: Not something I’ve tried (yet) but there is something on
: Sectional Boats at
: http://www.dngoodchild.com/divide_for_small_craft.htm (click on
: "Folding and Sectional Boats") also I think there is
: something at Duckworks. You can also Google using similar terms
: like “Nesting Boat” and “Origami Boats”. Similar ideas
: that can be found the Net which might be possible to adapt
: include PakYak and PakDoodle. Manufacturers of folding boats
: that might also provide some ideas include Taiga, Porta-Bote,
: InstaBoat, Folbot, Trak, Nautiraid, ToteNboat, FirstLight,
: Feathercraft, Fujita, Pouch, Foldlite, Taimen (Russian) and
: Longhaul.

: I don't know if all these still exist, I have them in my folding
: boat database, which is several years old, as it was something I
: wanted to do a few years back. I made notes on a number of ideas
: including -

: The safest way to make the joints between sections waterproof is to
: build a double bulkhead to above the waterline and divide it
: with a thin saw; Wrap the saw tip in tape to prevent scratches,
: not that it matters on the unseen face of the bulkhead, or use a
: flush trimming saw.

: The best way to divide the boat is to make the cockpit section one
: piece and attach a bow and stern piece, which avoids joins in
: the cockpit. The cockpit has by far the highest buoyancy so this
: plan also reduces stress on the joints.

: One builder claimed the joints do not have to be perfectly smooth,
: his had a small step which he said did not interfere detectably
: with performance.

: Decks may not allow the sections to be nested (stacked one inside
: another), so a kayak likely needs more storage space than a
: canoe. Alternatively the end sections can be made somewhat
: triangular in plan and smaller so they will stack side-by-side
: inside the center section.

: Hopefully some of the other members will have some more direct
: knowledge . . . good luck!

I don't think it's all that tricky with a stripper, except for the double bulkheads, the aft one won't be too bad, the front one will be trickier since you'll have to glass it in place thru the fairly small forward hatch. The real bad thing is cutting the boat after it's basically done. Then you'll have to glass the faces of the bulkheads that face each other so finishing will be done last.

There will be a bit of disturbance at the joints, nothing terrible I'd assume. It's basically just bolt together with gaskets to keep the bolts from leaking.

Bill H.