Thread: Percy Blandford timber & canvas canoes

Hi, Canoemike,
I'm only gathering the timber at the moment with a view to starting the build soon. That combined with needing to learn to paddle again, I don't think I'll be seeing you on the Thames this summer!
Don't mind keeping in touch, though. I live in Lincs.
The PWB Facebook page looks good.
Cheers,
Bill.

There were a few Percy Blandford kayaks at the Festival this year:

GregF

Originally Posted by pindimar

There were a few Percy Blandford kayaks at the Festival this year:

GregF

Hi,

This is a very nice thread and the Blandford designs a very nice. However the blue double seater ( in the water) is definitely a Klepper, most probably an Aerius II.

Viktor

Sorry, not an Aerius, but a Blauwal (blue whale). You can just make out the name on the side. It was one of the last Klepper designs without sponsons.

Hello Viktor

Ooops! My mistake, sorry that I got it wrong. But it's a nice boat just the same!

Thanks for pointing out my error, though

So Viktor, how old would that design be?

best wishes

GregF

Originally Posted by pindimar

Hello Viktor

Ooops! My mistake, sorry that I got it wrong. But it's a nice boat just the same!

Thanks for pointing out my error, though

So Viktor, how old would that design be?

best wishes

GregF

Hi Greg,

It was an easy mistake to make. When I saw the first Blandford kayaks at the beginning of this thread my immediate thought was: “they look just like Kleppers”.

Concerning the possible age of the Blauwal in the picture:
I had a look around the internet and came across this very informative website:

Klepper Blauwal 01

According to the info from this site, we are looking here at a “Blauwal 4”, which was the last series of Blauwale, made from 1963 to 1987.

So this boat is at the very least 24 years old. However, looking at the pictures you posted and comparing with my own Aerius II (early 1970 vintage), I would suspect that the Blauwal in the picture could easily be of the same age as my own.

I am almost certain that we are looking here at the original package (skin, skirt, rudder, even the paddles). Kleppers are very (!) expensive, but they are made to last.

If you are interested, have a look at the website, there are lots of nice detail pictures of that boat, including the frame and all the hardware.

bye,

Viktor

Thanks for that information Viktor

Very interesting that this particular model was on sale for as long as that - there must have been something right about that design!

Actually I think there is an exhibition in the Australian National Maritime Museum (which is in Sydney) of a kayak trip that was undertaken from Germany to Australia just a few years before WWII and I think that boat was a Klepper?

I thought that I'd taken photos of the display but the only photo I can find now is one of the national pennant that was flown on the kayak - 1937 or so! I'll keep looking!

thanks again Viktor

GregF

Thanks for that information Viktor

Very interesting that this particular model was on sale for as long as that - there must have something right about that design!

Actually I think there is an exhibition in the Australian National Maritime Museum (which is in Sydney) of a kayak trip that was undertaken from Germany to Australia just a few years before WWII and I think that boat was a Klepper?

I thought that i'd taken photos of the display but the only photo I can find now is one of the national pennant that was flown on the kayak - 1937 or so! I'll keep looking!

thanks again Viktor

GregF

The German paddlers name was Oscar Speck and there are some articles about him at
Incredible Journey of Oskar Speck
Incredible Journey of Oskar Speck part 2
Incredible Journey-OskarSpeck3

Truly an amazing journey.

Originally Posted by pindimar

Thanks for that information Viktor

Very interesting that this particular model was on sale for as long as that - there must have been something right about that design!

Actually I think there is an exhibition in the Australian National Maritime Museum (which is in Sydney) of a kayak trip that was undertaken from Germany to Australia just a few years before WWII and I think that boat was a Klepper?

I thought that I'd taken photos of the display but the only photo I can find now is one of the national pennant that was flown on the kayak - 1937 or so! I'll keep looking!

thanks again Viktor

GregF

Hi Greg,

I am glad you liked the info.
I really do not want to hijack this thread away from Percy Blandford designs, but maybe just a little bit more about folding kayaks is maybe ok,,,,

1. Concerning the Blauwal:
Actually the Blauwal 4 was just the latest version of the Blauwal-kayaks, which were built with very minor variations since 1935!

The hugely successful Aerius II is just a Blauwal with two side airchambers (sponsons ?) added, and that boat has been in constant production since the 1950s.

If you buy a new Klepper now (lucky you, if you can afford it), you'll find that the frame including all the little bits of aluminium hardware is still extremely similar, if not identical to the bits you'll see on the pictures of the Blauwal (see link from previous post).

So yes, you could definitely call it a successful design.

2. Oskar Speck's 50,000 km voyage to Australia...by kayak

The internet is a wonderful thing (sometimes)
Following your info I found this on the website of the ANMM:

http://www.anmm.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=1260&c=915

Have a look, it is worth the read.
It took him seven years from Munich to Australia, and he went through 4 folding kayaks. He was lucky in that the German folding kayak manufacturer "Pionier-Faltboote" sponsored him when he had obtained some notoriety after about two years of traveling, and provided him with new boats as needed.

So, the one in the museum should normally be a "Pionier", not a Klepper.
It will however have looked very similar. Folding kayaks were at the time a big industry in Germany, with several companies (Hammer was another big company in addition to Klepper and Pionier).
All their kayaks were basically "decked canoes" in the Rob Roy tradition. So from a little distance they all look highly similar.
Percy Blandford also designed his kayaks in this style, which is why his designs also look like a "Klepper".

bye,

Viktor

Ah yes, that's it!

I must go back and take some photos to post - maybe on a separate thread, as Viktor has mentioned, better not to hijack this thread. But it is very interesting stuff, so thank you both.

GregF

Hi, Fellow Paddlers,
At last, I'm beginning to make progress on my PBK14.
I've (hopefully!) attached a couple of photos.
The frames are of 9mm WBP ply, rather than marine ply, which is difficult to source around here.
The stringers, etc., are generally knot free generic par softwood, sourced from local DIY sheds & timber yards. Some splicing was neccessary.
I've used slow setting epoxy throughout & brass screws.
I'm currently going through the tedious but neccessary (and therapeutic!) process of rounding all the corners off & sanding prior to varnishing.
It isn't looking good for getting it onto the water this summer, so I've just given in & ordered an inflatable kayak for the holidays! Cheating or what!
Best Wishes,
Bill.

Hi,
Looking sweet!
Can we have a few detail photos please!

....The frames are of 9mm WBP ply, rather than marine ply, which is difficult to source around here...
I don't think you need to worry about the ply. In Klepper folding kayaks the frames have been made of birch ply for ever (still are, as far as I know). On my own roughly 40-year old boat (Aerius II, very similar in shape to yours) the woodwork looks still very good, including the original varnish. It's the skin that's in need of replacement.

...I have ordered an inflatable kayak for the holidays....
Bad move! Pressure's off now.

Well, at least you'll be able to play on the water, that's the main thing.

Cheers,

Viktor

Hi, Viktor,
Got back from hols. a week ago.
I tried the inflatable kayak, a Sevylor Rio, in the sea off Findochty in the north of Scotland. It doesn't track, it doesn't glide, in fact it's pretty much like paddling a giant hot dog bun. It did, however, serve to get me on the water & to get my confidence back.
Got stuck straight into the PBK14 when we got back, & have now completed the part that I had been dreading, that compound mitre joint at the front of the cockpit combing. (Is that the right way to spell combing?)
Will post some detail photos soon.
Cheers,
Bill.

Hi Bill have you got the covering material yet..there is a tent company just North of Bristol..that supplies the Heavy duty PVC and the canvas for the topsides...regards Mike