Launch day (unfinished so unofficial)

[John R - Kitenui]

It has taken me a long time but I finally put the 2 kayaks I have been building on to the roof rack and tried one out in the water yesterday. Still a few things that need finishing but a real milestone; I didnt even can out being a major.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y27/JohnRawson/s134531.jpg
The big black dog has to check on most things and he wasnt too sure about sitting on the deck of this one
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y27/JohnRawson/s110541.jpg

[Wayne Jeffers]

Looks good! Thanks for the photos.

A matched set? What design are they?

Wayne

[Stiletto]

Nice! The roofrack shot has me thinking you have the makings of a multihull there ;)

[John R - Kitenui]

Yeah! I never thought of them as outriggers for the K Class -- But now ;; you got me thinkin !!
Wayne, they are a matched pair of West River 180's design from plans by Chespeake Light Craft

[Wayne Jeffers]

Thanks, John.

Are they a "his & hers" set? What waters do you plan to use them in?

Wayne

[RichKrough]

woo hoo nice job John! I'll bet they paddle better than any plastic kayak you ever been in!

[Matt J.]

Fantastic! Jenny got me a gift certificate for my 30th birthday for a CLC kayak. I'm seriously considering the Chesapeake 17, Arctic Hawk, and WR180... I'm a little large, at 6'-4" (193cm) and 230lbs (105Kg) so I'm going to have to approach this like car shopping... which ones can I get in, and from there which ones are comfortable...

I really like the Arctic Fox and the WR180 the most though. The classic lines (AF) and the multi chine hull (WR180) get me.

How did you test them or arrive at your choice?

[Peter Malcolm Jardine]

:cool:

[John R - Kitenui]

Originally started as a his'n'hers project for my daughter who is into a bit of scuba diving However it has taken me over 4 years to complete to this stage due to a variety of reasons. The reasons for the choice of the West Rivers was the multi chine shape and the carrying capacity for diving gear I also considered the shape would carry the weight better than the hard chines. Definitely a LOT more work in the multi chine. As far as body size goes your choice may be more dependent on shoe size. My son has a size 13 foot and is about 6'3" 118kg but I havent shoehorned him into one of them yet. Will let you know when I do.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y27/JohnRawson/s134225.jpg
This shot shows the rise in the fore deck. I had no trouble with my little size 9 s

[John R - Kitenui]

This shot was taken with the first sealer coat of polyurethane to the decks
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y27/JohnRawson/a26130524as.jpg
The ply is rotary cut (peeled) Sapele ('African Mahogany')

[Norske3]

Good show....now nail a beam across them ...mast and sail and go "cating". smile.gif

[John B]

neat. Is that a moveable skeg aft?

[George.]

Brightwork and a big black dog - WOOHOO! :cool: smile.gif

[John R - Kitenui]

Yep a retractable skeg- Havent got the control lines in place yet- Same with the paint on the hulls. But once I had the roof rack adapted and with the perfection of weather at the moment --- I just couldn't wait. Going up to Warkworth later this week to do some work on Ngataringa so we might just paddle along the creek to get some breakfast.
Been considering a barge to tow the big black dog along on. LOL

[John R - Kitenui]

Hey Matt
Fitted my son in to one of them today. Size 13 feet were not a problem

[Matt J.]

Thanks, John. That's good news. I like the WR180 a bit better than the Ches 18. I'm still going to test several of them before buying, though. Did you have a chance to do that first, or did you buy based on specs?

BTW. you mention SCUBA. I dive also, and wonder where you put the larger gear w/o hatches? The tanks, particularly... slide forward from the cockpit, or are you cutting hatches at some future time? Or are they so good I missed 'em?

Nice 'yaks, though. Looking sharp.

[Garrett Lowell]

Very nicely done!

[John R - Kitenui]

Hi Matt
No ,I didnt have a chance to test them at all being here in New Zealand. If you have the opportunity of trialling different models, seize it. My daughter is currently living in Melbourne, Australia so the priority of scuba gear is no longer a high one. At this stage I havent cut any hatches. I will wait to see how I use them as to whether or not it's worth damaging the deck varnish. When, and if I do they will be flush hatches with toggle fastenings rather than big straps. I will be putting deck bungy on and hope that this will be sufficient to carry my spare jacket, sandwiches etc.

[John R - Kitenui]

Varnishing dog
Not hard
Feed half can of good quality spar varnish once fortnightly

[Stiletto]

What marina is that John?

[John R - Kitenui]

Stilleto, The mudrina is Westpark up in the mudflats of the Henderson Creek near Hobsonville
Hadn't thought of the hatches acting as breakwaters
Cheers