I ordered a copy of Cunningham's book, "Building The Greenland Kayak" and it finally arrived. Been reading it all evening. Cunningham's construction methodology appears to yield an inexpensive, strong, sleek, lightweight, and anthropometrically-based SOF kayak -- with what for me is a very important consideration, namely a fairly fast build time. I can't even imagine what it would be like to carry and propel a lightweight kayak. Life is short - even shorter as we get older. This book might be the encouragement I need to actually build an SOF. Learning new rolls in a SOF rolling machine could be a lot of fun. A replica Greenland SOF kayak might just turn my world upside down. Not sure if there is another book worth the investment that I should be considering. My library doesn't have anything much. Doug Lloyd Victoria BC *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Hey Doug - > I can't even imagine what it > would be like to carry and propel a lightweight kayak. Here a little insight: http://jpivovar.cluemail.com/Vine/?imagepage=Vinehat2.jpg (Cheri Perry taught me how to properly transport one of these) > A replica Greenland SOF kayak might just turn my world upside down. I think that's the point: http://jpivovar.cluemail.com/Vine/?imagepage=VineTwine1.jpg > Not sure if there is another book worth the investment that I should > be considering. My library doesn't have anything much. I found Robert Morris' "Building Skin On Frame Boats" most helpful. With the inimitable tuteledge of Turner Wilson, last summer my neighbor and me each built (quite different) SOFs of our own in about 10 days time. Be sure to access the archives and forum assistance available at qajaqusa.org. My little qajaq weight only 26 lbs :). Jennifer -- Jennifer Pivovar jpivovar_at_headwinds.org *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Inimitable? Well thanks Jennifer. Your kayak IS sweet! Doug, I encourage you to jump in to the world of light and lively kayaks! Most of the western man books on Greenland boats are plain vanilla, and focus on jigs, and very generic kayaks, more than spirit, but they can be useful lead ins. These boats are not only more elegant in their reality, but their methods of construction are more elemental than our most common how-to-books... The Morris book is in my opinion the most spirited how-to from a North American to date. Two more sources that I haven't seen mentioned. The really inimitable Harvey Golden's tome, Kayaks of Greenland, while not a how-to, per se, is the most definitive volume on the breadth and width of the design choices in the tradition. Go from there. Countless examples of built-in and strap on skeg styles. For how-to of the real deal, refer to HC Petersen's little book Instruction in Kayak Building, in Greenlandic, Danish, and English. The spirit of these kayaks is really alive there. His Skinboats of Greenland is an excellent source of more general scope. You can order this book straight from Nuuk: http://www.atuagkat.com/shopfront.asp Btw, a plug for Nick Shade's excellent bibliography on building! Not all SOF sources, but this might also be useful to you. http://www.guillemot-kayaks.com/guillemot/information/bibliography. Hope this helps! Turner *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Doug Lloyd wrote: > I ordered a copy of Cunningham's book, "Building The Greenland Kayak" His book is good and has some interesting approaches to things. It also has details on things not directly related to construction of the kayak that are absent from other books (e.g. info on tuiliq making or technique). However, there are a few things that many SOF makers consider a bit odd. The seam on the side is not normal and many prefer the look of the central seam. His approach to making and bending ribs is not popular among the Qajaq USA denizens. > Not sure if there is another book worth the investment that I should be > considering. My library doesn't have anything much. See if you can find a copy of Robert Morris's book "Building Skin-On-Frame Boats". He offers more conventional approaches to SOF construction. Many SOF builders will recommend using several sources for info and mixing and matching techniques and ideas. Sources are listed on the Qajaq USA site: <http://www.qajaqusa.org/Equipment/equipment.htm> The forums there are also full of info and have an archive that's several years worth of stuff. Mike *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Doug, I built a Cunningham method G-boat back in the late 1990's, based on his two SK mag articles. The kayak was very strong and looked good, but it weathercocked a bit, so I'd add the built-in skeg. Last year I built three skinboat frames 1/4 scale. By this time I also had Cunningham's book. The frame directions are pretty much the same in both his articles and book, but of course, the book has more details and options. Nonetheless, I still used the articles mostly on the 1/4 scale frames too, because the articles are sort of like Cliff Notes and were quicker for me to reference. I have the Robert Morris book too, and he has some different methods. I haven't tried them, but they also look good. If I recall right after a few drinks, I think I heard Wolfgang Brinck mention at TAKS that he is coming out with an revised version of his Baidarka book, which has been out of print a while. 1/4 scale photos: http://duane.smugmug.com/gallery/1285317#60374026 Duane Southern California Doug Lloyd <douglloyd_at_shaw.ca> wrote: I ordered a copy of Cunningham's book, "Building The Greenland Kayak" and it finally arrived. Been reading it all evening. Cunningham's construction methodology appears to yield an inexpensive, strong, sleek, lightweight, and anthropometrically-based SOF kayak -- with what for me is a very important consideration, namely a fairly fast build time. I can't even imagine what it would be like to carry and propel a lightweight kayak. Life is short - even shorter as we get older. This book might be the encouragement I need to actually build an SOF. Learning new rolls in a SOF rolling machine could be a lot of fun. A replica Greenland SOF kayak might just turn my world upside down. Not sure if there is another book worth the investment that I should be considering. My library doesn't have anything much. Doug Lloyd Victoria BC *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Thanks Duane (and Jennifer). I've got some good backchannel advice already on ways to speed up construction and what works best for a tough skin. You always used to say plastic, Plastic, PLASTIC, so, we looked at some plastic kayaks for my two daughters and may go that route for them, leaving me the time to build my own SOF. I don't like the idea of a stitch and glue boat because of the hard chines and my tendency to damage hulls, so the SOF would be a more worthwhile short term solution, while I continue to figure out what to do to replace my aged Nordkapp for touring purposes. I'll have to check other groups for advice on adding an inboard drop-down skeg for the SOF build. Though, that might be sacrilege even if feasible. I just can't sanction weathercocking for the conditions I paddle in. Doug I built a Cunningham method G-boat back in the late 1990's, based on his two SK mag articles. The kayak was very strong and looked good, but it weathercocked a bit, so I'd add the built-in skeg. Last year I built three skinboat frames 1/4 scale. By this time I also had Cunningham's book. The frame directions are pretty much the same in both his articles and book, but of course, the book has more details and options. Nonetheless, I still used the articles mostly on the 1/4 scale frames too, because the articles are sort of like Cliff Notes and were quicker for me to reference. I have the Robert Morris book too, and he has some different methods. I haven't tried them, but they also look good. If I recall right after a few drinks, I think I heard Wolfgang Brinck mention at TAKS that he is coming out with an revised version of his Baidarka book, which has been out of print a while. 1/4 scale photos: http://duane.smugmug.com/gallery/1285317#60374026 Duane Southern California *************************************************************************** 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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