Canoe or Kayak Building Course on the Isle of Mull

We pride ourselves on building high-quality, functional boats that are as beautiful as they are practical. All of our boats use a combination of pre-cut marine plywood parts, solid Douglas Fir timber, and fibreglass reinforced with West System Epoxy. These techniques produce lightweight, durable boats suitable for a lifetime of use. Below, you’ll find detailed information about the boats you can choose to build during our course.

Shrike Sea Kayak

• Length: 5.3 metres
• Beam: 540 mm
• Weight: Approx. 16 kg
• Style: Stitch-and-glue
• Ideal for: Touring, rock-hopping, and rough water paddling

Inspired by traditional Greenland qajaqs, the Shrike Sea Kayak combines classic hull lines with modern materials for exceptional performance and beauty. Its sharp bow lines and long waterline make it fast and manoeuvrable, with the rocker and chine design providing stability and agility in waves. Though it may feel tender at first, paddlers quickly adapt and enjoy its responsiveness.

Each kayak is built with three watertight compartments for storage: a foredeck hatch, an easily accessible rear hatch for essentials, and a larger aft compartment. These are fitted with screw-on hatches for simplicity and durability, though optional Kajaksport hatches are available upon request for an additional fee.

For smaller paddlers, we can create a scaled-down version at 90% size, ensuring an excellent fit and improved handling.

Peterborough Canoe

• Length: 4.7 metres
• Beam: 830 mm
• Weight: Approx. 27 kg
• Style: 5-plank-a-side stitch-and-glue
• Ideal for: Solo paddlers or two smaller people

The Peterborough Canoe is a compact, elegant design that’s perfect for day trips and light touring. With a lightly rockered hull and moderate beam, it offers excellent stability while maintaining a sleek, fast profile. The design features tumblehome sides, a shallow-vee bottom for balance, and narrow waterlines at the bow and stern for speed and efficiency.

This canoe is crafted from pre-cut plywood panels, assembled with cable ties and reinforced with fibreglass and epoxy. The transparent fibreglass finish highlights the natural beauty of the plywood, making it ideal for varnishing. Each Peterborough is fitted with two ash seats and a central yoke for easy carrying, with customisation options available.

Prospector 17 Canoe

• Length: 5.2 metres
• Beam: 900 mm
• Weight: Approx. 43 kg
• Style: Stitch-and-glue with a rockered keel
• Ideal for: Two adults with gear, extended trips, and wilderness exploration

The Prospector Canoe is a larger, more robust design, ideal for carrying camping gear or tackling challenging water. Known as the "workhorse of the North," its high freeboard and full bow and stern provide excellent performance in rough conditions. The rockered keel line enhances manoeuvrability, while the tumblehome sides keep the boat stable and easy to paddle.

This canoe requires slightly more work due to its size but offers unparalleled capacity and durability. It’s equipped with three ash seats, two thwarts, and customisable features to suit your needs. Like all our boats, the Prospector is reinforced with fibreglass for a strong yet lightweight build that can handle years of adventure.

We are based on the beautiful Isle of Mull, near the village of Bunessan where we have set up a stunning new teaching space. But we travel across Scotland to work with groups and communities that would like to build boats.

All of our weeks are residential in nature and your course fee includes all materials, tuition and use of tools to get the boats built. As well as this we include an option to camp on our croft and use the facilities in the workshop - toilets, showers and a self catering kitchen with cooker/oven and fridge space. We provide a welcome meal on the first night, and tea and coffee and snacks through the week but you’ll have to bring your own food for breakfasts, lunch and dinners. We don’t provide alcohol, but many find a wee glass of wine at the end of a day in the workshop is quite nice - you might want to bring a bottle (or two) with you.

Yes! We run courses all around Scotland in all kinds of ways - we can fit a whole workshop in our van and can come to you. In some cases it can work out cheaper for us to travel to you and work with your group where you are, rather than to book onto a course. We work with community groups as part of funded projects but also for private clients. In 2023 we organised a week of boatbuilding for an individuals’ 50th Birthday celebration!

None! Our courses are designed for complete beginners, and no prior woodworking or boatbuilding experience is required. Our instructors guide you through every step, providing detailed instructions, demonstrations, and support. All you need is enthusiasm and a willingness to learn.

Yes, you can attend solo. However, if you’re building a canoe, we recommend bringing a helper, as canoes are larger and involve more work. A helper can make the experience more manageable and enjoyable, especially during tasks that require two sets of hands. The price of the course is determined per boat (as opposed to per person), with up to 2 people welcome to build each boat.

The course is active and hands-on, involving long days on your feet. Tasks include sanding, assembling, and finishing components, so a basic level of fitness is helpful. We do our best to accommodate all abilities, and our instructors are on hand to assist with heavier or more challenging tasks.

We provide all tools, materials, and safety equipment needed for the course.

This includes:

• Pre-cut plywood parts
• High-quality Douglas Fir timber
• West System Epoxy and fibreglass
• Hand tools, power tools, and sanding equipment

You’ll also have access to our dedicated workshop and professional-grade tools.

Here’s a practical list of items to bring:

• Comfortable, sturdy footwear (preferably safety shoes or boots)
• Old clothes suitable for workshop use (epoxy and wood dust can get messy)
• A notebook and pen for taking notes during demonstrations
• Snacks and drinks for the day (self-catering kitchen available)
• Camping gear if you’re staying on-site (tent, sleeping bag, etc.)

Optional items include a dust mask, protective gloves, and your favourite hand tools, though we supply all essentials.

Camping is included in your course fee. The camping area is located next to the workshop, and you’ll have access to:

• Toilets and hot showers
• A shared kitchen with a cooker, fridge, and utensils
• Beautiful surroundings and proximity to beaches

If you prefer more comfort, upgrade to our on-site yurt or book nearby accommodation.

Yes, to some extent. While we follow a proven build process to ensure success within a week, certain customisations are possible, such as:

• Adding specific fittings (e.g., Kajaksport hatches for the Shrike kayak)
• Adjusting seat placements in canoes
• Scaling down the Shrike kayak for lighter paddlers

Please let us know about customisation requests when booking, as some may incur additional fees.

Our structured programme ensures you’ll leave with a fully constructed boat ready for its first paddle - everyone we have ever had on our courses has finished their boat! However, additional finishing steps, such as painting or varnishing, must be done at home. This typically takes around 40 hours. We provide detailed instructions and ongoing support if you have questions during the finishing process.

Most participants transport their boats home on roof racks. Kayaks and canoes are lightweight, making them easy to secure with straps. If you don’t have a roof rack or suitable vehicle, let us know in advance, and we can help you arrange transport options.

No, the course is self-catering. You’ll have access to a shared kitchen with cooking facilities, and we provide a communal meal on the first evening to welcome everyone. Bring your own food for the week or shop locally in Bunessan.

Yes, our purpose-built workshop is fully enclosed and equipped for year-round use. It includes a clean teaching area, a messy machine shop, and all the tools and materials needed to build your boat comfortably, regardless of the weather outside.