My teacher-carpenter-paddler friend already built the pilot version of this kayak design last winter. He gave the tested design, and helped to select and treat the wood, among other things. The design comes from traditional West Greenland kayaks but the structure has been somewhat changed. Instead of bending steam-heated ribs, plywood frames have been used to form the hull. Local pine is used for the keel and middle-deck stringers. Pseudotsuga menziesii aka Douglas Fir aka Oregon pine serves for the gunwales, the rest of deck beams, and chines down. Normal artificial sinew lashings, waxed. This type of construction is very swift when the "strongback" supporting the work has been built. The brackets ensuring the straightness of the keel need a lot of attention, but it is not particularly difficult to accomplish. Next, the vessel will be wrapped up in ballistic nylon and coated waterproof with 2-component polyurethane varnish. This hull design with a moderate rocker and abstemious deadrise will be quite steady and fast to paddle. The unreasonably low back deck was premeditated for convenient rolling exercises.

• published: 15 Aug 2013
• views: 77