Ravenswood stringer size and a question about seats

[nopoe]

Hey everybody,

 

I ordered a Ravenswood deluxe kit a few days ago and I'm hoping to get building as soon as possible after it arrives, so I have a few questions. I have a local source for Western Red Cedar for stringers, but there's a bit of lead time because they have to special order it. So I was wondering if somebody could give me the dimensions of the stringers I'll need. That will probably help me get finished sooner seeing as they're needed for the first phase of the build. I'm not in a huge rush, but if I could avoid that extra lead time that would be awesome. Summer doesn't last forever!

 

I'm also wondering about seats. The deluxe kit says it comes with a backband and I remember reading somewhere all the frame kits come with planking for the cockpit area. But I checked in the store and couldn't find any proper seats so I thought I'd ask here what people typically do about that. Obviously this isn't as critical as getting stringer sizes since seats tend to be stocked items and I could always wait to fit it until later, but it would still be nice to know now so I can think about what I want.

 

Thanks!

[bwhip]

I got one 2x6x8' stick of clear cedar from a local lumber yard and ripped it into 5/8" strips for the shears. That yields 7, 1-1/2x5/8 strips (assuming a 1/8" blade kerf). Then I special ordered 2, 5/4x6x9' clear cedar and ripped them into 5/8" strips for the stringers (yield 14, 1x5/8 strips). I haven't scarfed them together yet, but the directions say the completed stringers should be 1 foot longer than the boat length.

 

As for lead time, if you're making a laminated coaming, you'll have to build the fixture and then make the coaming. Plus, I built a steam box to bend the sapele strips that I used. I'm nearing the end of that now, and it's taken me about 2 weeks. This is my first SOF boat, so I've been futzing around a bit.

 

Make your special orders while you're building your coaming. That way you'll minimize your idle time.

[P Doug (WA)]

I can tell you, Jeff will recommend this for a seat:  http://www.redfishkayak.com/seats.htm

 

A lot of people buy that high density foam and make seats.  There are tutorials on the internet.  I had just a cushion in mine, it was not a good thing.  I really need a good seat.

[Kudzu]

Paul is close. I haven't bought one of the complete seats because I change boats so much and it is made to fit your boat so I can't swap between then all. But if I ever settle on one boat as my main ride I will buy one of those for that boat.

 

Because of the price of that seat I recommend buying his Pre-sculpted Seat Blanks and letting Joe cut it to fit. He has some of my boats on file and I can send  him any he doesn't have. These are no cheap but they provide all day comfort. I have two that I swap between my boats and I use the backband I sell in all of my boats.

 

PS What ever you decided on keep one thing in mind. Seat height is critical to stability. As crazy as it may sound, sitting ever a 1/4" higher can make a dramatic difference in the way a boat feels. So keep your bottom as low as practical.