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Re: Ultralight
By:Paul G. Jacobson
Date: 8/19/2012, 4:11 pm
In Response To: Re: Ultralight (ancient kayaker)

: Makes sense and permits a lower freeboard than a canoe. The
: original kayaks were skin boats after all, but they had beefy
: gunnels and that'll be needed without a rigid deck.

rather than beefing up gunwales, thwarts --or some other bracing across the open top of the boat--would probably be more efficient in resisting the water pressure's tendency to squeeze closed an open boat.

My 14.5' canoe has a single center thwart and two seats/ the front and back frame members of the seats serve as thwarts for cross bracing purposes. In a kayak, the mounting supports for the front and back of the cockpit coaming would serve as thwarts or bracing. A solid deck beam (or 2) in front of the cockpit would not only serve as a thwart, but also keep a fabric deck from drooping and catching water. Same for a deck beam or two behind the cockpit.

Since the kayak is going to be fairly narrow, these cross pieces will be short (15 to 20 inches) and could be anything from 3/4" hardwood dowels to 1x2 common lumber. Probably a 3/4" x 3/4" square strip ripped from construction grade spruce, pine, fir, whatever, could be cut from a knot free area on any 1 x 4. that would be plenty strong and cheap. Round the edges.

If you want something fancier, steam bend the deck pieces to give them some additional height in the center. Or cut them as arcs from a 1x6 or 1x8. Or make them from plywood, bent aluminum tubing, or build them up from glass fabric and resin over a form made from garden hose.

Lots of possibilities.

PGJ

Messages In This Thread

S&G: Ultralight construction
Raymond -- 8/16/2012, 10:59 am
Re: S&G: Ultralight construction
Paul G. Jacobson -- 8/16/2012, 11:51 am
No cloth
Jay Babina -- 8/16/2012, 3:48 pm
Ultralight
Raymond Pilot -- 8/17/2012, 2:26 pm
Re: Ultralight
ancient kayaker -- 8/17/2012, 6:17 pm
Re: Ultralight
Paul G. Jacobson -- 8/19/2012, 4:11 pm
Re: No cloth
James -- 8/25/2012, 8:41 pm
Re: No cloth *PIC*
ancient kayaker -- 8/25/2012, 9:39 pm
Re: No cloth
Bill Hamm -- 8/28/2012, 1:55 am
Re: No cloth *PIC*
Yostwerks -- 8/28/2012, 9:07 am
Re: No cloth
ancient kayaker -- 8/28/2012, 5:38 pm
Re: No cloth *PIC*
Yostwerks -- 8/29/2012, 9:07 am
Re: No cloth
ancient kayaker -- 8/29/2012, 9:44 am
Re: No cloth
Yostwerks -- 8/29/2012, 10:07 am
Re: No cloth
Bill Hamm -- 8/29/2012, 3:17 am
Re: No cloth
Yostwerks -- 8/29/2012, 9:21 am
Re: No cloth
Bill Hamm -- 8/28/2012, 1:57 am
Re: S&G: Ultralight construction
Stephen Troy -- 8/16/2012, 11:54 am
Re: S&G: Ultralight construction
John Abercrombie -- 8/16/2012, 12:06 pm
Re: S&G: Ultralight construction
dave g -- 8/16/2012, 10:17 pm
Re: S&G: Ultralight construction
Greg H -- 8/16/2012, 1:32 pm
Re: S&G: Ultralight construction
John Abercrombie -- 8/16/2012, 2:09 pm
Re: S&G: Ultralight construction *PIC*
Bryan k -- 8/16/2012, 2:52 pm
Re: S&G: Ultralight construction
Stephen Troy -- 8/16/2012, 3:48 pm
Re: S&G: Ultralight construction
Paul G. Jacobson -- 8/19/2012, 4:25 pm
Re: S&G: Ultralight construction
Stephen Troy -- 8/19/2012, 7:34 pm
Re: S&G: Ultralight construction
Bill Hamm -- 8/20/2012, 2:25 am
Re: S&G: Ultralight construction
ancient kayaker -- 8/20/2012, 2:59 pm
Re: S&G: Ultralight construction
John Abercrombie -- 8/20/2012, 8:55 pm
Re: S&G: Ultralight construction *PIC*
Jeff Horton -- 8/16/2012, 3:04 pm
Re: S&G: Ultralight construction
Kurt Maurer -- 8/16/2012, 8:29 pm
S-O-F time!
Rob Macks/Laughing Loon CC&K -- 8/16/2012, 3:58 pm
Re: S-O-F time!
Bill Hamm -- 8/20/2012, 2:28 am
Library :) *NM*
Rob Macks/Laughing Loon CC&K -- 8/20/2012, 7:25 am
3 new at $999 !
Bill Hamm -- 8/20/2012, 2:29 am
Re: S&G: Ultralight construction
ancient kayaker -- 8/16/2012, 4:19 pm
Re: S&G: Ultralight construction *PIC*
Marc Upchurch -- 8/16/2012, 6:22 pm
Re: S&G: Ultralight construction
Bill Hamm -- 8/20/2012, 2:30 am
Re: S&G: Ultralight construction *PIC*
Allan -- 8/16/2012, 11:01 pm
Re: S&G: Ultralight construction
Brian Nystrom -- 8/17/2012, 6:49 am
Re: S&G: Ultralight construction
Bill Hamm -- 8/20/2012, 2:21 am
Re: S&G: Ultralight construction
Alex Ferguson -- 8/22/2012, 5:09 am
Re: S&G: Ultralight construction
Yostwerks -- 8/28/2012, 9:31 am
Re: S&G: Ultralight construction
Alex Ferguson -- 8/28/2012, 6:15 pm
Re: S&G: Ultralight construction
Alex Ferguson -- 8/28/2012, 6:18 pm
Re: S&G: Ultralight construction
Niven Paine -- 8/28/2012, 10:01 pm