Re: [Paddlewise] Kayak Plans

At 08:42 AM 2/9/02 -0400, Steve Butler wrote:
>I'm searching for a simple set of plans for a kayak, that I could build with
>my 12 year old son. A 2-3 day project which would have some satisfying
>results

I don't think I've seen anyone respond to this yet.

There are several places around where one can get free or inexpensive 
plans.  Sea Kayaker magazine has had several kayak building articles which 
contained plans.  Chris Kuzinzki's (from Cheseapeake Light Craft) has 
written a couple of good books on stitch-n-glue construction that include 
plans.

The real issue would be to try to build any kayak in 2-3 days.  That's just 
not long enough.  Any wood kayak that you build is actually wood with 
fiberglass cloth and epoxy resin on one or both sides.  Since the epoxy 
typically takes 24 hours to cure, and there are typically at least 2-3 
coats (even if there isn't fiberglass cloth on both sides) much of the 
building process is waiting for epoxy to cure.

There are several kayak building classes around that will have students 
build a kayak in a week but that's usually an 8 hour day of working on the 
boat, each night for epoxy cure time and doesn't include varnish.

A stitch-n-glue construction is probably going to be the simplest 
construction method.  It's probably going to take at least a day to get all 
the panels cut out.  Wiring the panels together will likely take another 
day.  The process of  fiberglassing the panels together using a bead of 
thickened epoxy along the seams doesn't take long but it requires 24 hours 
to cure before you can remove the wires.  The bottom of the hull can then 
get a layer of fiberglass and epoxy resin with a "wet out" coat and then 
several fill coats.  That's going to take at least a couple of days.  Then 
the inside will need coating.  The deck then needs to be cut out, fitted, 
attached to the hull, and coated with epoxy resin.  Figure at least another 
2-3 days there.  The cockpit opening can then be cut out and a simple rim 
constructed (add at least a day if you want something that can hold a spray 
skirt.

If you know what you're doing, and time everything right, it'll take at 
least a week to build a kayak that'll be good for more than a couple of 
floats.  A wood kayak needs to be completely waterproofed and that takes time.

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