splash
12-30-2003, 08:38 AM
As sea kayakers we steel ourselves before entering ocean surf. It is a test, maybe THE test, a real challenge, and required if you must launch or land along a coastline. To learn I first put a white water kayak into it at Hatteras...just to learn...and discovered what fun it is. Now I want to build a surf kayak to compliment the beautiful CLC sea kayaks I have built.
I need plans for a stitch and glue or cedar strip surf kayak that will carve turns nicely and that is fast. I'm not a hot-dogger...yet...but I want to play in that wonderful stuff and my Dagger RPM doesn't carve well.
Lacking that (I have some ideas but haven't actually touched a surf kayak...just seen pix on websites) I would very much (begging, here) appreciate pointers as to what works well and what to avoid...answers to questions such as: why do surf kayaks not have a flat hull aft of the paddler but some rocker throughout, and: would a purely eliptical shape for the bottom of the kayak work well? Can the bottom be flat right across, rail to rail or will that empart poor characteristics such as tripping? Hard rails or soft?
I searched this forum for any discussion of surf kayaks before posting and found none. Frankly, knowing that many of you folks live on or near the ocean, I don't understand how you have managed to stay out of surf this long (if you have.) It is way fun, WAY fun and great exercise. The kayaks I have seen on various web sites are beauties you can pick up and carry down the beach but pretty enough and shapely enough and small enough to hang in your living room.
Can anyone help me with this project?
Thanks,
Splash
I need plans for a stitch and glue or cedar strip surf kayak that will carve turns nicely and that is fast. I'm not a hot-dogger...yet...but I want to play in that wonderful stuff and my Dagger RPM doesn't carve well.
Lacking that (I have some ideas but haven't actually touched a surf kayak...just seen pix on websites) I would very much (begging, here) appreciate pointers as to what works well and what to avoid...answers to questions such as: why do surf kayaks not have a flat hull aft of the paddler but some rocker throughout, and: would a purely eliptical shape for the bottom of the kayak work well? Can the bottom be flat right across, rail to rail or will that empart poor characteristics such as tripping? Hard rails or soft?
I searched this forum for any discussion of surf kayaks before posting and found none. Frankly, knowing that many of you folks live on or near the ocean, I don't understand how you have managed to stay out of surf this long (if you have.) It is way fun, WAY fun and great exercise. The kayaks I have seen on various web sites are beauties you can pick up and carry down the beach but pretty enough and shapely enough and small enough to hang in your living room.
Can anyone help me with this project?
Thanks,
Splash