daedaluscan

Thanks, I took it for a longer paddle (with flotation bags and a PFD) and it is great, really easy to paddle and very comfortable in a light chop. I made a greenland paddle and was super impressed with that, I was not a believer until I tried it. The boat is also super easy to roll, I had not been in a kayak for probably 15 years and I rolled it first try. I am a definite convert to SOF, I am going to build a solo canoe next.

Well the worlds slowest build floats. Covid got me finishing a lot of projects. Launched and delighted. I think I failed to get the correct amount of rocker, it is sloooow to turn, but it tracks great:) Overall delighted. 80efb755-4da9-472e-833c-5f07f99b908a.MP4

Got it all lashed, and straight I hope:) Need to build a coaming now.

Well a hangar and a year later, as well some work on the kit car and a honey do list, I am back to framing the kayak. just a final adjustment to get everything straight and I should start lashing. I wasted a bit of time trying to build an aluminum bow structure but then reread the cunningham book and had these two bits of fir cut in about an hour and a half.

Heres the photo

Started on the bow frame, it will have a 5/8" of fir around the outside to shape and wrap the covering around. Just tack welded here to see how it looks. Unfortunately I wont be doing any more for a couple of months as my son is home for the summer from uni, and we need to finish the kit car that I promised he would drive to graduation but did not! Ill be back:)

It is flat bar, I cut it from a sheet on my tablesaw. I TIG welded the joints, just working out the bow and stern now. It was what I had in stock, and I thought it might be a fun way to do it. I don't really want to use mechanical fasteners for several reasons if I can avoid it. I don't want to weaken the stringers, I definitely don't want to use a fastener of another metal because of electrolysis, and I like the elegance of lashing. That said there is no "stop" on the frame and I am a little concerned that the stringers might want to slide on the frames. I could weld on a small aluminum stop, but I am hoping to avoid the extra hassle. I'll see how it feels when I start lashing.

I have started to build a Nimrod, and have made the frames and stringers. I had the aluminum and the fir, so went with that. I really don't like plywood, especially any that I can afford. I considered riveting the stringers to the frames, but will lash with artificial sinew. There is no positive location as with the plywood frames so I may need a rivet as well.