Custom Kayaks, Paddle Boards & River Craft
Open for commissions Nov. 2025.
Text “Craft” to 503.522.5001 to learn more about custom:
Touring Kayaks (12-18 ft) base price $3,600
SUPs (8-14 ft hollow core) base price $2,300
Canoes (12-18 ft) base $3,300
Paddles - $220
Hand crafted in Bend, Oregon. Outdoor adventure capital of the Pacific Northwest.
Text “Craft” to 503.522.5001 to learn more about a commission.
I’ll call you back as soon as I’m done fairing the curves on this cedar strip kayak.
Purdy Fine Light Craft
Inspired by the beautiful shape of traditional wooden sailboats like James Alden’s Malabar series, I was bold enough, ten years ago, to say, “I can do that… maybe I’ll start with something I can craft in my garage.”
I bought Nick Schade’s book the “Strip Built Sea Kayak” (the ultimate authority of the subject) and gave it a try.
Three cedar strip kayaks and four paddle boards later, I’m still having fun crafting custom wood kayaks, paddle boards, and canoes suitable for rivers, lakes, and coastal adventures.
Purdy - Attractive. Not me! The kayaks, SUPs, and canoes I build are pretty… (or purdy, depending on where you’re from.)
Fine - Woodworking, fiberglass, brush, and epoxy work with a delicate touch, experience, and an eye for detail.
Light Craft - small, lightweight, paddle craft for use on rivers, lakes, and coastal adventures.
The lightweight kayaks, paddle boards, and canoes I build take a ridiculous amount of time to complete. I mill planks of lumber into strips, mill beads and coves on each, glue the strips together around a form, sand, lay fiberglass, apply epoxy, sand, varnish, and sand some more.
Paddle boards take 3-4 months to complete.
Kayaks take 7-9 months to complete.
Cedar strip canoes take 5-7 months.
Text “Craft” to 503.522.5001 to commission your own custom kayak, paddle board, or canoe.
I’ll call you as soon as I’m done sanding the top of my paddle board and we’ll figure out how to get you on the water.
Prototypes and Examples from the Shop.
These images give you a sense of the style, detailing, and wood grain you can expect in your custom built hand crafted kayak, paddle board, or canoe.
The hollow core cedar paddle boards are fast and maneuverable.
The “big guy” featured above is ready for a cooler and gear. Did you notice the built-in cup holder! Paddlers love that.
The kayaks go where you point them (great tracking) and can handle gear inside and out for touring.
Click above for a short video of a custom kayak build and adventure on the Deschutes River.
Photo: Lloyd Purdy in woodshop. Hand built Baltic Birch (sourced from Hardwood Industries) cabinets in background. Sunburn (sourced from Bend Or) from a day on the Deschutes River. Custom paddle. Photo credit to John Joseph.