Best strip kit?

[skypix]

Hi folks:

Still doing my first-build investigations. And after wading through Ted Moore's and Nick Schade's really excellent books on strip kayak building, I'm thinking I might tackle a stripper instead of a plywood boat. I'm a perfectionist and I know I'll do a good job and will drive myself nuts trying to make it perfect. I've built a couple airplanes, I should be able to do this.

Question is, my head is spinning with possibilities...again. I was going to get an S&G kit but now I think a stripper will be more aesthetically pleasing...but which one?

I really don't want to cut out forms and stuff, not bead and cove wood strips, as I don't have the tools for that.

I've searched the net and looked at the various strip kit makers but it's so hard to tell. Would you mind weighing in on who makes the best kit, specifically with the best epoxy systems etc.

Or would I be better off getting forms, buying wood strips from a local supplier (I'm on the east coast, upstate NY) and being a bit more adventurous since a stripper is kind of an adventure anyway?

I searched the site but didn't find any specific threads on this topic, hope I'm not reinventing the wheel and thanks again for all the excellent input this site is clearly noted for.

 

[IanC]

Hey Skypix

I have built a couple of strippers following Ted Moores book, and I very much liked his approach, which has some slight differences from Nick Schades. (Check out Redfish kayaks also.) I did not use a "kit", but I did buy most of the materials ready to go (ie. full length B & C cedar strips, and a few other bits ripped to size) It will not be cost-effective for you to buy the forms, as they are bulky and heavy (would cost more to ship than they are worth) - just get the plans and cut your own from plywood or MDF - very easy. You are going to have to build your own strongback anyway. I think the very best cedar is from around here (west coast) but maybe there is some good stuff on the east coast too. Check out orcaboats.ca - Rod Tait sells kits for his own designs, and can probably set you up with materials for whichever stripper you chose. As for "best" epoxy - lots of different opinions on that. I used West Systems - worked fine for me, but not the cheapest...

 

[skypix]

Thanks IanC, there are a couple good suppliers up here.

I was leery about cutting my own forms but maybe that's not such a big deal. Could also buy forms locally I guess and pick them up.

Thanks!

 

[keabird]

I HIGHLY recommend the kits made by Redfish Kayaks. He has some very nice designs and the kit I built my boat had everything I could have asked in it.

 

[skypix]

Thanks a lot keabird, I've been looking at Redfish (for the fifth -or 20th - time, along with all the others) as I go through the education/drool/choose/change mind/more drool/more education process.

 

[Roy222]

new kayak

Every thing nice said about Redfish has proved true in my experience. I am in the final stages of completing a King. Send Joe a note or call him, he will help you decide which boat is best for you.
But first you should consider:
1 lessons
2 get some on the water experience in a plastic boat
3 discover the level of skill and comfort you want to attain.

Then match the boat you want to build to your needs.

A hybrid will not save a lot of time because the strip built hatches and cowling take a lot more time then Stitch and glue type. With a Stitch and Glue kit, you should be able to assemble the hatch lips, and the cowling in 1 or 2 days. In contrast it took me a least 2 weeks just to build the hatch lips on King I am building.

Roy

 

[skypix]

Hi Roy, thanks for that good advice. I've been paddling around with my wife in a plastic double, a 14foot Acadia II I bought for $400 just to get some time in the rest of the (alleged) summer In the NE and I feel frustrated after a grand total of five smooth water paddles at how slow and tubby the thing feels.

I did a little rapids running in a short plastic boat in Utah years ago, that was fun but I want mostly quiet water paddling. And the fun and aesthetic challenge of building a boat. And being able to take some trips across big lakes and explore the maine coast. So speed and tracking are more important than a lot of maneuverability at this point. Plus want the good exercise, and to do photography from the boat. So stability is important too.

I was admiring the Orca Skana HV last night too, I'm 5' 11" & 170 lbs and
Thot that might be a nice balance for me.

Will go rent some narrow plastic sea kayaks locally to get the feel of what I want, good idea.

 

[Astoriadave]

SP wrote: So speed and tracking are more important than a lot of maneuverability at this point. Plus want the good exercise, and to do photography from the boat. So stability is important too.

Speed requires a narrow boat, typically, and/or one with a rounder hull cross section. In contrast, a boat with high initial stability is usually wider and has an oval cross section. Such boats can feel "tubby," also. Sounds like you will be visiting compromise city on this choice.

 

[skypix]

Hi Dave.

Thanks for that. I've spent a good deal of my life in Compromise City and i don't care for the restaurants, frankly. But there's lots of company there.

Definitely don't want tubby.

I'm reading a lot, a little too obsessively probably...climbing that learning curve whilst also wearing silicon slippers (memory), so what i've gleaned so far is that long equals tracking vs. short = maneuverable, buit also learned, I think, that wider, as you say, equals stable/tubby, but then long narrow boats are...what, exactly? tippy but tracky? rolly but not tubby? poor brain, needs a rest.

 

[Doug]

I have limited experience but can offer some thoughts on this.

1. I've bought plans from Laughing Loon, and have had several good customer service responses from Rob Macks. I love his baidarkas and you can order kits for them.
2. I've seen a kit from Redfish and it was very nice. The King is a great looking boat and I would consider building it
3. I've visited Rod at Orca boats and seen a lot of boats made out at his shop. Obviously he knows what's going because both his and his clients' boats are fantastic

I think you can't go wrong with any of the above. I've built a Pygmy boat and would say that it was relatively fool-proof if not somewhat unspectacular. If you are in or around Vancouver, the fact that Orca is local may have several additional benefits.

cheers

 

[keabird]

Joe (at Redfish) has a boat that is not listed on his website. It is called the Spring Run Kenai. I was looking for a boat that was going to be fast, very stable, and big enough for long camping trips while still not feeling like I was paddling a battleship. The Kenai fit the bill. It sounds big at 18 ft and a 25 inch beam, but I have no trouble paddling at a good clip.

Here's my Kenai. BTW I have no affiliation with Redfish, I just really like his boats.

 

[skypix]

I think you can't go wrong with any of the above. I've built a Pygmy boat and would say that it was relatively fool-proof if not somewhat unspectacular. If you are in or around Vancouver, the fact that Orca is local may have several additional benefits.cheers

Thanks a lot Doug, that grouping backs up what I've been gravitating to also.

Joe (at Redfish) has a boat that is not listed on his website. It is called the Spring Run Kenai. I was looking for a boat that was going to be fast, very stable, and big enough for long camping trips while still not feeling like I was paddling a battleship. The Kenai fit the bill. It sounds big at 18 ft and a 25 inch beam, but I have no trouble paddling at a good clip.

Here's my Kenai. BTW I have no affiliation with Redfish, I just really like his boats.

Beautiful boat keabird, thanks. I'll email him and see what's up. I like the look, online at least, and approach of the Redfish boats a lot.

Decisions, decisions! First, since it's already feeling like fall here in the NE (dry, high pressure, 60s and low 70s next ten days), I've got to finish up with some work and get cracking on enlarging and weatherproofing my old barn workshop.

Thanks for the help, everybody! Now if only I could find somebody local to let me take a paddle in a wood boat, I'd have more confidence about the final choice. But "shopping" is half the fun, for sure.

 

[Doug]

I dunno where in the NE you are, but Laughing Loon is in Maine and they have a boat for you to paddle.

 

[skypix]

Dang it, that's what I get for too much multi-tasking.

Thanks much Doug, I'd forgotten that and assumed everybody but Chesapeake was out there!

 

[skypix]

Have had a couple back and forths with Rob at Laughing Loon, thanks again for the tip Doug. he's very knowledgeable and I like his ideas about working with strips.

He's got several boats I can paddle so I'm making the drive up there to get some seat of the pants education.

I'd love to buy the North Star baidarka-style kayak with the bifurcated bow and fixed rudder, very nice looking boat but maybe a little too tippy for me. I'll give it a ride anyway if he's got one there, it sounds fast and good for the surf...but I'm not so interested in surfing. We'll see, I think this will be a worthwhile trip for sure.

 

[thief]

He's got several boats I can paddle so I'm making the drive up there to get some seat of the pants education.

hey Skypix...where are you??? i am in Beverly Mass on the North Shore....
if you pop into the
North Shore Paddlers Message Board we have a bunch of handmade boat people in there with us......

good winds
rob

 

[skypix]

Thanks Rob, I'll google and ck it out.

I live in east upstate ny, 15 mi from MA border, half an hour SW of great Barrington

 

[thief]

ooo...west west....

nspn.org

http://www.nspn.org/forum/index.php?showforum=102

there are guys on there to help you out...

btw: if you are doing a road trip check Vaclav's site too
http://www.oneoceankayaks.com/

 

[skypix]

Thanks thief, I've talked with Vaclav, very helpful, I'll go by there too if possible.