A Greenland kayak is not built per a set of plans but by a building method that strives to fit the kayak to your body dimensions. The information by (Greenlander) H.C. Petersen is closest to the methods used in Greenland. Many of the other sources provide alternative or "modernized" building solutions which are quite satisfactory in their own right. Unless you are a beginner, avoid making your skin-on-frame kayak too large. Even the Greenlanders have to really wriggle to get inside of them. Although the Greenlanders do not practice wet-exit techniques, you can add a great measure of safety to your kayaking by using adequate floatation and a sea-sock.

Instruction in Kayak Building by H.C. Petersen Excellent guide to building a Greenlandic Kayak with text in Greenlandic/Danish/English. Available online from Atuagkat and Neriusaaq Bookstore. Prices are in Danish Kroner (DKK); you can determine the equivalent rate in US Dollars (USD) via The Universal Currency Converter . Some non-Greenlanders prefer a cockpit location further aft than described by Petersen. An excellent companion to this book is Chris Cunningham's two articles on "Building a Greenland Kayak", Sea Kayaker, Winter 1992, Spring 1993. Reprints are available from Sea Kayaker Magazine.

Skinboats of Greenland by H.C. Petersen Although the kayak building information is limited, this beautiful book contains a wealth of information on the kayak gear and fittings, including weapons and also has a section about the umiak. Useful if you wish to make your own throwing stick, tuilik and other gear. Available from Atuagkat, Neriusaaq Bookstore or Nunatta Katersugaasivia Allagaateqarfialu (Greenland National Museum and Archives) at grnatmus@greennet.gl.

Making Skin on Frame Boats by Robert Morris. Morris documents building a Greenland-style skin-on-frame kayak using pegged deck construction. Also included is building information for a North Alaska Retrieval/Recovery kayak, Netsilingmeot kayak, baidarka, Pram Dinghy, Providence River Boat, Canadian Canoe, and a Upper Yukon style skin canoe.  Details from Amazon.

Building a Greenland Kayak by Mark Starr. Mark teaches a course on Building a Greenland Kayak at Mystic Seaport. This book documents his process and provides detailed instructions with illustrations, materials and tools lists as well as other pertinent information. Deck construction is mortise and tenon and forms are used to shape the ribs. Includes several kayak surveys. Call Mystic Seaport Bookstore for more information 800-331-2665. Details from Amazon.

Building the Greenland Kayak: A Manual for Its Construction and Use by Chris Cunningham.. Chris Cunningham builds upon his two popular articles in Sea Kayaker magazine in the creation of this book. Includes plans for a low-volume version designed for rolling; an especially stable version for children; and discussions of kayaking equipment, paddling, and rolling techniques. Details from Amazon.

The Aleutian Kayak by Wolfgang Brinck. (Currently out-of-print) Wolfgang describes building an Aleutian kayak using mostly natural materials, including a canvas skin. Deck construction is pegged. Included is a chapter on kayak dress with a pattern for a Greenland tuilik, with directions on how to adjust the fit. The appendices cover repairs, steamboxes and ribs and how to create mortised deck beams. Details from Amazon.

Build Your Own Sea Kayak video by Bob Boucher. Video describes how to build a "West Greenland-style" kayak using pegged deck construction and natural materials. Good overview to help new builders understand the end-to-end process. 2 hrs. 40 min. Bob Boucher, 9070 N Range Line Rd, River Hills WI 53217 Phone: 414-228-8360

Hooper Bay Kayak Construction by David W. Zimmerly. "Construction details of a 4.6-metre Bering Sea-Type Kayak made in the Yupik Eskimo-speaking community of Hooper Bay, Alaksa..." This volume contains many interesting photographs and illustrations. Many of the details are applicable to other kayak types as well. Details from Amazon.

Eastern Arctic Kayaks -- History, Design, Technique by John D. Heath and E. Arima. With contributions by John Brand, Hugh Collings, Harvey Golden, H.C. Petersen, Johannes Rosing, and Greg Stamer. Although this is not a text on kayak building, it is rich in kayak surveys, history and information about Greenland and East Canadian Arctic kayaks. Heath and Arima provde a broad context of the history and cultural significance of these kayaks. The surveys by Heath, Harvey Golden, Hugh Collings and John Brand (excerpts from Brand's "Little Kayak Book" series), should be useful to many builders. Includes technique information by Heath, H.C. Petersen and Stamer, and a trip narrative by Rosing. Details from Amazon. Also available from Jessie Heath.

Kayaks of Greenland -- The History and Development of the Greenlandic Hunting Kayak, 1600-2000 by Harvey Golden. (580pp); an in-depth look at the construction, design, variation, and evolution of the Greenlandic hunting kayak. The spectrum of kayak forms from Greenland is linked to pre-historic forms from the Bering Straits and is analyzed within a changing cultural and climatic context. 104 scale drawings of kayaks are presented, representing examples from the early 17th century through the end of the 20th century. Aside from the 104 scale drawings of kayaks, there are 407 figures consisting of historic images and technical illustration. 79 paddles are also presented in scale-drawing. Available from Harvey Golden.

Kayaks of Greenland Drawings Index
This compilation by Ben Fuller, is a companion to Harvey Golden's "Kayaks of Greenland" reference (above) and provides a handy cross-reference to the kayak illustrations in Harvey's work.

Pavia Lumholt's Website (adding fabric bulkheads to a Greenland kayak)
Pavia Lumholt is a board member of Qajaq USA. Pavia, a veteran of the Greenland kayaking championships, is past-president of both Qajaq Nuuk and Qajaq Copenhagen . Pavia provides a photo essay of adding fabric bulkheads and hatches to a Greenland kayak.

Sea Kayaker: Early Greenland Kayaks Return To The Water by Harvey Golden
Harvey Golden examines the history of the Hindeloopen and Brielle kayaks, thought to have been brought back by Dutch whalers in the 17th century, and recounts his observations of replicating and launching these 300 year-old kayaks to gain insights into their qualities. The article includes a detailed survey of the Brielle.

Baidarka List Archives
Discussion on every aspect of qajaq building. Searchable archive and Cultural Information. Excellent Books and Reference section. Also information on Steam Bending.

Greenland Kayaking Audio Glossary  
A cooperative effort between Qajaq USA members and Maligiaq Padilla, the audio glossary contains a number of audio WAV files of terms related to Greenland kayaks and kayaking. Recorded in Sisimiut Greenland, July 2002.

A Greenland paddle requires as precise a fit, or perhaps even more so, than a composite spooned or wing blade. You can't expect excellent results from a Greenland paddle unless if fits you and your kayak properly. Qajaq USA strongly recommends that traditional kayaking enthusiasts make their own paddles as a weekend of woodwork can reward you with a custom-fitted paddle that no commercial maker can match. If, instead, you prefer to buy, see Commercial suppliers of Greenland paddles.

Making a Greenland Paddle by Chuck Holst.  Requires downloading Adobe Acrobat Reader. 
Excellent information and well illustrated. Chuck's directions are highly recommended and have been used to create hundreds of Greenland paddles.

Carving the Greenland Paddle by Matt Johnson
In this free-online video, based on Chuck Holst's instructions, Matt guides you step-by-step to make your own Greenland paddle.

Paddle Poll From Qajaq USA Forum. 
Gabriel Romeu compiled this extensive list of paddle dimensions from responses gleaned on the Qajaq USA forum. This information should be useful to anyone who needs additional information on paddle sizing.

Building a Carbon Fiber Greenland Paddle by Duane Strosaker. 
Duane provides information on making a plug, the mold, and molding the components to make your own carbon fiber Greenland paddle. Many illustrations.

Greenland Paddles Recorded by Gail Ferris
Gail has created line drawings for four Greenland paddles encountered in her travels. You can follow the links to view her pictures, travel narratives and  kayaking videos.

John Heath's Greenland Paddle Plans  
Full-size plans for a West-Greenland shouldered paddle available from John Heath (see the very bottom of his web page at the link above). These plans (at a much reduced scale) were originally published in John's article, "The Narrow Blade", Sea Kayaker magazine, Vol 3. No 1. Summer 1986.

Canoe Paddles: A Complete Guide to Making Your Own by Graham Warren, David Gidmark. Although this book documents making canoe paddles, Greenland-style paddle makers can greatly benefit from the contents (Greenland paddles are briefly mentioned). Includes information on wood selection, carving techniques, solid and laminated paddles, wood finishes, using a crooked knife. Details from Amazon.

Greenland Paddles Step-by-Step by Brian Nystrom. Based on the Chuck Holst plans, this book features easy-to-understand directions and over 80 photographs and drawings to guide the reader through all phases of the paddle making process. Includes; selecting tools and materials, designing your paddle, layout, shaping, finishing. Contains helpful tips and tricks for novices as well as the experienced paddle maker. Available from Brian Nystrom.

Kayak Clothing in Greenland  
The British Museum has compiled a wonderful virtual tour of modern kayaking clothing made and used by the kayaking clubs in Greenland today. The text includes very illuminating passages describing both the equipment and some of the emotions surrounding it.

Clothing from East Greenland    
A beautiful series of pages that includes kayaking gear (gut anoraks, seal skin jackets, mittens, whaling suit), a diagram of waterproof stitches and more. Also includes information on the principles, materials and the making of arctic clothing.

Sea Kayaker: Greenland-style tuiliks by Brooks Wetsuits and Superior Kayaks
Chris Cunningham provides historical information about the tuilik and a  review of the Brooks and Superior kayaks garments. For more information about the Brooks product, see the Brooks Greenland Page.  In addition to their  tuilik, Brooks also makes a neoprene avataq (inflatable bladder) that was used at the Year 2000 Greenland Championships.

The Tuilik - Then and Now by Tom Carroll
Tom provides information on the tuilik, including illustrations of the Superior Kayak suit reviewed in Sea Kayaker (above). If you paddle traditional style and haven't tried a tuilik, then you don't know what you are missing. tuiliks provide much more freedom of motion than a short neoprene skirt for practicing rolls and braces.

Tuilik Making by John Doornink
John shares images of his method of making a neoprene tuilik.

Qaannamik pinnguaatit (kayak games) by H.C. Petersen 
This small book is available only in Greenlandic but includes an excellent pattern for a tuilik and a diagram for three different blunt-tipped "practice" harpoons. The book opens with a drawing of a mother moving the arms of her baby to begin his kayak training and a balance board used to hone his balance. Also includes a short bit of information on sculling, rolling, and the rope gymnastics. Available online from Atuagkat and Neriusaaq Bookstore.



*Qajaq USA does not receive compensation from the display or sale of any books or videos listed on this page. These sources are provided solely as a service to the Greenland-kayaking community.