My two year build has finally become waterproof. So about 3 weeks ago I took it for a test paddle. And then another and another. I have only had it on our small local lake, but have been out in a variety of conditions. I am quite happy with it. Of the few kayaks I have paddled it is without question the easiest and fastest. The tracking is very good even with a cross wind. I still need to sand and varnish and add the rest of the deck rigging. With a Redfish seat, foot pegs and front bungees it weighs 35 pounds.



Thank you for all the help this forum has provided. Without it I doubt I would have started building a kayak, and certainly would still be working on it.

My front hatch is air tight, the rear doesn't develop a vacuum (I haven't really investigated where the gap is). I used magnets installed in a thickened epoxy with the bead cut with a dremel. I figured if there was a low spot a dab of epoxy would fill it out, or it can be sanded down if too high. They should be easy to repair if they chip too.

The woods are WRC, Sitka spruce for light and Peruvian walnut for dark.