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Hi Tom,
I think that if the plans are published in the book then they are there to be used. If the designer did not want the plans to be used then only a partial set of plans or an un-dimensioned "study plan" would have been published. Purchased plans seem to be a an area of concern though - I am not 100% clear on that.
The Chesapeake 17 LT plans that I purchased from CLC authorized me to build one boat and said that there was $10.00 per boat fee for any others I made.
I was curious about this and made some inquires. To the best of my understanding, that legally, if you have purchased the plans you can make more that one - providing you are not selling them as a "business". The boats (up to a quantity of "less than 50") may be sold privately without any legal repercussions. Making a slight modification to the plans constitutes a "new design" - totally eliminating any legal restrictions.
I like building (and paddling) kayaks as a hobby. Having limited room to store kayaks and limited funds to buy materials I will sell a kayak to cover the cost of my "habit" plus a bit extra to purchase an other set of plans or a tool. By selling the extra kayaks I can try different boats and I introduce new people to the pleasures of paddling - in a couple of instances people ended up buying plans and are building their own boats.
I have just gone through the process of designing my own kayak so I believe I am qualified to voice an opinion from the "designer" side of the discussion. There is a substantial investment of time and funds involved to develop a design. If I sell a set of plans, the value I place on that information (what I would charge for the plans) would compensated me for my design efforts - the amount of boats made from them is not my business. I have sold the rights to use the plans. If you buy a book, there is no restriction on how many times you read it (but there are restrictions about copying/duplicating the book). Do you pay royalties for using the recipes in a cook book? No, they are yours to use - you bought the book.
I like to "collect" plans for "study purposes", got all kinds - I would not consider making one of these designs unless I had paid the designer first, that is fair. Just like software - I have no problems "evaluating" a copy of program - but if I intend on using it I will buy a copy.
IMHO, it is a gray area - you have got to go with what feels fair and right to you.
Hank
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Guillemot Kayak - High
Performance Wooden Sea Kayak Designs
