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Sourcing out a SOF Build for CG Aux


Ehcalum

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Hi all,

 

I am the Virginia Paddlecraft Coordinator for the Coast Guard Auxiliary.  I currently have a Pelican Strike 110x, but have been wanting to build a kayak for years.  Aside from personal use, the kayak will be used for environmental patrols, public safety and other on water events.  I'm debating between the Black Dog Albatross 14 and the Ravenswood.  I'm currently 215 but working to trim down to 185-190.  The kayak will have to be able to support and short and long tow and patrols are not allowed to last longer than 6 hours a day, and call for a one hour off water break after 3 hours.  

 

I am a decent paddler and will be attending L1 and L2 coastal kayaking instructor school about a month from now.  Thanks all!

 

Andy W.

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Never seen one of Black Dogs kayaks in person so can't say anything about them. Maybe you find someone that has built and paddle one?

 

You should be able to find plenty of people that have built the Ravenswood. It and Curlew are probably my most built boat and you know you can get advice on this board. 

 

We build the Ravenswood and VARDO in my classes and I know there are a few people on here that have built one. It is a well proven design and it should fit your requirements pretty well.Your weight is no an issue. As far as the time on the water that is more about the paddlers endurance, there is room to move around a little inside.

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Thank you Jeff.  I was thinking about the VARDO as well, but a 17' boat feels a bit on the longish side, though my garage is about 27' deep.  As the designer, how do you feel about the stress of a kayak tow with a paddler with the tow point being on one of the frames?  

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VARDO is a probably my third most popular boat and has a little more stability  than the others. I just made some changes to the design to alter the deck lines and lowered it a little. The volume was a bit to large and this brought it down to a more 'typical' size.  Don't let the length cloud your choices to much. Handling a 15 vs. 17 foot boat is no different. Weight will be close on both too.

 

As for towing, I towed a 21-23 boat with a cuddy cabin once with a line around my coaming.  It stalled just off the launch and I was able (barely) to pull it back to the dock.

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Ordered Ravenswood plans today. Probably won't get around building till fall or winter with all the house renovations going, but would like to start or at least finish before the baby arrives.

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Congrats! I dunno if you want to wait that long though. My tadpole only took about 2 1/2 weeks from plywood to water. All of summer is yet to come!

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This summer I'll be gone two weekends in May, a week in July, another July weekend, a weekend in August.  We are planning on the baby coming after Jan 25th, so the actual work won't be done till early May.  Wife doesn't want to go through another summer heavily pregnant!

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  • 2 weeks later...

Received plans on Thursday, thanks!  Will be studying the plans and the assembly manual over the next couple of months.  Won't be able to start until we cleanout and reorganize the garage, hopefully before the Virginia summer kicks in....

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  • 3 weeks later...

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