There are a number of choices that go into picking a kayak design. Some of the factors that you will have to consider include:

1. What building technique to use?
2. What type of kayak to build?
3. What shape, length, and width do you want?
4. How big a kayak you need?
5. Which kayak looks best?

But one thing we haven’t talked about yet is where you’re going to keep it when you finish building it. This last point is worth a bit of thought. If you’re like us, you’ll probably take over the garage to be your kayak building shop, or maybe you’ll build it outdoors like I did with my first canoe.

If you have the option, then storing your new kayak indoors is the best choice. While all of the building methods will give you a solid, durable kayak, even the commercially built kayaks are sensitive to ultraviolet (UV) light. Keeping your kayak indoors when you aren’t using it can go a long ways toward extending the life of your kayak.

So before you order those plans & forms for that 19′ sea kayak, run on out to the garage or the storage shed and measure it one more time to make sure it will fit at the end of the day.