: I'm getting ready to build a SOF using Chris Cunningham's book.
: Maybe I'm missing something, but I can't figure out why, if the
: keelson, chines, and gunwales are to have an actual dimension of
: 3/4", he suggests resawing them from 2x lumber. Why not
: just use 1x nominal lumber?

: Also, is there any harm in building a slightly more relaxed fit to
: the kayak? I'm a Greenland paddler, with an acceptable basic
: roll. My main boat is a woodstrip Outer Island, 18' by 21".
: I am concerned that a much lower deck/tighter fit will be
: uncomfortable (limited ability to bend knees) and anxiety
: producing (can I get out before I drown). Of course the SOF
: should be fairly low volume, and not a tub, but I'm leery of
: creating a super-tight, hard-to-enter, hard-to-wet-exit boat. At
: my skill level, I'd likely be nervous about paddling it alone. I
: figure its better to 'fess up before I build. Comments welcomed.

Not a heck of alot of point in building a kayak for yourself that you won't be comfortable using. Though 21" is pretty wide.

I think most people use nominal 1" stock. It's probably cheaper to use nominal 2" stock and often the gunwales are cut from one piece so the bending characteristics are the same, ie: splitting the 2" stock in half. Takes a pretty decent table saw to do that, it's a deep cut and that requires hp. If it were me, I'd cut them from one board but side by side (1") and not try a very deep long rip cut (2").

Bill H.