Search:

Hi, Guys,
Has anyone out there actually used polyester reinforced PVC lorry tarp type material to cover a kayak & had significantly better results than me??? Without any wrinkles that is?? (Photo...

Hi, Mike,
Ever thought of a Seahopper?
It's an 8' long pram which folds flat & stores in a bag.
I had one a few years ago.
It was b..... useless on open water, but it should be fine for what...

Hi, Guys,
Hope I'm not trying to teach my grandma to suck eggs, but my PBK instruction sheet says not to twist the stringers too much near the ends, but to saw them off at a compound angle to lie...

Hi, Guys,
I think I've cracked the photos this time. Probably my age.
You're right in that beech isn't an ideal boatbuilding material. It ain't light & it ain't stringy, i.e. it doesn't bend that...

Hi, Mike, Hi, Jeff,

Laminated beech should be fine for the hog, gunnels & stringers, as long as the grain's fairly straight & it's pretty knot free. Old Percy used to specify 3/4" x 1/2"...

Hi, Mike,
My kayak's dragging on a bit, unfortunately.
I have, however, been making some of the fiddly bits, i.e. seat & backrest, & am now, at last, ready to varnish.
I've checked out the lorry...

Hi, Jeff,
I just wondered if you'd come accross the ClarkCraft website yet.
Its an American firm that now hold the drawings for most of Percy's kayak designs.
I thought that perhaps if you coud...

Hi, Mike,
On further reflection, I think I might take your advice.
Thinking back, although I had no problems with waterproofing in the '60s, I did manage to put a hole in the kayak from time to...

Hi, Mike,
Many thanks for that, but I'd managed to find a firm called Whaleys in Bradford, who seem to deal in material for theatrical backdrops, tabs, etc.
They still list 10oz & 15oz cotton...

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...

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...

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...

Happy Christmas, Chaps!!
Sad or what? Sitting here on Christmas Day reading the build instruction sheet for my kayak?
Which brings me quickly to the point of this post.
HELLLPPPP!!!!!
Percy's...

Hi, Pete,
I remember that joint well.
My coaming was in mahogany too, & we didn't have any spare.
I chickened out & left it to my dad to cut!
Cheers,
Bill.

Hi, Guys,
Many thanks for your help.
The plans have arrived. I've gone for a PBK14 again.
Now for a sheet of plywood!
I seem to recall that when I built one in my youth, my dad, a joiner,...

Hi, Guys,
I'm a new member & joined the forum as I noticed that there were a number of posts from UK members relating to Percy Blandford Kayaks.
In my mid teens, I built, with the help of my dad, a...