One Boat

One year to the day and the kayak is now one complete shell. It was a push to hit this goal, but the boat is now together. The first picture shows all of the ropes that I used to pull the deck and hull together. I tied loops of ropes and then used a stick to twist the ropes and tighten the loops like a tourniquet. One big tip, Guillemot suggest tipping the boat on end and pouring epoxy down the tip to seal the bow and stern. A WAY easier method is to just seal the last 12" of raw wood before you put the two halves together and don't worry about pouring epoxy in the ends.

The second picture is of the latch for the hatches. Securing the hatches seems to be be bane of any kayak builder. Installing 3 big black straps across a nice piece of woodwork, as a hold down, is a crime. The latches I'm building will have a toggle on the top and the hook and slot shown on inside. We will find out if it is a convenient and water tight method.

QOD: Latin Phrase: In Vino Veritas. Meaning, in wine there is truth. I found this phrase in the cabin log books that my dad left us for capturing our adventures at the wonderful log cabin he left his 7 children in trust.

Hatching a Seal

The first picture is of the trough that I built to go between the deck and the hull where the rudder will be tucked. The second picture is of the core pieces that I will cover with carbon fiber for the rudder and the rudder pivot.

The third picture is of the carbon fiber of the hatch gasket grooves being formed under the weight of wet sand. One Ocean says that this is the closest to vacuum bagging and I think it works quite well. The fourth picture is the carbon fiber gasket groove ring and the rear hatch opening. Note the two stainless steel hold-downs that will act similar to two hinge points that will be opposite of the hatch latch.

QOD: What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal. Albert Pine.

Back in the Saddle

It's been at least two months since I've kicked up some saw dust but I just got done shaping the rudder so I can now officially blog on. I need to refine the rudder and the rudder mount because I'm planning on recessing the rudder in the deck of the boat. I need to create the recess for the rudder along with the hatch seals before I can assemble the two halves together.



What has been keeping me busy for the last few months has been a Moose hunting trip in the BWCA. If you are interested in reading about this, click here:


http://www.pressenter.com/~lkeleny/BWCABull.pdf



QOD: Never explain-your friends don't need it and your enemies will not believe you anyway. Elbert Hubbard (1856-1915)

The Pit

I have made some progress on the kayak but the side projects continue to dissuade me. The first picture shows the cockpit in its completed form. I used the method of construction from One Oceans rather than from Gillimot. I like the looks, strength and streamline nature of the carbon and glass rather than the thicker wood design from Gillimot. I would highly recommend it.

The second picture is of one of the side projects. It is the front casting from the family cabin stove. I need to fix the cracks and make a following board so I can have a copy made at Acme Casting in Minneapolis. The stove being a 130 yrs old it is quite an heirloom that we want to keep intact.

Another diversion was a wonderful 4 day weekend in the BWCA. My bro-in-law, Jim joined my buddy Greg and I on our moose scouting trip. The 3rd person meant that I needed to take my kayak which was quite enjoyable. The new moon gave us 4 days of Perseid Meteor Showers and full view Milky Way. Jim and Greg got to see a meteor streak across the sky and explode like a fire works.

The height of the weekend was being chased by a moose. I had portaged into a lake and was cow calling until dark. A bull was responding with his calls back but didn't show until after dark. I gave a very loud call as I was ready to head back to camp and I heard a KawaK, ...Sploosh Sploosh, Sploosh...I thought two bulls were fighting on shore but I soon realize that the bull was swimming out to meet his new girl friend...me. I quickly high tailed it out of there. The loons and wolves were also a great treat and again a good time was had by all.

QOD: Some mornings it just doesn't seem worth it to gnaw through the leather straps. Emo Phillips

Ketchup

It has been too long since I've posted but, hey, it's summer. Who wants to be inside. I've had to put Jan's boat on hold for a number of things...Heading to Fargo for my daughter Molly, to put a fuel pump in her car, Shocks and ball joints in my blazer, yadayada (you don't want to hear about this kind of work). Progress has been made on Jan's boat but that will be another post.

The biggest delay was from working on my boat. People inevitably ask "how long did it take to make your boat". Some day when I finish I will be able to answer that question. This summer I needed to finally get my rudder working. It has been on the boat since the initial splash but it has been mostly for show, especially for the 06 state fair. The impending 9-July trip to the Apostles needed a good rudder and with the weather we had I sure was glad I had it working.

For our July trip we had Jill, Jeff, Matt, and my son Jake. We didn't get to two of the islands that we had planned, but we had quite an adventure. There were some tall seas so I was very proud and happy that Jake was a solid paddler and the only one I had to worry about, was me. Ask sometime and we would love to bore you with the details.

The two pictures are: 1) Heading out to "Play" in the waves. Lesson learned: When you biff in tall seas, turn the boat into the waves so when you do get into the boat you will be able to see what's coming. 2) Look'n like the tropics and feeling pretty much the same. A glorious time was had by all.

QOD: Give a man a fish, and he will eat for a day. Give a fish a man, and he will eat for weeks! Takayuki Ikkaku, Arisa Hosaka and Toshihiro Kawabata, Animal Crossing: Wild World, 2005

3 in 1

Details of the cockpit. I used airplane plywood to form the vertical wall around the cockpit. I will line the wall and form the lip with a layup of glass/carbon/glass/glass/carbon/glass.

QOD: Man is the only animal whose desires increases as they are fed; the only animal who is never satisfied. Henry George (1839-1897)

Top Coat

The pictures are of the first coat of epoxy on the deck. Following a suggestion from West System Epoxy, I used a cut section of a paint roller to apply the resin. This works well because the hardness of the roller allows you to force the resing into the glass, spread the resin around and somewhat squeege the excess epoxy to sections that need resin.

QOD: Tip the world over on its side and everything loose will land in Los Angles. Frank Lloyd Wright. (1869-1959)