Re: [Paddlewise] Building a wooden boat

Mike,
  A wood boat is no different than a fiberglass or plastic boat in  
that it will scratch. The difference is the scratches are easier to  
see. But they don't do any more damage. By "damage" I mean something  
that will harm the function of the boat. Most scratches can be fixed  
with a new coat of varnish at some point.

  Strip-built and stitch and glue kayaks are actually not wood, they  
are fiberglass boats with a wood core, and any drop or hit that would  
physically damage the boat's structure would likely do the same damage  
or worse on a pure fiberglass boat. Again, the difference is that it  
is easier to see. A "spider crack" in the gel coat on a glass boat is  
hard to see, but indicates fairly systemic damage to the underlying  
structure. On a wood boat, the same impact would make a small,  
localized bruise that may require extensive work to make disappear,  
but is not all that significant from a structural standpoint.

  I find that people have a different attitude with wood boats and a  
scratch that would not bother them on a glass boat is cause for much  
gnashing of teeth on a wood boat. So, if it is important to you that  
the boat stay "stunningly beautiful" then wood is probably not the  
best choice for rough use. If you don't mind a patina of use then wood  
boats will hold up just fine. You can always paint the boat so you  
can't see the effects of hits as easily, after all this is what  
gelcoat is doing for a glass boat. Personally, I think a wood boat,  
well beat up, still looks better than an old fiberglass boat with  
faded gelcoat.

  I've dropped my boats off cars (busted off my mirror - grrr), landed  
hard on beaches and generally abused my boat then did a quick sanding  
and brought them to shows. Most people can not pick out the "damage".
Nick

On Dec 19, 2008, at 9:06 AM, Mike Euritt wrote:

> Nick,
>
> Your explanation of the chines makes perfect sense.
>
> For my own experience, which does not include any truly light weight  
> boat, the issues I have with the wooden boats is that epoxy finish.  
> I've dropped my heavy (65#) plastic boat off my van three times,  
> then the somewhat lighter Solstice GT blew off the van once, a gust  
> of wind took it off before I had a chance to tie it down. Then there  
> is the scratches and scrapes from even calm beach launchings and  
> landings. Not even talking about rock gardening. My plastic SeaLion  
> was a visual disaster when I got it and the f/g GT has need of  
> cosmetic work after 1 season of light use on a very sandy beach,  
> Sausalito's Schoonmaker.
>
> Except for the lighter weight, I don't see a durability advantage to  
> either wooden construction techniques over a ready made glass boat  
> in transport or landing and.launching. The SOF appears to address my  
> concerns for this abuse a bit better. But i have zero experience  
> with them, either. Weight is a driving factor in deciding on my next  
> kayak.
>
> But then, there is the satisfaction of having built it yourself and  
> the stunning beauty of especially the strip built boats.
>
> Am I missing something in my very general assumptions?
>
> Thanks
>
> Mike

Nick Schade

Guillemot Kayaks
54 South Rd
Groton, CT 06340
USA
Ph/Fx: (860) 659-8847
http://www.guillemot-kayaks.com/
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