Here I was thinking of getting rid of my strong back to clear up my garage. Hah! I can see a lightweight toy in my future. Thanks a lot pal. I've been looking for a use for my left over strips. Now I know. A baidarka sounds perfect.

Ted

: Ted,
: I've a friend who introduced me to this whole ultralight approach of Platt
: Montfort's by way of a Wee Lassie type canoe. He's had it for 12 years and
: it's holding up great. Only now in need of a new coat of varnish. It
: weighs 11 lbs. He also thinks I overbuilt the kayak.

: No reason why it wouldn't handle bigger water/waves. Would require float
: bags.
: I differed from Montfort's approach by using and inner and outer stringer
: throughout the construction. So, each stringer pretty much becomes as
: rigid as a gunwale. It could be a devil to repair if you were doing a lot
: of surf landings and broke a couple of glue joints...maybe not.

: The dacron shrinks very well and only seems to be susceptible to sharp
: cutting objects. We've paddled over rocks and limbs with no problem.

: I'm thinking of building a baidarka (Firestar) as one of these ultralight
: SOF's.

: As far as difficulty, I was designing as I went and still don't think I put
: in a solid 80 hours. It really went together quick, especially because the
: ribs are just 1/16" veneer laminations.

: It's easy to put in and retrieve gear because there's internal stringers over
: all of the ribs.

: None of us have taken it on any overnight trips, just day paddling.

: Jim