While I am still adding varnish coats to the new deck of my current kayak, I am already thinking ahead. The plan is to add a blue/gray stripe at the sheer on my kayak's white hull and then add a white stripe on my wife's blue/gray kayak hull. Aesthetic touches to make the two boats coordinate more closely.
But I also have an idea for a new modified kayak hull. With minor changes to the current offsets, I want to produce a hull 158 inches long by 25 1/2 inches wide with the same height (depth?) as our current kayaks, not drastically different, just slightly 'leaner' that what we already have. It should be lighter and more cartoppable. Every time I design and build something, I am always asking how it could be improved. These are not meant to be high performance kayaks, just nice looking and functional.
But it will be a while before getting started. Next week, I have a biopsy scheduled to check for prostate cancer. My father and brother both were diagnosed with this cancer. I want a diagnosis as soon as possible and get started on whatever treatment is necessary. My wife and I have a busy Spring planned, two overseas trips to a list of countries in the next six months. Let's hope we can keep our plans!
If all goes well, you will start seeing further discussion (then photos) here of the new hull. I already have outline drawings for the nine frames, plank keel, and two stems that will be needed. The most critical piece of lumber is the plank keel. Looking for a plank about 9 inches wide, 11 1/2 feet long, and 1/2 inch thick was asking a lot. Couldn't find what I wanted in one piece, so I bought two shorter planks and will try to scarph them together to get what I want. Anything thicker than 1/2 inch will add extra weight and be more difficult to bend for the keel rocker. I plan to plane it down to 0.4-inch thickness.
The culmination of my previous project. I had to rebuild that trailer and replace the deck on the more distant kayak hull in the photo. Yes, that is snow outside.
