.