: Nice job Tom. From the pictures it looks like your bow and stern
: are more plumb than the shots of that boat on the yostwerks
: site. That's a feature I'm looking for in my next build. Did you
: make changes, did the design change, or do the pictures just
: distort things a bit?
: thanks,
: Mark

Hi Mark

In a way the blunt bow plate shape and the near vertical stern plate happened by accident. Because I did not have any long stock for the gunwales, chines and keel (I was using old mahogany/meranti window frames) I used butted joints. I was anxious to see how the long strips came together so I did a trial taping together without shortening the chines too much. I was then keen to try my new pull saw (never used one before) so did some practise compound angle cuts and trial fitted the unshaped bow and stern plates. The resulting shape looked OK so I stuck with it. I'm not sure if that was a good idea but it saved some heart ache shortening the chines and keel and cutting new compound angles. It has had the effect of lengthening the waterline a bit and maybe the bow will tend to cut through waves rather than rising over them? Only time will tell - so far I've only had the short launching paddle. However, tomorrow I should finish a suitable trolly for transporting down to the beach so hopefully will get a better feel for her handling towards the end of this week.

It would be good to hear your views and those of anyone else who would care to comment.

I have put some photos of the construction phase here :-

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=42445&id=100000543840495&l=10b21e48f4

Some more photos of the launching paddle are here - but I don't think they give any indication as to how the kayak performs.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=42432&id=100000543840495&l=7b9dd5e4a4

The kayak is somewhat heavy at 26Kg (58lbs) but the mahogany is about twice as heavy as cedar or other, more normal, kayak timber.

Cheers
TomR