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quote:
Most lightweight wood kayaks have a single layer of fiberglass on the
outside
of the hull and just varnish on the inside. The fiberglass adds a waterproof
abrasion resistant layer but most of the strength and rigidity is in the
wood.
Putting a single fiberglass layer both the inside and outside of the wood
core
makes the wood kayak as heavy as a similar sized fiberglass kayak

Sorry Matt, this is not true at all.  First, I know of no one who builds
strip built kayaks and does not glass the inside.   I have built 2 of Nick
Shades designs, a Guillemot, 6 oz glass on inside and out. 4 oz carbon fiber
in the cockpit and it came in at 37 pounds.  I also built his Great Auk, but
modified the deck a bit, glass schedule same as the guillemot, weight is 39
pounds.  This is a big, high vol sea kayak at less than 40 pounds.  The
third kayak I built was Tom Yost's Sea Ranger stripper.  It was the first
one built and was glassed the same as the others.  Weight, 33 pounds.  it is
an extremely low volume hard chined kayak that is perfect for rolling, is
fast and maneuverable.  The technique to building a light kayak is to use
the right amount of epoxy.  More is not 'better', only heavier.

For those of you who have excess time on your hands, or idle curiosity, here
are some links to the strip building process:
Guillemot:     http://flickr.com/photos/tonyolsen/sets/605979/
Great Auk:    http://flickr.com/photos/tonyolsen/sets/390762/
Sea Ranger:  http://flickr.com/photos/tonyolsen/sets/72057594055251040/

As far as durability, Nick is correct on the scratches.  I have had waves
drop me on oyster beds and ended up with lots of scratches and it sounds
terrible when ya do it.  The problem there is you can't get out of the
kayak, as the oysters and barnacles would cause severe bleeding.  just sit
and let the waves grind the kayak until you can paddle off.

I guess this is just another example of why some folks drive chevies, and
others drive fords..   :)

Tony


-- 
Stop by the Moody Menders site and look around...
http://tonyolsen.com/up/mm/
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