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From: Doug Lloyd <douglloyd_at_shaw.ca>
subject: [Paddlewise] Kayak Plans for Tweenies
Date: Fri, 16 Mar 2007 17:34:51 -0700
Does anyone know or have experience with quick-build stitch and glue kayak 
plans for a small kayak suitable for older children. I see kid's kayak 
plans, but wanted something for my girls that would do for ages 12 through 
16. My daughter's reminded me today I promised to build them their own 
kayaks after we outgrew the canoe last summer. SOF's probably wouldn't have 
the abrasion resistance for daughters of mine.

Doug Lloyd
Victoria BC 
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From: Jeff Bingham <kayakjef_at_bellsouth.net>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Kayak Plans for Tweenies
Date: Fri, 16 Mar 2007 22:38:48 -0400
Doug,
I would look at the Yosts boats. I know they are SOF but honestly I just
cannot think of an easier boat. I remember seeing someone who had used a
spare tarp as a skin on their kid's boats. Check out the Sea Flea and Sea
Pup. Perhaps you can email Tom and see how to convert the lines to S&G.

http://www.yostwerks.com/SeaFlea1.html

Brgds

-----Original Message-----
From: Doug Lloyd

Does anyone know or have experience with quick-build stitch and glue kayak 
plans for a small kayak suitable for older children. I see kid's kayak 
plans, but wanted something for my girls that would do for ages 12 through 
16. My daughter's reminded me today I promised to build them their own 
kayaks after we outgrew the canoe last summer. SOF's probably wouldn't have 
the abrasion resistance for daughters of mine.
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From: Doug Lloyd <douglloyd_at_shaw.ca>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Kayak Plans for Tweenies
Date: Sun, 18 Mar 2007 21:37:41 -0700
Yeah, got the Yost site from a few Paddlewisers. I even found some hidden 
gems after three days of Goggling, all manner of construction and material. 
I asked my daughters what their priorities were this morning as we looked on 
the internet pics I saved. Both want super, super light weight kayaks (my 
100 pound plus Nordkapp scares them and Mom more than the ocean I think ); 
they want good looking boats (must be cool looking, not like some pond/punt 
boat, like no way Dad!; they want easy paddling at gunkholing speeds (as 
opposed to fast-speed efficiencies; the want to be able to paint their own 
kayaks in the colour schemes they want (one pink or light burgundy, one blue 
hues); and they don't want to have to wait forever for them or have them 
cost a lot (I just bought them a newer pool, trampoline and new bikes and, 
oh never mind, its endless).

I'm thinking SOF's are the way to go. I have tons of free lumber. I'll never 
forget meeting Harvey in Portland, at his job site, making SOF kayaks on his 
breaks in the hardwood/lumber store loft, from scrapes of wood. My kids 
loved the Yost boats too. Perhaps, as Kirk claims, the SOF skins can be 
tough enough. I need to pick up the Cunningham book too, as I believe he 
gives downsizing instruction. Two kayaks at once would be efficient to make.

Thanks to all for the input. I'd rather my kids learn to kayak than chase 
boys and drugs. So far, they have loved canoeing and a couple of years so 
far in the plastic double recreational kayak, but a little more independence 
is due. I'd love to see them enjoying nature and developing more outdoor 
skills, especially as a family together - and its a good compliment to all 
their church activity. Were gonna loose this planet if we don't instill a 
sense of appreciation to the younger generations.

Thanks again Jeff and Kirk, et al.

Doug Lloyd
Victoria BC



> Doug,
> I would look at the Yosts boats. I know they are SOF but honestly I just
> cannot think of an easier boat. I remember seeing someone who had used a
> spare tarp as a skin on their kid's boats. Check out the Sea Flea and Sea
> Pup. Perhaps you can email Tom and see how to convert the lines to S&G.
>
> http://www.yostwerks.com/SeaFlea1.html
>
> Brgds
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From: Michael Daly <mikedaly_at_magma.ca>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Kayak Plans for Tweenies
Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2007 02:27:55 -0400
Doug Lloyd wrote:

> I'd rather my kids learn to kayak than chase boys

What an optimist!  Just wait a few years!

Mike
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From: Kirk Olsen <kork4_at_cluemail.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Kayak Plans for Tweenies
Date: Sun, 18 Mar 2007 21:35:16 -0400
On Fri, 16 Mar 2007 17:34:51 -0700, "Doug Lloyd" <douglloyd_at_shaw.ca>
said:
> SOF's probably wouldn't have 
> the abrasion resistance for daughters of mine.

I think you underestimate some of the fabrics used for SOF.  I've
paddled a tandem baidarka built with George Dyson's 26 ounce nylon.  The
owners regularly ran the fully loaded boat straight onto the barnacle
encrusted rocks in Maine.

Another friend builds his boats using a 13 ounce polyester.  He was
paddling with the tide, and came to a complete stop atop some rebar
coming out of an old piling in the river.  He had to hop the boat to get
it off the piling.  No damage to the hull.

Some fabrics will tear easily.  The double woven nylons and polyester
are pretty durable.  I believe the nylon and polyester are normally used
as filter material for paper pulp factories and water treatment
facilities.  Situations where a tear would be ugly...
-- 
  Kirk Olsen
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From: Doug Lloyd <douglloyd_at_shaw.ca>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Kayak Plans for Tweenies
Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2007 09:38:59 -0700
> Doug Lloyd wrote:
>
>> I'd rather my kids learn to kayak than chase boys
>
> What an optimist!  Just wait a few years!
>
> Mike

Yeah, I'm optimistic! In a few years I'll have them sculling, rolling, and 
even paddling jobbly water. :-)

Doug 
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From: Gary J. MacDonald <garyj_at_rogers.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Kayak Plans for Tweenies
Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2007 21:30:08 -0500
 From that I presume they are girls.
All I can say (as father of a willowy teen soon heading off to college) 
:-\    
is that the kayaking skills will give them a place where they can escape 
at will.   :-)

I have friends where the female half used to test boyfriends by seeing 
how well they could solo her ww kayak across a lake.
Husband of many years was able to contain his frustration and do it 
fairly well--passing what was a serious weeding tool for her!

GaryJ

Michael Daly wrote:

> Doug Lloyd wrote:
>
>> I'd rather my kids learn to kayak than chase boys
>
> What an optimist!  Just wait a few years!
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From: Doug Lloyd <douglloyd_at_shaw.ca>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Kayak Plans for Tweenies
Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2007 22:34:36 -0700
Gary, you said:

> From that I presume they are girls.
> All I can say (as father of a willowy teen soon heading off to college) 
> :-\    is that the kayaking skills will give them a place where they can 
> escape at will.   :-)
>
> I have friends where the female half used to test boyfriends by seeing how 
> well they could solo her ww kayak across a lake.
> Husband of many years was able to contain his frustration and do it fairly 
> well--passing what was a serious weeding tool for her!

The "paddle-across-the-lake test", eh? Nice weeding-out process for 
prospective mates.

My wife was a little different: asked me on our first date what my 
eschatological outlook was (perspective on end times, timing of the rapture, 
etc.). Afterward, she said if I hadn't known what she meant or couldn't 
answer, I'd have been screened out. Well, I immediately had a come-back and 
told her I was a pan-millennialist. She said, "Huh, what does that mean?" I 
said, hey gal, however the end pans out, that's how it pans out. Kinda like 
getting married. I then took her camping with friends a few weeks later in 
Vancouver Island's very wet, muddy mountains, and did it rain. She passed 
obviously. Even swam across a glacial-feed lake, tuckered me right out it 
did. A spouse who can't swim well and whines while camping was my weeding 
out test. She even seemed to enjoyed the rain back in those days.

I do encounter an awful lot of  paddlers who's spouse or partner doesn't 
share the same enthusiasm for the outdoors, or especially kayaking. Now talk 
about your religious difference, eh! The couples all seem to do okay though. 
Lots of compromise.

I'll cc paddlewise, as I'm sure some folks can relate.

Doug
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From: Tord Eriksson <tord_at_tord.nu>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Kayak Plans for Tweenies
Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2007 23:47:29 +0100
I had been a batchelor all my life, till
a colleage, who had become a widow
a few months earlier, and me became a pair.

Some rules she demanded, would be adhered to:
As she had spent so much time camping with kids, 
dog and husband, she was now beyond that - never 
more: No sleeping on the ground, ever. Promise?!

One day my shoulder started to act up the first time, 
and we realised that we needed to get out more,
move about more, somehow. Why not paddling?!
Then I got some money  and as we live in a small 
flat a Klepper became the obvious choice - I didn't 
know anything about any other type of folding 
kayak, so it was a Klepper Aerius II Expedition we bought.

I then learned that my wife was an expert canoe paddler,
as all those camping trips had included a Grumman,
so retraining her for a Klepper was easy, and she knew
the perfect lake to paddle on, with lots of unihabited islands
and ready access. But after a while it was obvious
that we could get more out of it, if we stayed overnight
one one of the islands, or on one of the peninuslas.

So we got a three-man Hilleberg tent, and as we aged we
progressed to a bigger tent - now we can stand up inside
our tent - a real blessing, and recently we got some
Hennnessy's Hammocks :-)!

And one Aerius II became an XXL, with a modification kit and
then we were given an old skeleton from a 70's Aerius II, so
now we have both a Ae II and an XXL, thus can take our friends
with us!

Yes, it is nice to share the outdoor interest with your spouse,
and even if age makes us more and more disabled, we will
spend many more happy weekends on our little lake! Hopefully
keeping paddling/sailing/motoring our Kleppers till we reach 75, 
or so :-)!

Tord
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