[Paddlewise] Wooden Boat (was Re: Foster Legend)

I was just down at the Victoria Canoe and Kayak Center (no affiliation) to
look at their wooden paddles yesterday for a friend who is going to build a
Pygmy this winter and would like to purchase a wooden paddle ahead of time.
I was impressed with the workmanship, though the builder of the paddles
might want to invest in some spray equipment, rather than brushing on the
finish. Paddles can been seen at (no affiliation):

http://www.whiteriverranch.com/kalai/

My work mate and I got talking about wooden boats, and I got the usual
question about why I hadn't built a wooden boat yet. It's probably because I
can't handle imperfection in my woodworking, and I know my first boat
probably will not come out absolutely perfect. However, it would sure fit
the family budget, and probably provide enjoyment and a kayak specifically
suited to every consideration I care to come up with (hatch size and
placement, volume, bulkhead arrangement, low rear deck for layback
manoeuvres, etc.). And if I go wooden paddle again, it will be a Greenland
stick.

I'm still not convinced a plywood or cedar strip kayak with epoxy/glass on
both sides would not be difficult to repair if a direct and heavy hit were
taken on the hull. I worry about delaminating and the broken cell structure
of the inner wood and/or fracturing apart of the underlying plywood in the
case of a plywood hull with heavy impact damage. I often come down very hard
on reefs in a fully loaded boat, that's 200lbs (me), 100lbs (boat), 200lbs +
(gear) for a total of 500lbs, or straight into a surge-channel obstruction
at 6 to 7 knots. Plastic is probably the answer, but my worst incidents are
on extended multi-day trips, and I'm not sure how I'd like plastic for
longer trips (great for day trips to rock gardens like the Tsunami/ hardcore
BCU guys n' gals with instant open coast, but I live a bit too far for that
for daily activity to make it worth while).

Intimate rock garden paddling in 2 to 3 meter swell/surfing boomers/etc. in
the context of multi-day trips on remote coast, solo, with a fully loaded,
straight tracking sea kayak isn't a niche many aspire to, nor is seeking out
specifically, gale-force wind-driven waves in the same context. If money
were no object, I'd probably go for a very heavily laid-up Nordkapp Jubilee
in Kevlar, etc., as I believe VCP still make the best rough open-water
kayaks in the world. I'd maintain that position/view/opinion, even if I
changed to a different kayak builder/designer.

I can keep repairing fibreglass/epoxy, but at what point my friends whom I
paddle with occasionally would not want me along due to the weight of my
unladen boat, I do not know. I never carry my boat when on my own; I simply
drag it over whatever landing surface there is (except marine life), all the
way to my tent site. I can still "clean-and-jerk" my Nordkapp onto a sedan.
However, these activities have recently been a source of instant arrhythmias
and shoulder pain, and maybe my days with a heavy boat are numbered (of
course, I could always empty some of the gear out first before dragging, but
dang, I never used to need to in my younger days!).

It seems my Nordkapp has well matured over the 25 years or so, in one sense;
I'm still trying to catch up. We're both defiantly patched up. I know old
salts like Dan Lewis in Tofino who have matured to greater aspirations
beyond childish playing in surge channels and such, rather moving toward
coaching, guiding, and smelling the roses on long trips. Not sure if I can
change my ways. I have visions of a frail 80-year old man, winching his
60-year old Nordkapp up the beach to his truck, where a pneumatic lift
alights it to the roof racks. As he drives away from the ocean, he says to
himself, "Yep, gotta replace that ol' heavy Nordkapp one day."

Doug Lloyd (hoping folks know me well enough to realize these things are a
heart-felt passion, not ego-driven ramblings)
Victoria BC


Kirk Olsen said (snip):

"> Doug,
>
> You really need to build yourself a boat.  I know you have the
> woodworking skills to do it.  I think you would
> be soooo much happier in a new boat, one that you built to your specs.
> Your nordkapp is just crying out to be let die a peaceful death.
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