FloatingFinn Posted October 8, 2017 Report Share Posted October 8, 2017 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! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
even-keeled Posted October 9, 2017 Report Share Posted October 9, 2017 Looks great from the photo. I like the off-center hatch. In winter, the coldest water I can expect is 12C (Arizona). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FloatingFinn Posted October 9, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2017 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quiet Posted October 10, 2017 Report Share Posted October 10, 2017 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.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FloatingFinn Posted October 10, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2017 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quiet Posted October 11, 2017 Report Share Posted October 11, 2017 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FloatingFinn Posted October 12, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2017 Couple more pictures. Shows the kayak closer, so you get better idea how it looks. Deck rigging is going to get done before spring. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NY_Rocking_Chairs Posted October 19, 2017 Report Share Posted October 19, 2017 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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FloatingFinn Posted October 20, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2017 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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