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jshaley

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About jshaley

  • Birthday 01/01/1

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    Rochester, NY

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  1. Omar, Thank you for the photos. I love paddling Algonquin. Of late we have enjoyed Massasauga as well. One way to make the portages more enjoyable is to eliminate the portages! Algonquin is a green piece of paper that someone has colored on in blue (lakes, rivers, etc) and Massasauga is a blue piece of paper someone has colored on in green (islands). Beautiful country. John
  2. I am seeing some beautiful Stonefly's launched year, can someone share a rough weight estimate. Looking for a pack canoe that can haul my 240lb self and gear for a long weekend. Fairly adapt at packing light.
  3. Todd, You graciously offered to show me your Vardo. I am still hoping to connect with you (got distracted paddling). Pittsford Lumber is local to me (no affiliation) and offers Baltic Birch. I would be happy to run one of these 5x5's out to you for what they charge me. So save on shipping. Your existing frames would make great patterns and as mentioned you have the stringers. Heck, if I buy the Vardo plans I may even be interested in your frames as patterns too - although my need for speed has gone away somewhat. Anyways, just trying to help someone who offered to help me.
  4. So I am thinking purchase one plan to look it over and see if I wish to order a different model. Adapting the same boat for her smaller frame might be more of a hassle than ordering the right sized boat. And there may be benefits in having her paddle a smaller boat while I haul more gear in a Vardo. If we go with Ravenswood, Curlew or Short Shot is any of them trickier than the other to build? I like the Kudzu fan tail on Curlew and maybe the rounded nose is easier to skin? And reading I see that Ravenswood incorporates some cool design changes - have these changes worked their way back to the other designs (Curlew II, short shot, etc.). I am having trouble walking away from the SG Shearwater mid project but I really think it is the difference between paddling this year versus next. And I have no misconceptions - boat building is addictive so there will always be a project in progress.
  5. I like the finish. The semi transparency (translucency?) really show off that it is a skin on frame boat.
  6. Is your strong back three 2x4's with a centerline?
  7. she may not sink it enough Yes, with the canoe I have a 5G collapsible water jug that sometimes rides up by her. May have to invent the 'water mattress kayak seat'. I watched your skeg video. Holes and hulls intimidate me but could seal it enough I guess. Would a rudder provide the same improvement in tracking? jh
  8. Jeff, Thanks for the reply! Yes, I thought Vardo might be big for her... "With backpacking gear you will have no problem with storage on most all of the boat." Most all of the boats. Are you saying with a small gear load (my pack holds 50 liters of stuff that can be spread around) most all of your boats would work? I read the detailed descriptions and see that most seem ok for gear for a night or two out. If this is true is there a single design that we both might fit? Not trying to dodge the extra plan price. I am looking at your stuff because of the excellent support (like responding to a question so quickly on a Saturday). But I think the idea of building two identical boats would be a quicker build than two designs. But two designs would be more fun. The Shad description mentions less pieces, which may be a faster build.
  9. So Summer is half gone and my "build two CLC Shearwater Sports from Plans" idea is not going to make it. We have wooden pieces cut out for one kayak and a lot of sanding, gluing, and icky stitch and glue steps ahead. Not abandoning but I am thinking of setting them aside and trying two Vardos. I am building these with my daughter. A few assumptions - please poke holes in them where you see fit: Some of the stitch and glue steps she can do, some she needs more confidence for. With a SOF I think there are more steps that can be done during the day while I am at work. We are both 5' 9". I am 240lbs, she is 130lbs. We canoe camp several times every summer and are looking forward to kayaking but would be novices. I think Vardo is the right boat for both of us? Camping gear - I see the hatches and will watch the hatch video. Do people also just shove medium / small dry bags with soft goods inside as storage? We backpack, so can go pretty small / low weight. I am thinking one gets in a SOF with a goodly amount of water underneath. No mud launches where you skitch and slide yourself into the water. Other than that I can see not much difference. What sort of repair kit, if any, do people bring along. Some places we canoe are rivers. Not running rapids but may have to occasionally exit and lift over a beaver dam or such. So Jeff says 60 hours. I'd pad that a bit since it is our first time out. Since we are building in tandem (paying the extra boat license fee) I would think that the time would be more than building a single but less than double. I would set up two separate strong backs. Welcome your thoughts and wisdom. John Rochester NY PS Have seen a few local launches, would love to see a Kudzu Craft close to Rochester NY
  10. Would love to watch the whole build, either here or if you put a link in your signature. Thanks for sharing.
  11. These are high school age kids (14-18), male and female. Some are taller than my 5' 9"; but probably 150lbs or so. Others range down to maybe 5'. And they are growing. So if we have to weight the boat down a bit with heavier gear for lighter kids that may work out better than having them build a boat they outgrow quickly. Yes - we back pack so are used to lightweight gear and packing accordingly.
  12. Jeff, Thank you for your answers. For the smaller paddler, with a few dry bags of camping gear, would short-shot be a better choice? Yes, by laminating the frames I am taking a very straightforward step and complicating it. I was thinking (will have to test) that the steps it takes to make a frame from a single sheet of plywood are trickier for young builders than cutting a series of marked angles and laminating around a jig. Sometimes having them do 3-4 very simple steps rather than 1-2 more complex steps pays off - but there I go underestimating them again. Best to build one or two using proven technique before trying to change anything. John
  13. Happy New Year! Three quick questions: Would love to hear from someone who has built Vardo (or similar) and has had success tucking a few dry bags in it for camping? Does it lend itself well? Hatches a necessity? Thoughts? Would the Vardo work for paddlers of small (5' 100lbs) and large (6' 225 lbs) as well? Cutting frames from 1/2 plywood. Could you cut out the 6 sides from 1/4' plywood and laminate to reduce waste? Or would the added need for glue/epoxy eat up any savings. We are attracted to the low cost and complexity of this build as a possible youth group choice - paying the very reasonable additional per boat fee as we add to fleet. Thank you John
  14. Short shot was built for your wife, Can you point to some guidance on what makes a kayak better for someone smaller (wife, kids, etc). I would think length but do not want to compromise cruising speed. Would short shot be good for paddlers between 80-180lbs?
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