> How do you feel about homemade wooden kayaks, in which two layers of > fiberglass are separated by a thin layer (1/4") of wood? Does the small > separation between fiberglass layers add anything in terms of strength or > stiffness, compared with two layers epoxied directly to each other? Most definitely, again since either with S&G or stripper, it is essentially a hollow shell structure, the more you can do to make the skin stiff, the stronger it gets. Two layers of fiber glass is not very stiff, but two layers separated by wood or foam, is very stiff, making the hull shell structure MUCH stronger since it resists buckling much better. Remember with either of these construction methods you are essentially building a fiberglass kayak, you are simply leaving the wooden "plug" mold in place (though I suspect since the wood has some structural strength, as compared to a foam core, it adds to the stiffness and the overall strength quite a lot). > I'm presently building a strip boat. I didn't do such a perfect job of > joining the strips together as I might, so I question the structural > integrity of the wooden shell. However, I'm counting on a layer of 6 oz. > glass inside and out to make it strong. I think the primary function of the wood strips is to keep the inner and outer layers of fiberglass separated, making the skin stiff. And since the fiberglass and resign glue it all together, is not much strength added by the individual bonds between the wood strips. Other than the appearance, it is not likely that there is any effect on the overall strength based on the type of assembly of the wood strips. > On another topic - paddles - the kayak is for my wife, who has fibromyalgia, > which affects her forearms, wrists, and hands more than anything else. > Therefore, lightness and "ease of paddling" are paramount. I'm thinking a > short (220cm?), small bladed (Little Dipper), small shafted paddle made of > the lightest material possible - carbon fiber - is the way to go. How > durable will such a paddle be? Durability is not a issue I think. It does not sound like your wife will be in any condition to do a lot of rigorous paddling anyway, so I doubt that durability for a paddle for her will make any difference, get the lightest you can find, or make. I would also suggest you consider buying or making a Greenland type paddle for her, there is a lot less stress on the paddler with this type of paddle. I highly recommend you consider one for your wife. I made a hollow Greenland type paddle [both shaft and blades are hollow] out of red cedar that only weighs 17 oz (and cost next to nothing to build). Since you have built wood kayaks, making a hollow paddle should be easy. There are detailed plans with dimensions available on the Internet for free download. Superior Kayaks I think makes an excellent Carbon fiber Greenland paddle if you are not up to building one. Contact me off-list if you want more information on how I made the hollow paddle. Peter *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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