Randy Echtinaw
Randy
Is there any good news concerning the resumption of Pygmy Kayak production or sale of the company ?
Kayak Foundry was pretty useable for playing with designs. I don't know how active Ross has been- it hasn't been updated on the web site for some time but I expect it still works. I had it installed using "Wine" on my Mac and it worked pretty well. Not sure if it will run on a modern Windows installation.Anyone out there know of computer software for kayak design?
Imagine you are building a hard-chine boat like the Black Pearl:Plywood would indeed be faster and easier and also I expect it would be a more resilient material too, but getting the joints perfect would be very hard to do if I didn't have a precise and accurate drawing to follow.
A few 2x6s and a dozen shelf brackets could get you a long way to the same goal. It always surprises me how rigid the setup gets once a few scrap strips are stapled along the molds.But my idea for a kayak building "station" is to start with a cement slab with male/female steel sockets formed at the time of the pour. These sockets can take uprights of steel that I can attach the forms to at differing heights. So setting them up so the keel can be at any degree of straightness or rocker is easy. The hull can then be made to have the amount I want to make.
That makes a lot of sense to me. You could pour a slab with pipe sockets for one of those 'plastic garage' shelters that folks (in Canada; I'm assuming in the US also) sometimes use for their cars in wintertime. Or just use the shelter ideas that boatbuilders have used for years to build larger boats. If you have a local small lumber mill, you might be able to get lumber for a frame fairly cheaply, even today?I'll have to build outside because my regular shop has no room for such projects. But I can put in a slab and set it up fairly inexpensively. Hence my idea for a kayak-building slab.
Exactly my thoughts about Steve's capabilities.You're such a clued-in guy there's no reason to take much time now concerned about how you'll make it happen if you decide to - it'll be straight forward for you.
Yes, anchoring light shelters is a must. A neighbour had a plastic garage get airborne in one of our fall gales here, and it ended up a ways down the street.My only fear if I build this is that the wind will give me a hard time.
Thanks, @Kayak Jim !John, you mention the "Black Pearl" but I really don't know what that is, or where I'd find information about it. Can you enlighten me?