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Lake Toxaway, western North Carolina.

My new Ravenswood is my favorite of my three Kudzucraft kayaks. It is the perfect fit for me ( 6', 165#, 12 shoe ). It is stable, fast and comfortable. I am very pleased with this boat.

I appreciate Jeff's voice of experience, which I greatly respect. Before I made this frame, I measured the front floor-to-coaming height of my other SOF boats and my Hurricane Sojourn. Finding the ideal height for me, directed the way I built and beamed my masik, and a smooth inside curve was more appealing to me personally. Also, it seemed the front of the coaming would rest better on the flat center beam. I don't think there will be any downside. Once I paddle this boat I will give a follow up report. Keep in mind I am not as limber as a lot of you younger guys, and every little bit to ease entry and exit helps!

I did it that way for more unrestricted clearance, easier in and out at age 72, and not as limber as I used to be!

As requested by Abyssdncr.

Abyssdncr, hope this helps: The shorter length is easier for me to transport and store. I prefer kayaks about 14'. This is the third of Jeff's boats I've built, and I am very pleased with his boats. The masik is 5 strips of quarter sawn white oak, laminated with Titebond III glue, 1/2"x1/2" formed with the curve you see. The higher arch gives me a little roomier entry and exit at age 72. Will post photos on a new post, as I couldn't find a way to attach on a reply.

My frame is Baltic birch and western red cedar, treated with tung oil. The masik is laminated white oak. My bow and stern frames have been shortened to bring the overall length to 14'7".

I, for one, would like to build a Ravenswood with the new style laminated deck beam (masik), and hope to know the availability/plans soon. The lowered deck height without sactificing knee room is very appealing to me. Thanks!

How thick are your laminations, and total thickness and height of the coaming? Looks nice!

Once I made a Greenland paddle and began to paddle with it, I sold my all-carbon Euro paddle. I love making and paddling Greenland paddles, am now finishing #35. They are fun to make and great to paddle.

It is always good to know you are buying boat kits from an honest, up-front guy!

Could a Ravenswood owner please give me the inside length and maximum width measurements of the coaming, and the inside measurements floor-to-coaming front and back. Thanks!

Thanks for the explanation, Jeff.

Jeff, I am writing to ask if you have any plans to offer a 13'-14' single chine kayak. I am hoping to build a short, stable boat in the future, a traditional kayak instead of a Mess About. Or, could Mess About be built with a traditional kayak coaming? Thanks!

I found it worked easiest for me to have someone else hold the kayak standing upright on the bow, then while standing on a short ladder, drop the float bag into the bow space. Next blow in a little air with a battery powered pump, position the bag where you want it and then fill the bag like you want it. Flip ends and repeat for the stern. If you fill the bags too full, the kayak skin will bulge outward.

Reasonably comfortable, somewhat depends on your back, and joints as you sit for a while.

I appreciate Jeff's wise safety reminder. Here is a shot of my Thermarest Ridgerest pad in place, put over a piece of 3/4" foam under my seat. You can cut the Thermarest pad to fit. The footrests and floatbag are seen forward. I have used this simple system in my other SOF kayak and like it.

Here is my seat, onto which I put a piece of 3/4" closed cell foam, then a Thermarest pad. It is simple and works well for me.

I am 6', 185#, size 12 shoe. If anything, VARDO is a little large for me. I am considering building a Ravenwood next for a shorter, little closer fitting kayak.

I find the new website very user friendly for an older, less tech inclined visitor---------thanks!

I used two-part urethane, with a little rare earth pigment mixed in for color. I wanted the translucency from this combination, as well as a durable finish.

I just built and paddled my VARDO, and here are some of my Impressions. ( I am 6', 180#, size 12 shoe, posted a photo on the Forum last week). The building process is straightforward and fun. This kayak is roomy, comfortable and lightweight (30#). The length makes it track well but turn slowly, and is more cumbersome to transport and store than are my shorter boats. Initial stability is a mildly twitchy, but paddling the kayak feels secure and it is reasonably fast. Overall I am very pleased with my VARDO.

Forgot to mention that my VARDO weighs 30 pounds---------way different from my first plastic kayak of 55 pounds.

I took my newly completed VARDO out today on a nearby lake. It is stable, very roomy and tracks well. Turns are slow as expected in a long kayak. I stacked a 1" foam pad with a Thermarest pad for my seat, reasonably comfortable. This is a nice kayak for lake cruising.

Re checking your photos, I made my gunwales nearly as long as the plywood bow and stern pieces, tapering with saw and small plane. My other stringers are similar to yours.