: Hi Scott,
: Thanks for sharing these photos of your exceptional detail work. I really
: enjoyed viewing them. These photos are timely for me considering the stage
: of my Guillemot. I am primarily attending to detail work on the bow and
: stern external stems, and the kayak ends.

: My design goal is to have a more blunted bow and stern. This is for
: durability over time, and for safety reasons around other kayakers. The
: laminated ash stems will be completed before any fiberglassing, but I am
: thinking of creating solid wood ends (perhaps ash) after the kayak hull
: and deck are joined together.

: I would use a pull saw to cut off two or three inches at the bow and stern. I
: would then shape solid wood ends that have a 3 inch or so internal tenon
: that would become incorporated into the end pour.

: This means that the stems and kayak ends would have to be fiberglassed after
: the deck and hull have cured. I would sand the cured epoxy for a good
: mechanical bond, and use bias-cut fiberglass to conform to the contours.

: Any comments on my ideas are appreciated.

: Thanks,
: Chris

Hi Chris,

Don't know where you paddle, but unless it's in big waves or surf with a group, there is very little danger to fellow kayakers with a sharper bow. We've had over a hundred boats in a confined very small bay and I've never given a thought that I'd hurt anyone with my fairly sharp bow, and I'm one of the safety boats

Admittedly a more blunt bow will be more wear resistant, but with an external laminated hardwood stem that's somewhat of a moot point.

Bill H.