Build Your Own Greenland Kayak – Skin-on-Frame Course

Imagine crafting your very own Greenland-style kayak with your hands – a sleek, lightweight skin-on-frame beauty made just for you: tailored to your height, your weight, your paddling style. Not just any boat, but one that feels like an extension of your body on the water – elegant, responsive, and simply magical to paddle. World-class rolling abilities are just something we build in, don't sweat it :)

I'm really excited to invite you to one of our hands-on building courses, guided by experienced builders who live and breathe this craft. You'll create something truly unique: a traditional Geenland Qajaq using the classic skin-on-frame technique (wooden ribs, beams and durable fabric, totally vegan, no seals involved ;).

Confirmed course dates for 2026

Västervik – starting 8 June 2026 (fixed date!)

An intensive 8-day build (we can stretch it if needed for a more relaxed pace)
Location: Lysingsbadet campsite, Västervik – right by the water
Stay on-site at the camping area, steps away from the building space, sauna, and dock. Perfect for morning/evening paddles, swimming, and hanging out together in the evenings. In Västervik, you are hardly one hour paddling away from a free horizon in the archipelago.
We kick things off with a fun kayak party on 6–7 June! Clinics, testing gear, small comp, great food, good people, and the perfect warm-up for the summer ahead!

Stockholm – Tantolunden (proposed dates)

Possible intensive course starts: weekend of 14 May. Prepare to work on your qajaq all day.
If 8 days isn't quite enough, no stress. We often continue flexibly with extra days or weekends later in the summer. Once we get "rolling" (pun intended), it usually sorts itself out beautifully.
Bonus: If you're quick, you can even make your own Greenland paddle during the course!

What the course is like

You'll build a classic Greenland kayak from the ground up, customized to fit you perfectly.

It's very practical and hands-on: we cover everything from choosing and shaping ribs, fairing the frame, sewing the "skin", and applying the final beautiful finish of your choice.

There is one caveat: if you choose to work slow, you will not be able to finish on time. If that is the case, the instructor(s) will help you as far as possible and you might not do all parts yourself.

About a week before we start, there's a short mandatory kick-off meeting (in person or online) where we fine-tune material choices to prepare the wood. Finding really good spruce in Sweden is surprisingly tricky. We put serious effort into sourcing the right stuff and treating it into kayak material.

Price & deposit

Price: 17 000 kr (This covers the deposit, expert guidance, most materials and tool use during the course.)
With "most materials" we mean the usual materials. If you want something unusual, it can probably be arranged ;)

Deposit: 3 000 kr (non-refundable) We ask for this to secure your spot and cover the upfront costs of ordering and preparing materials. It's a fixed expense for us.

Ready to join?

If any of these dates speak to you, or if you'd like to talk about a different time that suits you better, just drop me a message. We'll chat and figure it out together.

We take registrations on a first-come, first-served basis, and spots tend to go quickly once we start spreading the word.

Come build with us this summer! It's going to be fun, challenging, rewarding... and you'll paddle away with a kayak that's uniquely yours.

Looking forward to hearing from you! 🚣‍♂️
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Kayak building courses in Stockholm and Västervik

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