kayak plans

[henryblowery]

Hello,

I'm looking for plans for a plywood kayak that will be used to paddle around our local lakes. I'm 6'2" and am 180lbs. Thanks.
Gray

[ 08-13-2005, 03:44 PM: Message edited by: henryblowery ]

[ricardo de oliveira]

Take a look at Diva (http://www.bandbyachtdesigns.com/diva.htm).
She's a pretty thing in plywood.

[George Jung]

You might try the 'search' function on this site; this topic has been discussed several times that I'm aware of, lots of advice. Many of the replys will start with "Depends. What kind of paddling do you want to do?"
A brief synopsis: A lot depends on your needs (day tripping, extended camping trips, expeditions...) and ability (beginner/ advanced) and whether you want a kit or plans or free plans!
Some of my favorite sites include Guillemot (see www.kayakforum.com); (http://www.kayakforum.com);) oneoceonkayak; clcboats.com; redfishkayaks; and squeedunk (free plans on a nice boat, the Cormorant). I paddle a CLC boat, the Chesapeak 17LT; I'm very happy with it, but there are lots of other choices. Look around, see what catches your eye.

[JimD]

Here's a link to an old thread on kayak designs from when I was looking for one that contains links to many plans and a good discussion that might help you refine your parameters, ie, a fast, narrow, performance kayak or beamy and stable, etc.

http://www.woodenboat-ubb.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=004003

[henryblowery]

Thanks for the replys. About how much opoxy resign and hardner would it take to fiberglass the Diva inside and out? Also has anybody made the Diva? and if so how much did it cost to build? Thanks.
Gray

[ricardo de oliveira]

I understand a Diva hull as a wooden one, reinforced with glass tape in the chines and keel joint. Not a composite hull with a wooden core and inner and outter layers of glass fabric. So fiberglassing the whole hull is optional. It will add some weight and resist some abrasion better then a wooden epoxied hull only. I glassed my hulls above the water line.
The cost of materials around here are a little different, but I spent around $300 to build and finish her.
The plans are really friendly for the novice builder. I'm not an expert paddler but she is balanced and goes easy and fast. Graham seems to have got a balance between beam and waterline lenght that works very well. And she's a beauty indeed.
There's a lot of nice designs around for different tastes and purposes. Take your time and choose the right one for you.
All the best,
Ric

[Lion]

Look at www.oneoceankayaks.com (http://www.oneoceankayaks.com) , great web site and teriffic to deal with. Have purchase the plans for the Cirrus Ply/Strip composite and ordered the ply.

Vaclav from One Ocean has never failed to reply to respond to my emails the same day; the plans and Instruction booklet are high quality and reasonably priced and I got them in less than a week from east coast USA to Australia!!

I also happen to like the designs and they can accomodate 'big blokes'. Hope to have it done for our summer (December)!

(Spelling!)

Lion

[ 08-14-2005, 09:10 PM: Message edited by: Lion ]

[David123]

CLC Boats has an extensive line of kayak kits and plans. IO'm building their Mill Creek 13 from plans and find the plans and instruction book to be detailed enough for a first time builder like myself. No lofting required as there are full size patterns for all of the parts

Their kits go from about $700 and up depending on what you like, and their catalog is detailed enough so that hyou can choose by weight of the paddler along with an added dimension for the shoe size of the paddler, an important dimension for a kayak owner.

Their Website is
http://www.clcboats.com/index.php

Catalog is free, i believe. Service is good and if you're in the Annapolis , MD area, stop and see them. I did and they were patient and helpful.
Clen-L boat plans and Clark craft also have plans for KPlywoodl kayaks at less expensive prices, and Clark Craft also used to sell CLC plans.
don't know if they still do.

good luck
Dave

[Cuyahoga Chuck]

Chris Kukczicki, who founded CLC, has two books out complete with 3 sets of plans in each. The newest book, "The New Kayak Shop" gives you the plans and a complete tutorial for a modest price. The Chesapeake 16 is a good general purpose boat that is easy to build.
Charlie

[henryblowery]

ricardo de oliveira,
Your correct it is a wooden hull. I had been planing on useing a cheap grade of plywood and fiberglassing it on both sides for strength but that was befor I looked into the price of fiberglass and resign....
How many sheats of plywood did it take to build her? Thanks.
Gray

[ 08-15-2005, 11:53 AM: Message edited by: henryblowery ]

[ricardo de oliveira]

You should do it with 4 sheets of 4mm marine plywood. If you're not glassing the exterior I think you will spend some bucks with the best plywood you can find.
PS: I said I glassed "above the wateline", read "under", please.
Take a look at this pics (http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2131619444) to have an idea of what you can get.
All the best,
Ric

[JimD]

Unless you are building a 24 foot tandem ocean kayak I am among the small minority who finds 1/4" inch unecessary and too heavy. Build it right and glass sheath it and 1/8" does the job nicely. Or perhaps 1/4" on the bottom and 1/8" for sides and decks which is how the kayak I'm currently working on is done.

[ricardo de oliveira]

Jim,
oh sure, 1/4" is about 6 mm and too much for a single. I wrote 4mm. Sorry about the metrics...

[Y Bar Ranch]

I'm giving the Diva a hard look, after having built an Arctic Tern 17 and 14 by Pygmy. Want to build from plans next.

I built the AT17 with hatches and the AT14 without. After mucho paddling of both, I prefer no hatches/bulkheads, for safety reasons and weight, and I'm scoping out issues with building the Diva sans hatches. Have a post on B&B forum asking about it.

[JimD]

Originally posted by ricardo de oliveira:
Jim,
oh sure, 1/4" is about 6 mm and too much for a single. I wrote 4mm. Sorry about the metrics...Oops! The apology should come from me. I can't read. Yes, 4 mil is about right.

[JimD]

The thing about Diva that bothers me is the way the panels join in the middle. I could be wrong and it might be a lot easier than I think but it looks like it might be difficult to get fair shear and chine lines by joining the two halves that way.

[Doug Canada]

Bear Mountain Boats
http://www.bearmountainboats.com/

Their plywood kayak http://www.bearmountainboats.com/plywood_kayak_kits.htm

KAYAKS YOU CAN BUILD - an illustrated guide to plywood construction by TED MOORES AND GREG ROSSEL
Published

Doug

.

[Y Bar Ranch]

Originally posted by JimD:
The thing about Diva that bothers me is the way the panels join in the middle. I could be wrong and it might be a lot easier than I think but it looks like it might be difficult to get fair shear and chine lines by joining the two halves that way.Are you talking about the butt join? The pygmy boats use a butt join too, and things came out fine.

I know the diva uses the edge of the plywood (assuming it is straight) for the keel of the boat. Doing the butt join ought to be a simple matter in that case, using a straight edge to align the two parts and a wee bit of sanding to correct for any imperfections of the join.

[Tom Lathrop]

:confused:

[ 08-15-2005, 06:20 PM: Message edited by: Tom Lathrop ]

[Tom Lathrop]

Originally posted by JimD:
The thing about Diva that bothers me is the way the panels join in the middle. I could be wrong and it might be a lot easier than I think but it looks like it might be difficult to get fair shear and chine lines by joining the two halves that way.I've paddled the Diva and worked with students building in a class. It's a fold up S&G boat that will come out nice and fair provided the builder pays attention to the instructions and plans. If you want a shapely plywood kayak, you will need to work with patience and attention with anybody's design.

If you are satisfied with a 6 hour canoe, just slap one together.

[JimD]

Take a look at Selway-Fisher kayaks for something a little different

http://www.selway-fisher.com/Kayak.htm

[ricardo de oliveira]

That's when you have to measure a dozen times and so cut. A long metal straigth edge is important at this point. I don't trust my sheets edges. But you can trust the plans , it worked twice for me. The beauty of this "butterfly opening" method is the smooth transition from round to chine near the stem and stern.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid181/pd46b43714191c4eccb3e3060f60c0dae/f2cd9b81.jpg

[JimD]

Originally posted by ricardo de oliveira:
That's when you have to measure a dozen times and so cut. A long metal straigth edge is important at this point. I don't trust my sheets edges. But you can trust the plans , it worked twice for me. The beauty of this "butterfly opening" method is the smooth transition from round to chine near the stem and stern.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid181/pd46b43714191c4eccb3e3060f60c0dae/f2cd9b81.jpgYes, I see where you mean. Very nice!

[KenC]

The Bear Mountain Enterprise (referred to above) is very nice, and would be suitable for a large paddler. But might be a bit large for you, henry.

I'm 6'5", 220#, size 13 clods, and paddle a Bear Mountain Endeavour (strip). I've had mine loaded down with camping gear, and while it sat a little low in the water, I wouldn't want to go a whole lot bigger. The plywood Enterprise is based on the Endeavour lines, but is a tiny bit bigger. With an 8-panel hull (4 each side), its relatively soft-chined, if that matters to you.

Yesterday, I test paddled the one pictured on the cover of the book KAYAKS YOU CAN BUILD. Very nice. I like a recessed cockpit, which that boat didn't have, but that would be a relatively easy modification to make, I think. It'd be a good touring boat. Lotsa cargo capacity.

http://www.bearmountainboats.com/images_3/glamour_plywood.jpg

[henryblowery]

ricardo de oliveira,

Could you E-mail me at lct4501@yahoo.com?
Gray
P.S. or just put your E-mail address here so I can E-mail you

[ricardo de oliveira]

gray,
it's ricoliveira@uol.com.br

[henryblowery]

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