> I have been having a hell of a time trying to find a source of
> wood for my kayak. One place I tried could get me clear WRC in 10'
> lengths for around $4/bf...Canadian! Only problem is, he needs a minimum
> order of a few hundred bf (or the place he's ordering from wants at
> least this much). He said I could wait (an estimated two weeks) until
> he gets an order for someone's deck. There is of course no guarantee
> that he'll get an order this soon, and I suspect that he was being
> conservative - I cannot wait this long. I am getting so deliriously
> desperate that I've even had thoughts of cutting that blue or pink
> foam insulation into strips to wrap those naked forms! They're finished
> and just sitting there, or rather hanging from my barn ceiling; the
> inactivity is driving me 'round the bend! Is this nuts or what? The
> core material would be _a lot_ cheaper, and I suspect the finished
> product would be significantly lighter even with extra glass. How
> much more glass would one need? Has anybody tried this? I'm sorry
> if I've offended anyone out there, especially you Nick (helluva thing
> to do to any Guillemot), but I am dead set on getting out on the water
> some time THIS summer. I feel really guilty for having such thoughts!
> Comments/ideas anyone? George, you're composites competent, what do
> you think?

> Mike Spence

Go for it, Mike! I've been planning and selecting materials for too long, need a light craft to single-hand in lieu of my 85# Browning aluminum 17 foot canoe. I settled on a format imilar to skin on frame. Discarding bamboo and fiberglass tube, I found "parting stop" (used in double-hung windows to seperate the sashes) 1/2" x 3/4" pine that will define the keel, chines, and sheers. Between these will be fitted pink foam, lay on panels, scribe inside, consider beveled edges will make panels larger than scribed lines, then cut-fit-cut-fit for fair shape. The hull will be renforced under seat and aft of cockpit bulkhead (mentioned in string) and with fiber-glass (Raka) in place, construction will proceed much like S/G. Thirty years ago, when I learned hot wire cutting of foam, I considered what you mentioned, because I could not bring myself to pile up the sawdust necessary to build Popular Mechanics' cedar stripper. With the new thin saw blades,it might be doable! Also, imagine my chagrin when Mark discovered the Caribou! At $3100.00 for the kevlar layup, I need a cheaper way to get into the water. The foam boat will be tender structurally but in the water she'll have support. The boat will be limited to skimming lily pads until the structure can be evaluated, before facing THE SEA! So, in brief, I'm building a 1/10 scale (in bucks) Caribou! Next boat will go all foam, using S/G tecniques, taking into consideration thickness of material. Wow, ran on, gotta go to work... more later. TNX, Scotty