WREN - Greenland Inspired Kayak

[Kudzu]

Seeing Darren's build I thought I would post mine too. He has a head start on his so I guess I can't race with him. :wink: I just started cutting the plywood tonight but didn't get far.

Wren is my design. My goals were a stable flat water boat for day tripping but could still haul some camping gear for a weeks trip. Stability was important for photography. Tracking wasn't as important, I wanted a boat that would turn in tight spots as it will be use on small creeks as well as big lakes. A retractable skeg is part of the design and will be there to improve tracking when needed. The hull will be ply, but I am going to strip the deck.

Wren is an 18"/5.5 meters long on deck. 24"/61 cm wide. The design displacement if for us larger blokes. I designed it for an average load of 250 lbs/113 Kilos. I based that on a 200 lb/91 kilo paddler and 50 lbs/22.6 kilo's of boat and day gear. I allowed for an additional 50 lbs/22.5 Kilos when needed of gear (max) for camping trips.

I am aiming for a light weight boat. I building it with 3mm ply and sheathing it with 4 oz. cloth. Not sure how that converts to metric? I really thing it's possible to keep the weight under 16 kilos. I am not sure I will make that, but thats my goal.

http://www.kudzupatch.com/boats/wren/WREN_Linesplan.jpg

Nothing else to show at this point. As I said, I just cut the first of the ply tonight. I hope to have something to show early in the week. Hulls go together fairly fast

[Daddles]

Stitch and glue hull?

The strip plank deck should look good. Do you anticipate any problems around the cockpit? Not being a kayak person, I have trouble envisioning the curves.

Nice feeling designing your own stuff. I haven't attempted it with boats but have designed enough model aeroplanes for myself and others to know how that feels :2tsup:

Richard

[yjnb]

I'm looking forward to watching your progress, there's always something to learn. Designing your own kayak- I'm impressed. I assume this is not your first kayak.

James

[Buzza]

I'm a "bigger bloke", and if could spend a month living out of this kayak along the deeper parts of the Murray River, I could be entered into the category of "smaller bloke". :-

I look forward to more on the Wren, and thanks for showing the plan picture. :cool:

[Kudzu]

Making some progress this week. Have the panel cut out. Started wiring the hull together too.

http://www.kudzupatch.com/boats/projects/panels/101_2482.JPGExpect to get the sides attached tonight.

[Kudzu]

Making some progress. Hull is wired together. But I have a one hump in the keel line. Got to get that fixed then I can start epoxying.


69757 69758

[Kudzu]

Made good progress. The hull is pretty much done. I still have one more project on the hull though. Thats installing a drop down skeg. I copied a design I found. I think it's really clever.

http://www.kudzupatch.com/boats/projects/hull/13.jpg

This is my prototype. The skeg is spring (bungee) loaded. So it pulls down on it's own. The pipe will end on deck and the line will exit there and be anchored by a jam cleat. So you just ease off the line to deploy the skeg.

The skeg is removable and the bungee is replaceable. You will just have to thread a small wire or string though the opening and pull the replacement in. I tried it and it works really well. I am impressed with it.

I have committed to it, went ahead and cut the hole in the hull. That was a bit unnerving.

http://www.kudzupatch.com/boats/projects/hull/12.jpg

[m2c1Iw]

Hi Jeff,
You sure are making good progress there its spurred me on with my little PDracer.
Trick idea for the skeg a miniture version of the centreplate systems on the trailer sailers I have owned.

Hows that monster planer of yours, sure is a great machine and interesting to see the resto.

Regards
Mike

[Kudzu]

Hows that monster planer of yours, sure is a great machine and interesting to see the resto.

Regards
Mike

I love that thing!! I use it often. I still have a couple of small things I want to do to it, but they are minor. It's been everything I was hoping for.

[Kudzu]

Going a little slower than I thought. I was expecting to get the epoxy applied and start cutting the panels for the second boat today. Took me all day to get to that point and I was way to tired to start handling sheets of plywood. Even very light ones.


http://www.kudzupatch.com/boats/projects/hull/overall.jpg

http://www.kudzupatch.com/boats/projects/hull/15.jpg

It took a while but I planed the sheer clamps down to match the curve of the deck. Here you can see part of the rear section almost finished.


http://www.kudzupatch.com/boats/projects/hull/17.jpg

I tried some new .... well actually very old methods to measure for a day hatch. Story sticks and a bevel square. I took my time and I am impressed! The fit wasn't quite perfect but it was very close. I left it just a little oversize and was able to quick trim it to fit. Worked better than anything else I have tried.

Day hatch is a just a small compartment direct behind you on the right side. Its a good place to put a drink, camera, snacks etc. Small items you want to be able to access easily. The hatch will be held in place with rare earth magnets. It's simple to install. The magnets will pull it in place if you get it close. Thats a plus since this is behind you and mostly if not totally out of site.

[Kudzu]

Hull is almost done. Except for some MORE sanding! :C Seems that never ends!

http://www.kudzupatch.com/boats/projects/hull/19.jpg


http://www.kudzupatch.com/boats/projects/hull/21.jpg


Once the hull was glassed and sanded (and sanded and sanded some more) I flipped it over and put a coat in the cockpit. I building it lightweight so I am using a light cloth. I wanted to add a little extra stiffness in the cockpit and some abrasion resistance. Otherwise I would have just put cloth down where the feet would be.

http://www.kudzupatch.com/boats/projects/hull/23.jpg

Also started on the second boat. It's the same basic design, just for a lighter paddler.

http://www.kudzupatch.com/boats/projects/hull2/26.jpg

[Kudzu]

The deck is ready to start stripping!

http://www.kudzupatch.com/temp/101_2927.JPG

[Kudzu]

Were stripping.

http://www.kudzupatch.com/boats/projects/decking/36.jpg

http://www.kudzupatch.com/boats/projects/decking/37.jpg


452

[TK1]

Hi Jeff,

Looking good! :2tsup: The hull shape is nice and should look great with the stripping done. Looks like a fast boat - were you able to do any stability calculations in the design program? I know your original post said you wanted something stable, but it should paddle pretty well too.

I like the idea of the separate day hatch compartment too, very cool. Might have to steal that for a future build :D

Looking forward to more pics. What sort of wood are you using for the deck?

Regards,
Darren

[Kudzu]

I expected to finish stripping the deck today but not so.

"Missed it by that much"

http://www.kudzupatch.com/boats/projects/decking/38.jpg

Got to have a Garage Door shoot!


http://www.kudzupatch.com/boats/projects/decking/39.jpg


http://www.kudzupatch.com/boats/projects/decking/40.jpg

Sorry for the fuzzy photos. I think my camera has been in one too many attic or crawl space

[BozInOz]

Looks great.
I used to do a fair bit of kayaking but don't have a boat... I'd love to give it a crack.

[Kudzu]

Hit another milestone today. I finally attached the deck to the hull. It's really starting to look like a kayak now. Sorry for the lousy photos, just hard to get a decent photo in the shop.

74104 74105

[m2c1Iw]

Hi Jeff,
It's looking great.
Dumb question: The earlier pics of the decking had me scratching my head as to why the tape on the frames etc. dawned on me that you are glueing the deck as an assembly to be attached as a unit later and just wondering why.

Cheers
Mike

[Boatmik]

This is turning into a very nice little thread! Thanks Kudzu!

[Kudzu]

....dawned on me that you are glueing the deck as an assembly to be attached as a unit later and just wondering why.


The deck has no supports under it except the two bulkheads. The frames you saw previously were just temporary. A mold to build the deck on. Once the deck was finished I added a coat of epoxy and fiberglass to it. Removed it and removed the frames you saw. Now the deck is glued to the hull.

Does that make sense?

[m2c1Iw]

Thanks Jeff,
Yes makes perfect sense, good luck with it.

[Kudzu]

Now it really starting to look good! I was disappointed in the color but now with another fill coat it looks like I expected. I think this was Old Growth western red cedar but not sure. Started as a 3" x 13" slab without a single knot in it.

74398 74399 74400

Have to point out how clean the floor it. I got feed up and cleaned up. It wasn't that bad but I have never liked a dirty shop. By the time I quit I am usually to tired to clean up.

My sisters present, the wine cabinet is still sitting in the shop. Got to figure out a way to get it to her.

[Kudzu]

http://www.kudzupatch.com/temp/coaming-clamps.jpg

Anyone have any spare clamps?? :C

[Kudzu]

Finished coaming. First time of anything like this and I am pretty happy with the results.

http://www.kudzupatch.com/temp/coaming-done1.jpg

http://www.kudzupatch.com/temp/coaming-done.jpg

[honkongphoie]

that looks great, there's a lot of curves it that coaming and it looks perfect, great job can't wait to see it finnished

[TK1]

Looking good, Jeff!

I really like the way the deck's turned out, a nice curve to it in front of the coaming. And nice work on the coaming too.

Will be great when finished.

Regards,
Darren

[Kudzu]

It is all down hill from now on! I have gotten to the point I can see the end of this project! I can officially say I am down to the finishing and fitting out!

I have some more sanding to do and then it's time to spray some paint and varnish then fit her out with deck lines, seat ect.

http://www.kudzupatch.com/temp/details1.jpg

Filleting the coaming in place.


http://www.kudzupatch.com/temp/details3.jpg

Putting in the lips for the hatches were part of the final details.



http://www.kudzupatch.com/temp/details5.jpg


Here it is with hatches in place and as far as I know ready for final sanding and then time to apply the finish.


http://www.kudzupatch.com/temp/details6.jpg

A paddle park. The bungee will be right in front of this. You lay your paddle in it, pull the bungee over the horn and the paddle is parked.

Looking at this photo I think I can improve on the looks. Next time I will make is lower profile, but this will work.

I am hoping to finish up by next weekend. Of course I expected to finish it 4 or 5 weeks ago too. So that may not mean much. But this project is finally winding down!

[jmk89]

Looking really good, Jeff.

I luv the paddle park

[Kudzu]

Just a few more days and we will be headed to the water!!

http://www.kudzupatch.com/temp/varnish.jpg

[yjnb]

Very nice work jeff. My only query- do you think that paddle park may be a little on the pointy side. I can think of 2 rescues where it might come a little close to the crown jewels (cowboy and T rescue). On the other hand perhaps it's just the angle the photo's taken from.

I love the day hatch and would like to know how the hatches work out for rolling and surfing. Mine are the style shown in the New Kayak Shop book and after a morning surfing or rolling I have a couple of cups of water in the hatches which I think is excessive. you look like you will have a much better seal than I achieved.

That cockpit Rim looks nice and light. The CLC boats (including mine) have a laminated rim which, I think, adds excessive weight to the kayak. I put that down as a learning experience and will do my next one like yours. I assume it's bent rather than laminated.

thanks for keeping us up to date

James

[Kudzu]

The paddle park could look better. After I use a while I will probably be able to improve the next one. But being in front of the cockpit I wouldn't think it should be an issue? We will see soon.

She is upside down receiving the finishing touches on the hull now. I have finished the deck. Installed some rigging and have some more to go. I expect to finish it up this weekend. Depending on how many coats of paint I can apply in one day.

[yjnb]

"being in front of the cockpit I wouldn't think it should be an issue?"

You're right, I didn't look closely enough and just assumed it was behind. Shouldn't be a reentry problem in front.

great job

James

[Kudzu]

Long day and a short paddle but she is done! Took Wren to lake and I am well pleased! Considering this is so many firsts I couldn't expect it to preform any better for a first attempt. Considering I designed it myself I should be amazed, but I found myself thinking on how to improve the next one! :rolleyes:

Photos first then some details.

76202

Told my wife her Exterra never looked any better. ;)

76203 76204

On the water at the boat launch about 2 miles from my house.

Yes it is PURPLE.

Some details. The boat is stable, not quite as much as I expected but I didn't want a barge and it is closer to what I wanted, just didn't really expect it. It has strong secondary stability. Meaning when you lean it over it gets stiffer and doesn't want to roll over on you.

It turns fairly well. When leaned over it will turn 180 degrees in about 30-35 feet. Not bad, but I bet I make it do better with some practice. I wanted a boat that would turn well. I added a retractable skeg (rudder) that really makes it track straight if you need. In high winds it may be needed.

I had some leaks on the deck but I expected that. I have not sealed the holes where all the rigging is. I wanted to make sure I was happy with this before I sealed them.

I took this out on the water.

76205

My first design, my second build. No major flaws. PRICELESS!!

[b.o.a.t.]

Well done Jeff.

[TK1]

Congratulations! :D:D

Great looking boat, Jeff. I think you managed to design, build and launch Wren in the time it's taken me to attach my rubrails :oo:

What are you using for seating?

Looking forward to seeing the next design and build. :)

Regards,
Darren (the slow kayak builder :doh:)

[m2c1Iw]

:iagree: :welldone:

Mike

[Kudzu]

What are you using for seating?

I have been back and forth and was thinking of carving a mini-cell block. But I just ordered a Happy Bottom seat from CLC Boats. I have never sat in a boat that the seat bothered me. So the price was right and I could get going fast with this. Ordered a back band and will figure out how to mount it once it gets here.

[Kudzu]

Building Wren (http://www.kudzupatch.com/boats/projects/panels/index.html) web site is finished. Lots of photos on there.