Vardo launch

[FloatingFinn]

After having fun 105 hours with building the Vardo, it was time to have another kind of fun paddling with it.

It was only +3C°, but i had to try it out before winter!

[even-keeled]

Looks great from the photo. I like the off-center hatch. In winter, the coldest water I can expect is 12C (Arizona).

[FloatingFinn]

Thank you Even-keeled! Hatch i put off-center so that i wouldnt need to cut rear deckbeam. I think sea is going to freeze here in 1.5-2 months from now, so i could go paddling again if i wanted it enough, but i think i´m going to wait until next summer and warm weather.

[Quiet]

Very nice. I rather like the soft light winter brings. We are heading into summer and solid water will be the least of our concerns ;-)

Do you find the rear hatch is a help and worth the extra effort? (I Suppose it depends on how much you plan to carry and how often.)

[FloatingFinn]

Thank you Quiet! I would rather have summer all year round, but i guess our mild and short summer feels better after you wait it for 7 cold and dark months.

It´s too early to say if the hatch is a lot of help, but if you carry camping gear with you i believe it will be a bit easier to load them in the kayak through the hatch. While building i was thinking if i needed the hatch or not and decided to put it there just in case. Much easier to put it there while building than add it later. I have a piece of plywood a bit bigger than the hatch lashed between the rear deckbeam and gunnel to fit the base of the hatch on. It was quite easy to add it and didn´t cost all that much, so i think it was worth the effort.

[Quiet]

Thanks Floating Finn. I am currently building a Ravenswood (very slowly) and don't intend to put hatches on that as it is going to be used a day boat. However am very interested in them for future builds.

[FloatingFinn]

Couple more pictures.

Shows the kayak closer, so you get better idea how it looks.

Deck rigging is going to get done before spring.

[NY_Rocking_Chairs]

Can I ask where you got the hatch?  I am thinking of doing the Vardo specifically as my touring/camping boat so planning hatches in both bow and stern.

 

Nevermind on the hatch, just realized you were in Finland...

 

Nice looking boat!

[FloatingFinn]

Thank you NY_Rocking_Chair!

I got mine from Finnish kayak supply store, but Kudzu store has hatches too. http://www.kudzucraft.net/Boat-Building-Supplies/

I planned to put hatches on both ends, but couldnt fit the one on bow so it looked nice and so i wouldnt need to cut deck beams. So i decided to left the bow hatch off.