I finally got started on my Walrus project. Actually I cut out the forms last month after Port Townsend Y2K. These are the largest forms I've ever seen for such a small boat. Instead of a strong back the forms go all the way to the floor.

I've already made my first mistake, but it looks like it will be all for the better. In George Putz's book, the offsets for the 17' & 18.5' kayak just are one page away from each other and the page layout is identical. So when I spaced the distance of the forms I was on the wrong page. I am now building an 18' kayak, which is just fine since I'm 6'5". I had thought about doing this anyway, so maybe it was subliminal.

I changed the order of construction from the book. The book calls for putting the stringers on first and then the chines. I opted for the chines first to give the frame and forms some rigidness. The forms have a tendency to slide around and get out of true. By putting the chines on first, some good triangulation occurs at the bow and stern. This helps keep the boat true. Even in this pic the keel is not perfectly straight because I bumped it (again).

I also used particleboard for the forms and would next time opt for plywood. There seems to be a lot more stress placed on the forms then a strip built kayak.

Next: Floors, Gunwales, Trestlework, and Deck Beams

Roger