Thread: WREN - Greenland Inspired Kayak

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

Richard

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

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.

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

Expect to get the sides attached tonight.

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.

Attachment 69757 Attachment 69758

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.



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.

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

Originally Posted by m2c1Iw

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.

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.

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.

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.

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







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.



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

The deck is ready to start stripping!

Were stripping.






452

Hi Jeff,

Looking good! 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

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

Regards,
Darren

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

"Missed it by that much"



Got to have a Garage Door shoot!







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