Thread: Beginner's canoe/kayak

This might be an opportune time to arrange a meeting of the SA contingent. I'm quite happy to supply my Laker for a test paddle and - I know I shouldn't be volunteering any else - but .... there are others with kayaks that may be interested in the same. Even if the lady and yourself don't like what you try out it will help with knowing what is acceptable and what isn't.

The other Jem design that comes to mind is the Freedom - there are different lengths including 11' and 13' from memory, and I think the 11' is 29" wide so should be very stable.

Wonder if this will be more or less pleasant than a bout of the lurgy ?

Hi Richard
Have a look at JEM watercraft. He has a range of canoes wjth builders all over the place and free plans for a 12' version of his Laker.
There is also a bloke who is on this forum a bit named Mik who has a design called Eureka. Nice boat
A fast build? The same Mik has a thing called a Quick canoe. Mik has free paddle plans too
Good luck
Tom

I just a brought a beginners plastic SOT, was contemplating making one but I wasnt sure if it was worth the time involved, didn't know weather I'd get into it all that often... had it a week been out 4 times already!

I d like too try these guys out, its in your neighbor hood Adventure Kayaking SA

The Mill Ck from CLC would seem to tick the boxes.
Woodenboat # 136 & 137 contain full plans & instructions for the 13' version.
I just happen to have them here at home.
Thems as has 'em seem to like them.
Would have built one for myself if they were a bit narrower at the gunn'l, and
if I was less determined to do everything the hard way.

I second the motion about a SA contingent p*ss-u... er... get-together.
She can try out Rob's Laker & my new bus then decide on something completely
different.

In strip plank.

I've got most of the next few week-ends off (hint, hint)

AJ

I was thinking about the Mill Creek 13 today and it would be spot on for the design brief so far. Also from CLC are the Wood Ducks - wide boats in 3 lengths. The Buccaneer from Jem is also short and wide.

AJ we need to quietly plant the seed of having a S&G hull with a strip deck, then let it grow from there.........

My weekends are usually flexible but I'm going to have to commit to some dates soon (probably tomorrow night). Either the Pat or West Lakes would be good, the Onk's probably too tidal.

A get together would be good, trouible is, I'm not sure which weekends she's working on. It'd have to be a sunday because saturdays are killed with the lad's soccer.

I haven't had much of a chance to look further into options (and I've got a couple of pms to answer) but the build's a goer

Richard

I was also thinking Mill Creek 13...been looking at CLCs stuff lately (after spending a weekend at a Scout kayaking camp!) and considering what might be appropriate for our family.

One of the things of note from the weekend was that mature women have more difficulty fitting in kayaks than us blokes. Keep the width of the seating area in mind when looking at designs. No offence meant to your SO, but my missus had difficulty fitting in our F/G double kayak that she grew up with (much to her disgust!).

Took the mouseboat along to the camp, and had it out quite a bit. It was hard work keeping up with the kayaks on the longer trips, due to the high drag of the mouseboat, but the carrying capacity and stability means that I can take my 7yo out in it with me, while my wife can take out our 9yo in the double. Our eldest was in one of the scout boats.

The Laker 13 also looks good. It has a smaller cockpit openning, which is good if you're planning on tipping it, but I'm guessing you'll be avoiding that most of the time. It's probably a wooden equivalent to what the scouts were using...they were using plastic Arcadia's...about 13' long. Some used Coyotes (I think that's what they were) but these had more rocker, and were more difficult for the scouts to handle in the wind.

Perception Arcadia

I haven't much of a chance to look or think about this project, which is why I've been less than responsive - I apologise to those who sent me PMs.

Firstly, this kayak vs canoe carryon - what is the exact difference between the two? How does this impact on the use of a double ended paddle?

And in an attempt to answer that myself, my feeling is that as well as the kayak having all that decking, you sit a lot lower in the boat making the double paddle effective. The canoe generally lacks the deck and you sit a lot higher, making the single paddle the weapon of choice. Is I right or is I completely wrong (again )?

As far as getting some practical experience in.
Jan's work schedule is all over the place and we don't know it all that far ahead so planning around her is difficult.
Sundays are good for me.
Saturday's are bad coz the lad plays football (soccer) on saturdays - reserves for Adelaide Galaxy (local SuperLeague team).

I've got the kids for Easter and the week immediately after that, so midweek or easter is good.

Is a get together good for Easter?
Mike, do you have your Eureka finished/useable yet?

Richard

Originally Posted by Hawk

Perception Arcadia

For mentioning tupperware boats in this thread, you can finish sanding your Vagabond yourself

Richard

Harry's exempt coz he don't know me ... and he isn't restoring something that needs a lot of sanding

Originally Posted by Daddles

Is a get together good for Easter?
Mike, do you have your Eureka finished/useable yet?

nup, maybe usable by Easter.

Originally Posted by m2c1Iw

nup, maybe usable by Easter.

Bit like my ruddy rowing skiff ... and to think I was trying to get paint for the Christmas break . I keep finding bits to glue on - how can such a simple boat have so many parts? Like you've all heard me say often, making the hull is such a short part of the overall build, it's almost immaterial.

I would like Jan to see the Eureka in the flesh though - maybe we could come around, you and I could talk boats while she ignores the boat and commiserates with your missus

Richard

No worries, the current requirement for shed entry is a sanding block in hand.

Actually I was forgetting how close Easter is and I still have to seal the ply with a coat or two of pox.

Originally Posted by Daddles

For mentioning tupperware boats in this thread, you can finish sanding your Vagabond yourself

Oops...sorry...hadn't actually realised that...I was just showing you what the scouts use for training boats.

The more I look at it (and I've been looking a bit lately) I reckon the Laker is a good design. It comes in the 13' Free design, but they also have a 14' and 15' version.

I could ramble on incoherently all night about this but will just make a couple of comments about beam at this stage.
Generally wider is more stable but there can be a few costs. One is sluggishness which many people say they are willing to accept – until they have had the boat for a while. With confidence in balance and boat handling comes the desire for better performance. Not saying to get a racing boat but don’t go too far the “stable” way either.
Wider/shorter also means a little more difficult to control the direction of in many cases although not all. I have paddled a little plastic tub called a Minnow and it was quite well behaved.
Wider also requires a longer paddle unless you have a long reach. The longer paddle allows you to get the blade in the water without having to lean radically from side to side. There are pros and cons for various paddle configurations – it’s a whole topic to itself.
When I was looking for a design to build I crossed the MIll Creek off my list early because it looked too wide but I'm suspecting it could be more suitable for you.

I have the free Laker plans as well as the bought ones and they are both 13' long but the free version has a different shape where the bottom transitions to bow and stern.

Regarding the differences between canoes and kayaks there are designs available which are something of a crossover point in that the paddler sits low in the open hull and uses a double ended paddle. The Wee Robbie (strip design) from Laughing Loon has a deck option in the plans so really can be built as either.

Easter Sat/Sun is good for me.
Mike, is it possible we’ll see the Eureka’s maiden voyage?