kayak building foto journal

jimbo · Post by **jimbo** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 5:44 pm

Kevino wrote: I will begin building within the month. A Guillemont Night Heron.

be sure to start a thread in the froum and keep us posted with many, many pics!

Tony · Post by **Tony** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 6:33 pm

jimbo wrote:
Kevino wrote: I will begin building within the month. A Guillemont Night Heron.
be sure to start a thread in the froum and keep us posted with many, many pics!

I will. Everyone really helped me out last time with my first build (a Great Auk - like yours, Jimbo, but not as intricate a design). Come to think of it, I don't think I've posted a final picture of the boat in the water. I'll do that when I get home.
This time I want to take more time and be extra careful. Silverio sets the bar so high.
The plans have now been ordered...

jimbo · Post by **jimbo** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 6:37 pm

Kevino wrote: Silverio sets the bar so high.

yeah

doesn't he just. i have been thinking about the next one, my wife has already asked for one with a cockpit big enuf for the dog to get in it with her...her deck design is truely beautiful

if i can do it as well as she can draw it, it will be a thing of rare beauty...perhaps even exsquisit

amlap · Post by **amlap** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 2:54 am

Hi folks,
I've been reading with a big smile on my face.
No, not because I'm the king

(one spanish guy called my eminence)

I'm smiling because this post influenced one good member wanting to build another kayak. I did enjoy Kevino's last experience.
What I can say is this: By that time I think I will have finished the Exquisit. It will be great to sit back and see all you struggling to do your best. I've put the bar high?

The builder who comes next always thinks like that. What about Ross, Glen, Miklos, Anewhouse, Barry Upton and many others skilled members?
I think we will have a good Fall and Winter building season here.
Ahhhh....and we cannot forget our friend that is hibernating too.
Yeap.. I think this forum is worth it

jimbo · Post by **jimbo** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 4:40 am

Islandpaddler · Post by **Islandpaddler** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 2:14 pm

amlap wrote: I've put the bar high?

The space shuttles are about to be decommissioned. I don't think anybody will be able to get over that bar now!

Give you 6 months before the building withdrawal symptoms get so bad you will be onto your next one. There is no cure for this addiction, not that I would seek a cure out!

amlap · Post by **amlap** » Sat Sep 13, 2008 1:49 pm

I´ve finished striping the deck.
I did the sanding with a ROS but could not sand where the cradle was, so I had to take it off. I will have to sand it slightly and put it back in position to give a final sanding with a 120grit fairing board.
In the meantime I filled some minor gaps with PVA glue mixed with wood dust.
I asked my wife to help lift the deck because I thought it had some weight. I was surprised that I lift it with a finger. If I was to guess, it would be about 1kg. Just couldn't believe it.
I might give a sealer coat tomorrow.
It is very fragile so I will have to give 2 coats of fiber under the deck.

jimbo · Post by **jimbo** » Sat Sep 13, 2008 2:43 pm

looks great! i cant wait to see it with some epoxy on it

Islandpaddler · Post by **Islandpaddler** » Sat Sep 13, 2008 4:47 pm

Jimbo's right, that deck is gonna shine with epoxy on it!

Have you weighed the hull yet? Guessing you might get close to the magical 10kg mark for the finished yak.

amlap · Post by **amlap** » Sat Sep 13, 2008 5:05 pm

Islandpaddler wrote:Jimbo's right, that deck is gonna shine with epoxy on it!

Have you weighed the hull yet? Guessing you might get close to the magical 10kg mark for the finished yak.

Never heard of this.
What do you mean?
Can you explain us?

Islandpaddler · Post by **Islandpaddler** » Sat Sep 13, 2008 8:04 pm

Just an aim for an ultra light stripper. Most 1st time kayaks weigh in at around the 18 to 20kg mark. Their next builds range from 14 to 18kg's. Main reason is that their workmanship especially glassing techniques improve. These weights are for a 17 to 19 foot fitted out sea kayak.

With good workmanship and only the bare minimum of epoxy I am of the opinion that a 10kg or under kayak could be built. This kayak would be lighter then commercial kevlar / Carbon fibre yaks yet because of the composite nature of a wooden kayak it will be stronger.

I would think a wood lighter then WRC will need to be used (Paulownia for example) to get this target but it may just be doable with WRC.

Robin will have to verify but if I remember correctly a few of his Paulownia yaks are around the 12kg mark???

By the way, I don't think lighter is better. An ultra light kayak blows around in the wind more, not only when paddling but chasing a kayak tumbling down the beach is not a good look!

jimbo · Post by **jimbo** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 5:47 am

speaking of ultra light...waht about using balsa? my dad and I used to make "stick and tissue" model airplanes out of balsa, and they were nearly weightless...

amlap · Post by **amlap** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 12:00 pm

Islandpaddler, I'm 4 times stronger than I thought or have not weight sensibility. The barewood deck weighs 4,1kg. Still it's a good figure.

Balsa...I read that balsa is not good for kayaks. Apart beeing expensive it is weak and very flexible. You would save weight using balsa but then you would have to reinforce it with fiber. The amount of fiber to have a decent stiff kayak would prob. be heavier than using cedar. Don't tell me that the core is not relevant as some builders say because it is too.

I epoxy sealed the deck and it looks ok.
Here are some pictures.

Pic. 4
Remember the srew in the diamond? I filled it with a cedar straw

Pic.5
Natural 3mm dark spot.

Pic.7
I left a small area with glue not fully sanded just to see the result.
You can see a phantom white area. No problem! That area is going to be cut out for the cockpit

Silvério

Islandpaddler · Post by **Islandpaddler** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 1:15 pm

Nice Silvério, very very nice... Its going to be hard to bring yourself to attack it with a jig saw to cut out the cockpit!

Foam and honeycomb cores are commonly used on commercial boats. Neither of these have structural strength by themselves until they are sandwiched between 2 stiffer materials. But they need thicker "walls" (more glass or CF etc) then we do with wood to obtain the same impact strength.

We commonly use Paulownia over here instead or in conjunction with Cedar. Paulownia is 1/2 the weight of WRC but is cheaper and easier to work with. Despite being softer then WRC I have not noticed any difference with rock collisions in the Paulownia areas on the hulls compared to the WRC areas.

Balsa may be going too far though. Doable but would recommend extra layers of glass - which of course increases the weight.....

jimbo · Post by **jimbo** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 1:43 pm

Looking good Silvério, looking good! I cant even tell where the screw was on pic 4. i keep saying it over and over...you do outstanding work. just amazing.