The first kayak I bought was a Current Design Kestrel TCS. It's 14' long, 26" wide, and wights about 45 lbs with a rudder. I bought it as a starter boat, and as a boat to introduce my wife into kayaking also. With this purpose in mind, it is a great boat. I have no complaints about it, given what it is! If you expect it to be a speed demon, or a open ocean boat.... Smart'n up.... Now I have taken this little boat into some place it probably had no right to be in. But, live and learn. I'm a little more weary now when I leave for a paddle, knowing my, and my boats limits.
I have learned alot in this little boat, and I have no plans to ever sell it, just cause its great to have around for when someone wants to give kayaking a try. You can probably dance a jig in this, and not tip the thing over. Plus, being so light, it will make a great boat to carry down to a pond and try for a trout. Or to pudder around in on a nice flat day and take some photos.
I have done a four day trip in this bad boy, and had lots of room to pack all my gear. Even some that I really didn't need to bring. I've even learned to roll in this boat! Yes.. thats right.. I learned to roll in a 26" wide kestrel. I'm way to stubborn not to!
I have done a four day trip in this bad boy, and had lots of room to pack all my gear. Even some that I really didn't need to bring. I've even learned to roll in this boat! Yes.. thats right.. I learned to roll in a 26" wide kestrel. I'm way to stubborn not to!
But, non the less, I've been craving a boat, that fits better, is fater, longer, edges better, and rudderless. I sent alot of time looking, researching and asking questions. There are alot of boats out there that I would really like to have. Most of which are way out of my price range. But even then, I couldn't really find one that I could settle on. I wanted a all around boat! I plan to do alot of camping, so I wanted a boat that would have a decent load Cap. but I didn't want a tug boat either. On the other hand, I wanted a boat that was good for day tripping, and playing around in... Not a easy find. Then it came to me! If I can't find it, I'll build it! Gives me the ability to put the bulkheads where I want them (can gain a fair bit of room when you have short legs) , can sort out my own decking to suit my needs, and all for alot less then the price of a custom glass boat. Not to mention they look great! If you have the time, look for some pics of strip built kayaks.. Some people have huge tallent for bulding these boats. I have have never done anything like this, or any real wood working before, so I don't expect the boat to be a gem by no means. But who cares! It'll be my boat, I made myself! If it float, and goes in a kinda straight line, I'll be happy. I don't plan to build one and stop there. If I enjoy the building process, and see it to the end, I'm sure I'll build more.
After some more research on the internet, I picked out a boat. The Guillemot by Nick Schade. Heres the website
http://www.guillemot-kayaks.com/ . He has a good selection of different boats, and gives a good discription on each, which helps when trying to order the plans for one. I went with the Guillemot because the lenth was about what I could fit into my garage and still have room to move around it, and apppeared to fit most of my other ideals. Before Ordering the plans, I did buy his book "the strip-built sea kayak". A great book , and enough to convicne myself that I could actually do it. So after I read it (I think one day) , I was too hooked on the idea not to, and order the plans.
So now here I am. I have the plans, some of the wood and tools needed, and the space sorta cleared out to build in. I did the first cutting tonight for the strongback. Just cut out the 8 strips need to build it. I need to get a router to go any further with that part. But I'll post on that later, along with the pics. I just couldn't leve the blog empty after setting it up.
Cheers!
After some more research on the internet, I picked out a boat. The Guillemot by Nick Schade. Heres the website
http://www.guillemot-kayaks.com/ . He has a good selection of different boats, and gives a good discription on each, which helps when trying to order the plans for one. I went with the Guillemot because the lenth was about what I could fit into my garage and still have room to move around it, and apppeared to fit most of my other ideals. Before Ordering the plans, I did buy his book "the strip-built sea kayak". A great book , and enough to convicne myself that I could actually do it. So after I read it (I think one day) , I was too hooked on the idea not to, and order the plans.
So now here I am. I have the plans, some of the wood and tools needed, and the space sorta cleared out to build in. I did the first cutting tonight for the strongback. Just cut out the 8 strips need to build it. I need to get a router to go any further with that part. But I'll post on that later, along with the pics. I just couldn't leve the blog empty after setting it up.
Cheers!