hi and my newest project

[sofstu]

Just saying Hi from the BC Kootenays,
I know I am one of Those Inlanders, but I hope you forgive me for it.
I swear I am looking at changing that soon.

Anyway I thought I would share my latest project.
My first sof kayak, from scratch and my own design.

Lashed together, not a single screw or nail used.

Just enough room to slide in and yes I can do a wet exit.

it's dedicated to my late mom, plus 5 other recently deceased loved ones.

I hope no one tries borrowing it, it may be cursed.

the complete frame weighs 30 lbs.

32 lbs with the skin, 33 lbs painted and 35.25 pounds when you include the greenland paddle.
Oh it's 17 foot 5 inches finished product.

I couldn't resist floating it without the skin.

Yes it is completely off the ground.

I chose black thread for the contrast.

The maiden voyage, exactly 1 week ago.

It honestly showed me who's the boss and dunked me even with a textbook entery.
One last photo.

the next day it was nice to me.

It is intended for it to be a low volume play boat that will hopefully still have enough room for a 1 or 2 day trip.
The forum software doesn't like the photo showing me sitting in it.

It tracks absolutely straight and feels like I nailed the balance point.
So I am happy with it.

I still have to add deck lines and will hopefully join some of you for an outing sometime this summer.

My next boat will probably be a 14? Sof canoe.

 

[mick_allen]

hey, it looks great. Love the last shot of it just waiting for you.

 

[sthwaits]

Great project. Looking forward to your next one.

 

[sofstu]

Thanks to both of you,
And Mick, I swear if it could talk it would tell you it was taunting me there
The reason I know I can do a wet exit is because it figured I needed a bath om Saturday. Good thing the lake wasn't too cold.
There is a fair amount of secondary stability, but it rolled when I was streching back.
It gives me a good reason to learn how to roll.

 

[mick_allen]

If there's no one to help, that little shallow bay is the perfect place to learn: get in abt 2 1/2 ft [750mm] water and everytime you blow the roll, just push off the bottom [as the bay is shallow over a large area]. That way those wet exits are unnecessary and all the time is spent rolling.

Practice pushing off the bottom in real shallow water first to get the hang of it. The trick is to keep the paddle vertical so there is not any sideways movement.

it's waiting . . .

 

[sofstu]

Thank you Mick,
Sounds like a very good idea. I am spending the next 2 days in Kelowna and know where the perfect beach is.

Although I have several friends who paddle it's just recreational in Pelicans.
I am the only one who wants to advance beyond that.
It's okay with me, like the solo time occasionally.

 

[John V B]

Cool Boat.Thank you for sharing.

John VB

 

[sofstu]

Thanks John,
I shot a 25 second YouTube video of the inside before taking it out.
Sorry no sound

Oh is there a better way of posting videos in this board?

Plus I am working on the deck lines today.
I chose black Leather which I purchased from a horse tack store.
Very strong but not cheap.

I will probably be making some changes later, possibly changing to fake bone.

I slipped a wire into the hard to read holes, and fed it through to where I could access it.

Glued some thin twine on with crazy glue. Pulled it through.
Cut a point onto the leather and was able to tie a tight knot on the very tip then pull everything through like using a needle.
Oh you can glue most man made products I have tried onto a wire with crazy glue but it doesn't seem to work with leather.

I was scratching my head for a couple hours, wondering how the Inuit would have sealed their deck rigging, and protect the skin.
The most logical idea I could come up with was shells with a hole drilled in like a washer. Then fill the shell with animal fat, making a nice easy to maintain seal.
Since I don't have any shells I used the second most likely method.
Beads, except I sanded a flat edge and epoxied them onto the skin and sealed the remaining hole with silicon rather than animal fat.

Next time I will try just countersinking the inside and just fill the divot up with silicon rather than messing with the epoxy.

Oh, some visitor from Siberia gave it a quick inspection the other day and gave his approval.