How to build a classic plywood paddle board

The Cutwater 12.5 is a super easy to build plywood paddle board that looks amazing and paddles fantastic!
Its simple square sided and flat bottom shape is easy & fun to build using only simple hand tools... Drill, saw and sander.
The Cutwater 12.5 would make a great project for anyone.
Order your instant download plans from www.vintageboa....
Thanks for watching and don't forget to Like & Subscribe!
Board info...
Length - 12.5 feet / 381cm
Width - 29 inches / 73.6cm
Weight - 29.8 lb / 12.5kg
The Cutwater 12.5 is the perfect combination of visually appealing classic looks, modern lightweight construction and paddling performance. With excellent speed and stability the Cutwater is designed for all paddlers and can be used for touring, fishing, lakes, rivers and coastal paddling in good conditions.
Feel the joy of cutting through the water on a classic wooden paddle board that you crafted with your own hands.
The instant download plans include a detailed construction manual with over 100 colour images and diagrams PLUS full size frame templates with dimensions to make building your board faster.
Read our blog on how to print the full size plans on a regular printer for FREE...
www.vintageboa...
Note: I have built all my boards from exterior grade plywood using epoxy and fibreglass and they have been long lasting, light and durable. But the choice is yours!
Read our blog post on why you can build a board with exterior grade plywood here...
www.vintageboa...
Have a question about building your own classic paddle board? Get in touch via the form below or email me direct at [e-mail].
Whether building from a frame kit or plans you'll love building and paddling your Cutwater 12.5... just make sure you're ready for all the attention it gets!

[@4268928]

Just started my build today, I must have watched this video 10 times!!! Appreciate your work. Ka pai from New Zealand!

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

Awesome mate! You’ll enjoy the building and love the paddling when it’s done!

[@NicolashernanNieto-cx6zl]

Parabéns muito bom ❤ vou Fazer

[@stanpustylnik]

Fantastic craftsmanship! Awesome paddleboard.

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

Thanks mate!

[@stanpustylnik]

@@Aaron.deRuiter I'm avid paddleboard(sman). Tried and use heavy plastic to go downstream through rapids or get through heavy brush along Potomac edge. Inflatables are ease to roll and store, take somewhere, but pain to pump up every time. However for pure paddling joy - veneer made hand crafted are most awesome - cutting perfectly through water.

[@jcboarders27]

nice one brother, thanks for the inspiration

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

No worries! 🤙🤙

[@GergC0521]

That is beautiful! As soon as I finish my move to NC I will be ordering plans to build 2! (one for the wife too!

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

Thanks Greg! We’re launching a new design in a week or so which is shorter and wider than the Cutwater 12.5. The new board is called the Wombat and is an all rounder sup. 🤙🤙

[@shoutatthesky]

Brilliant build! And with only simple hand tools and 5000 small clamps!

[@michaelricardo6446]

True craftsmanship, you will be successful!!

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

Thanks Michael 👍

[@petergarcia8225]

Super Dope!😄😄 Cadillac of Boards. 👍 Nice

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

Thanks, our boards definitely get plenty of admirers for their looks and padding performance! 🤙🤙

[@NA-mn5cf]

Very good job! Nice clip!

[@agencevacarme]

Wow this is very amazing and beautiful! Super build!

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

Thanks!

[@teatrokay]

Buenazo proyecto, gracias. Saludos desde Perú

[@ianski65]

Thats lovely mate, Im a big fan of stitch and tape. When its done well it can produce splendid looking watercraft, good work old sport 🤙🏽. Greetings from Essex UK.

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

Thanks Ian! I designed it to be extraordinarily simple to build but as you say if the simple things are done right they can turn out amazing. Cheers, Aaron

[@mbarlett2110]

A beautiful board. You make it look so easy. I’ve never seen a buzz saw used for cutting curves.

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

Thanks mate! Yep, if set the circular saw for the absolute minimum required to cut the material then can do very well cutting out curves.

[@CONACHO]

A paddle board that looks very good and apparently simple but does its job. You make it look easy to build. Good job, mate.

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

Thanks mate, I’ve got a new design coming soon as well 🤙

[@CONACHO]

@@Aaron.deRuiter How much epoxy did you need? Muchas gracias

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

Around 2 litres

[@davidmorse5690]

You do amazing and beautiful work. I will someday make the plunge of trying to build my own.

[@bbenezra1169]

What an ingenuity ❤

[@cristiang3298]

Menuda obra de arte, solo echo en falta la quilla, enhorabuena

[@behradnasirimusic]

good job Aaron

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

Thanks mate! Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@wilderramonvelasquezherrer7153]

Excelente trabajo y muy creativo, saludos desde Perú

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

Thanks mate!

[@anesio5996]

Lindo trabalho,parabéns aqui do Brasil...👏👏👏🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷

[@benjaminbottoms4083]

Nice ending

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

Thanks mate

[@Notkyle388]

I think I’m in love

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

With me or the board?? 😂😂🤙

[@Notkyle388]

@@Aaron.deRuiter both!

[@jamesledet784]

I want a paddle board. they just cost too much. I would love to try and make my own but lack the tools and work space and not sure if it would float if i made lol. awesome job.

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

Hey James, building your own board is actually easier and cheaper than you think!

[@SimonQuennevilleSim]

pretty cool ngl

[@stillholding4975]

This is awesome man. Nice work

[@jonathanbocek1811]

Brother I am so impressed!!! I never watch a full how to video on KZbin. However you truly are an artisan! I want to do this because I can't afford a paddle board for my son and I to get out on. I feel somewhat defeated 😂 because you make it look like an art form! God bless and thank you for sharing with us!!! AMAZING!!!!

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

Go for it mate! Building your own sup is actually easy with our step by step plans!!

[@jonathanbocek1811]

@@Aaron.deRuiter I did not know you had step by step plans!?!? I will be studying up ths weekend when k have time off work! Any links?? Thanks for taking time to reach out. You truly are a gentleman sir! God bless!

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

Nice mate! Here’s a preview of our plans www.vintageboardco.com.au/blogs/wooden-paddle-board-builders-tips/whats-in-the-cutwater-plans

[@rachidbaaira9869]

great job, tnx bro

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

Thanks for watching! 🤙🤙

[@itrzho]

what a whim!

[@cannello7719]

Bravo!

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

Graci!!

[@DaLions_Den]

beautiful

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

Thanks!

[@alanpatricio8562]

Seu trabalho é excelente, só falta dar atenção aos produtos anunciados, pois adquiri um projeto, já paguei e até agora não recebi o produto nem ao menos em PDF, Lamentável.

[@TheJaxsonjack]

Wow! What a beautiful build! How many paddle boards had you built prior to constucting this one? This seemed not to be your first try.

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

Thanks mate! This is the 4th board I’ve designed and built. You can find my designs at www.vintageboardco.com.au.

[@pegasus6724]

Can you out pool noodles inside they will keep it afloat if it breaches😊

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

You could do, but pool noodles are open cell foam which means they would hold any water that got inside. So far no cracks or breaches! 😁👍

[@1N2345]

Truly beautiful. 6:22 What is this box for? Weight distribution?

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

Thanks! The box is actually the handle.

[@Михаил-з8ч7л]

привет. круто! предложение сделать два слоя тонкого стекла. и класть его уже пропитанным. или под вакуум. отличная работа! собакен доволен больше всех)))

[@memecoinmafia2732]

sick 👍👍👍👍

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

Thanks brother 🤙🤙

[@DreamFlyEcuador]

Is there a reasoning behind the fact that the undersides of the ribs are arched?

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

To reduce weight. The curves transfer the load to the hull corner joint stronger than a straight section would.

[@DreamFlyEcuador]

@@Aaron.deRuiter how about the middle section flexing though?

[@trairasaventuras9920]

Muito legal, ela é rápida na água?

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

Thanks! Yes, the board paddles really well. It cuts through choppy water with ease!

[@trairasaventuras9920]

@@Aaron.deRuiter tanks!

[@paulowillianms9796]

Parabéns seu trabalho é show.

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

Thank you 🙏

[@jorgevillalobos8356]

Hola cómo obtengo los planos gracias y muy exelente trabajo

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

Hi, thanks for watching! The plans for this design can be found on our website www.vintageboardco.com.au

[@leemelbourne3297]

Looks great. Do the internal frames need to be waterproofed in any way?

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

Thanks mate. This is the third board I've built, none of them have any waterproofing on the inside and they're all still solid... So I guess not 🤙🤙 Not sealing the inside saves around 200g of extra weight!

[@Paulinodiazlorenzo]

Muy bien trabajo!!

[@alexandermoraes1454]

Aloha!falo do Brasil, parabéns pelo trabalho,gostaria de construir uma também, como consigo os planos de construção, obrigado e boas remadas!

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

G’day! Jump onto our website and order some instant download plans. www.vintageboardco.com.au

[@bercas5155]

Woooow🎉🎉🎉

[@ГеоргНеважно]

Видно делать умеешь зделал во 👍 классно! Тока не весло надо собой брать в центре шест мачту круглую типа черенка от лопыты и парус . Это будет получше чем весло и стоять там долго ненужное зделай себе стульчик деревянный. Уж парень ты мастеровой догадается как сделать.😆😆✌️ А так во за изобретение ставлю лайк и 5 с + ок

[@novik7115]

Миллион 🎉 лайков 😊

[@prosupoficial5595]

Vou tentar fazer uma assim com mais performance

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

Good luck! Here’s the plans mate www.vintageboardco.com.au/collections/cutwater-12-5-plywood-paddle-board

[@СергейЖучков-ц6р]

Класс! Круто!

[@bryang8266]

What great videos you produce Aaron! I'm thinking of building two Cutwater SUPs for my son and his partner, buying two of your pre-cut frame kits. Whilst the 12.5 would be OK for him (5ft 10ins and weighs about 75 to 80 kgs) I was wondering about reducing the length for her to around 11ft (5ft 6ins and weighs only about 50kgs). Could I simply shorten the board by taking out the centre (largest) frame and 9 ins of decking /side rail either side of the largest frame. Also I was wondering about strip planking the top deck in 4mm Western Red Cedar and Paulowina to add some striping features. Any thoughts appreciated on both queries.

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

G’day Bryan, thanks mate! I appreciate you watching the videos and wanting to build a couple of my SUPs. To be honest you’re better off building two of the same size boards. My daughter who’s 9 (around 25-30kg) can carry and paddle the Cutwater 12.5 no problems. She even takes our two dogs with her! 😀 Because the Cutwater is lightweight it is easy for just about anyone to use it plus you’ll appreciate making two of the same type at the same time as you can use the first set of hull panels as templates for the 2nd one. Stripping the decks with paulownia or cedar is definitely doable and would make a great looking board! Let me know if you have any more questions mate. Cheers, Aaron

[@bryang8266]

@@Aaron.deRuiter Hi Aaron Thanks for the response. I think that would be the way to go. I've tracked down some Marine Grade Plywood here in Perth WA at ~$70 per 8ft x 4ft sheet but the minimum thickness is 4mm. This will increase the weight a bit as you seem to use 3mm but I've also sourced some sheets of veneer at 0.6mm thick in WRC/Sycamore/Birch/Spotted Gum etc in 12ft x 3ft sheets that I can glue on the top surface to create a nice "faux" strip planked look before the glass application. Do you think that will work? Also not clear from you video but I assume the wire stitchings are removed once the epoxy filleting has hardened and the holes filled in afterwards.

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

You could get away with a lightweight 4mm plywood but if it’s more than 6kg a sheet it’ll make a heavy board. I often use the 3mm ply from Bunnings which works well. The copper wires don’t rust so they are trimmed flush with the hull but stay in the board.

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

www.bunnings.com.au/2440-x-1220mm-3mm-plywood-pine-premium-bc-grade_p0340267

[@bryang8266]

@@Aaron.deRuiter That's interesting as according to Bunnings' spec sheet the 3mm ply sheet weight is stated as 7.91kgs! The marine ply 4mm sheet I was looking at weighs 7.1 kgs. Maybe Bunnings has it wrong, which would not surprise me.

[@OneWayTraffic]

Any concern with not epoxy coating the inside in case water gets in? I’m building a wood epoxy boat and everything is coated everywhere. Of course I can’t lift it with one hand.

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

I’ve never coated the inside and I’m pretty sure most wooden surfboard builders don’t either.

[@pegasus6724]

Bear gryls knows him and bruce savage and wpc at hastings

[@JaeCutamora]

Any coming discount for the plan?,

[@cybitner6159]

You put in a plug but never sealed the inside, isn't that going to in the long run destroy the paddleboard? Other than that it looks incredible and I'd feel like the king of the lake on one of these

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

The plug is mostly to act as a relief valve to get rid of the built up air pressure. Every time I go for a paddle I close the plug then leave it open when not it use. No water actually gets inside. Thanks for watching mate and yep it’s a great board to paddle!

[@paulatoribio8520]

Felicidades muy hermoso donde puedo adquirir los planos

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

Thanks Paula, plans are here www.vintageboardco.com.au/products/cutwater-12-5-classic-wooden-paddleboard

[@Toto-en8df]

Very nice! I assume you are using epoxy resin? Do yourself a favour and wear al least gloves! Once your body developed a epoxy allergy, your can not get rid of it anymore, and the question is not if you become allergic, then only question is when! And when you are grindimng wear a mask, there are enough availible right now. 🙂

[@alexanderoliverio5089]

cane wee know what material you use ha

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

3mm okoume marine plywood and around 2.5l of epoxy resin.

[@robvangelderen2359]

A question the inside was printed but you sawed the outside hull what do you get if an order a kit with this one you’re building now?

[@memecoinmafia2732]

what's the advantage of having the raised edge at the front ...or is that just aesthetics ?

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

The raised foredeck has a couple of functions, it adds extra buoyancy up forward for punching through choppy water and provides a surface for the drain plug / vent to be installed at the highest point of the board… which allows any trapped air to vent upwards. Plus it adds a pretty aesthetic 😎

[@MrAndrewholde]

Do you put the join for the ply wood there obviously at the joint where it raise which I’m guessing is 8ft Don’t know why I’m asking really I guess it’s obvious

[@civilengineering4516]

plywoodnya tebal berapa mm?

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

It’s high quality lightweight 3mm marine plywood

[@kribo0982]

What glue do you use?

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

I mostly used an epoxy called Surfset Flex made in Australia and polyurethane glue for the butt joints.

[@joegreen9827]

killer

[@samloo8529]

I wouldn't want to use a work of art!

[@Kirill19000]

how much does this sap weigh?

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

Around 12kg all up when finished.

[@MicoHizona]

how to have those size and dimension, I wanna try :D

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

Our plans are instant download from our website www.vintageboardco.com.au.

[@randysgreatadventures3148]

How much weight can a board carry?

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

Our Cutwater XL paddle board can take up to 130kg which is approximately 290lbs. 🤙

[@muralimuvvala]

Where can I find the plans

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

At www.vintageboardco.com.au 👍👍

[@wynandsijben338]

Do you buy the little ribs that go on the inside separately?

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

You can buy a pre cut frame kit for all the internal structure, which saves a bunch of time . Or the board can be built from plans. www.vintageboardco.com.au/products/cutwater-12-5-classic-wooden-paddleboard

[@jeffcasemier1448]

@@Aaron.deRuiter Amazing product and content. Thank you! I’m not seeing the kit on your site these days-just the plans. Is a kit still an option? Price? Thank you!

[@petergarcia8225]

Just quick question mate, what was the hole up front for, is that for water transfer for the board to have weight?

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

The hole is for the stainless steel drain plug to vent any build up of internal pressure.

[@PMCS-en6mx]

for how much you sale this paddle boards?

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

We don’t offer built boards, we sell the plans to build them yourself. www.vintageboardco.com.au

[@FranklinBryan]

Does she sail?

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

haha not this one! I'm building a 20ft sailing cat at the moment!

[@adamcampbell301]

How much did this end up weighing?

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

Around 11.5kg 👍

[@danieljesuslagosb6148]

The plywood you use, what wood is it?

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

Hi Daniel, for this board I used lightweight okoume marine plywood.

[@markgallagher1376]

How many hours did it take you to build using the frame kit?

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

I was filming at the same time which really slows the building down but it should take around 25-30 hours to build from the frame kit. A little longer if building from plans. 🤙

[@markgallagher1376]

@@Aaron.deRuiter thanks, Aaron. The website looks great, by the way.

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

Thanks Mark, are you thinking of building a board?

[@markgallagher1376]

@@Aaron.deRuiter yeah I would love to. We are house hunting right now so once we get a house with a garage I can build one.

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

Good luck with the house hunting mate

[@ВасилийПетров-е5п7ь]

How much does it weigh?

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

Around 12kg all up when finished.

[@edwardsnowdon9586]

You should be building this with the major grain of the plywood run across the hull.The stiffness and impact resistance will be greatly increased. You should not have to glass all the deck if you did it correctly. Very DIY to run the ply length-ways. Also the interior needs to be epoxy coated; It wont last very long. My plywood windsurfer is over 30 years old and would be much lighter than your build.

[@Aaron.deRuiter]

Thanks champ, how many kits and plans have you sold??

[@Notkyle388]

@@Aaron.deRuiter lmao 😂

[@heitorq7795]

Eliminate the music, please.