klummis

My two bits. 1. Fear factor:. Worry about am I capable to build this. People at my sailing club are very surprised at how light the kayak is. And we do have people who build their own boats there. But sailing is also having it's challenges in attracting new people, and this has been going on for a few decades. 2. Space: Today's new houses are very cramped for space, both house and garage. I can build a 17 foot kayak but it would be very cramped. The Ravenswood is about as big as I would want to get. 3. Material: I was able to order the cedar strips, so basically I wound up with a complete kit that only needed some scarfs glued. Even then I am lucky to have a very long hallway coming in off the front door. 4. Independence: I am perfectly happy to do something myself that is new. I will research the bejezers out of something, which is why I purchased the kit from Kudzu instead of going with stitch and glue (Canadian winters do not agree with epoxy and I don't have a heated workspace) and I am not OCD enough to do cedar strip. And I know that I make mistakes the first time and will work through them. Every time I look at woodworking or boat building classes they are always sold out. There is a lot of comfort in having an instructor available to answer questions and provide guidance. 5. Attention span: Don't really agree with this one. I have been a cub/scout leader and they do have the ability to do so. However a 2 hour meeting once a week would not make a kayak. Don't have the space to store the in transition kayak. If I can get an 11 year old to cut, lash, and stitch over a one month period to make a kayak most kids should be able to do so. What might be lacking is the adult who is willing and able to put the time in. Possible target audience: Junior high and high school construction classes. Here in Canada that would be Grade 7 through 12. Several classes a week, have the space and the tools. KJ Lummis

My Ravenswood has been completed. My daughter finished hers, needs the final painting to look like an Orca and lines attached. No leaks!

Been remiss waiting for the snow to melt. Tadpole shot with the happy lasher added in to give a sense of scale. Yes the 11 year old glued the scarfs, sanded, sawed, and lashed. All under supervision of course.

So I am now going to attach the coaming. I do have one question: I have the bottom section of the plywood coaming under the skin. The holes in the plywood sections have all been pre drilled. However, I will never get screws in the bow and stern section of the coaming as there are fuselage sections that are in the way of getting the screws in, much less screwing them in. Suggestions? KJ Lummis

Nothing says Christmas in Canada like making a kayak with snow on the ground. I do have some questions regarding the Ravenswood laminated deck beam. The assembly manual ver 5.1 has the laminated deck beam section but not specific to the Ravenswood. I don't have the dimensions that are necessary. 1. When I eyeball where the deck beam will go it appears the starboard and port beams will go above the deck beam, and the center beam will go below. Is this correct? I found a picture that shows all three underneath. It will be a major bend on the port and starboard deck beams to get them underneath. 2. Are there specific dimensions for the curve, or a method for me to get the proper curve? I have included a couple of pictures. The beams still have to be cut to a shortened length. Electrical ties are just holding everything in place before I lash it. KJ Lummis