1 reply to this topic

[ricknriver]

Would like to have a very light (~32#) yak with a large cockpit (=>36") to use when its too windy for my Kevlar ultralight solo canoe to run comfortably with all my yak paddling friends. Building an SOF seems to be a good low cost alternative. I paddle borrowed (heavy) yaks on occasion and comfortable in soft chine, shallow V hulls. On quiet water my long Greenland paddle drives the canoe fine to keep up comfortably, but in 10-15+ wind it gets to be more of a workout than I like. Mostly coastal rivers, sounds, and creeks, and up to 2' chop.

Can the Vardo's cockpit be built that long? Would a rudder/skeg be needed to minimize weathercocking on windy waters? Need the extra cockpit length to enter and exit easy, and move my old legs/hips around on long trips. Would probably buy/make a skirt for it. Also, about what size hatches (if any) could be added fore and aft without compromising hull strength/integrity for windy weekend adventures? I think a 17'x24" low profile boat for my 6'2" 200# may work well. Am I dreaming? Thanks, Rick

[Kudzu]

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Can the Vardo's cockpit be built that long?

No, changes like that require design changes. The coaming rests on the frame and you can't move it 2" forward. Your going to end up with a very distorted shape on the boat.

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Would a rudder/skeg be needed to minimize weathercocking on windy waters?

Short answer, no. This boat does not tend to weathercock.

Long answer. Any boat can weather cock in the right conditions. You mention camping gear, if you loaded it a wrong it could throw off the balance and weathercock. But I have never seen any tendency for this boat to weathercock. If it did you could add a skeg very easily to fix that.

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Need the extra cockpit length to enter and exit easy, and move my old legs/hips around on long trips.

Everyone is different but this boat is a larger boat. The front of the cockpit is high enough unless your really long legged you should have no problem getting in or out. I can easily straddle the boat in the water, park myself in the seat and then pull in my legs with plenty of room. That is the one thing I didn't like it about it. I found it a little large for my tastes. But as I said, everyone is different so your mileage may vary.

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Would probably buy/make a skirt for it. Also, about what size hatches (if any) could be added fore and aft without compromising hull strength/integrity for windy weekend adventures?

Harmony makes a touring skirt that fits well.
I need to double check but any hatch I sell should fit no problem. I don't know what you want to carry but I prefer backpacking gear so it will all fit inside a 10" hatch. I am almost certain that adding the oval hatch on the rear is not a problem. I would need to look to be 100%. Also, if you have something over sized, you can always stuff it through the cockpit. Yes it is pain but it works.

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I think a 17'x24" low profile boat for my 6'2" 200# may work well. Am I dreaming?

Anything I say sounds like a commercial. Maybe some VARDO owners will chime in, but I think VARDO is a great boat. Other than it feeling large to me I really like that boat.