Kayak skinned

Its been a while since the last update but the nylon skin is finally on
and the coaming is also sewn is place.


After the main sewingwas done on the bow and stern ends of the kayak
it wa time to sew the coaming into place. First a plank on the inside is setup
with a plank across the coaming with a clamp to add tention and position the
ring in the right place.

Then nails were pushed through the pre-drilled holes to pull the cloth to the ring
and help spacing the tention before sewing.


And here it is in place.


A bit tight working conditions in my cellar but its a bit cold working out now
its around -6°C at the moment.


And a picture of the stern.

Well next I am going to make the lashing toggles for my deck ropes
out of some juniper. I am going to have to wait with covering the nylon
skin until I can find some where to apply it its a bit smelly so it
wouldn't go down to well if I done it in the cellar.

Floor planks and the end of the frame

The final part of the frame, the floor boards. Two sets a pair where
I will sit and another pair where my heels will rest. The first thing to do was some heavy planing to get the boards to sit between the chines and not protrude into the skin when it comes. Once all the planks are cut and planed it time to lash them. This time, because of the wear they ar going to receive, I lashed each rib separately and lashed them 3 times to make sure they will hold up to my build :) A view into the cockpit area with floor boards in place. And there it is the frame. I going to add some tung oil to it in the week but otherwise the frame is ready. Next up the cockpit coaming...

Adding the chines and finishing the Hull

Now to finish the hull. All that is left the stringers/Chines that sit either side of the Keelson.
First I have to plane the last 1.2m, tapering down 3mm on each side.


Then onto strapping the chines to the ribs and finding the right lay.


Next shaping the chine ends to fit against the stems.


Then its a running lash down each chine and then lashing each pair together
and each end.
Finally the frame Hull is ready. I am really happy
with it and heres a few pictures at different angles.








Next, flipping the kajak over and working on the plates at the bow at
stern to secure them.

Stem Watercutters in place

Next up is getting the Watercutters in place.

First I drilled two sets of holes and lashed the boards to
the gunwales. I was surprised how stable the plates sat
after just the lashings.


Next the keel is clamped into position and a line to strung out
to check that everything is nice and aligned.


The keel is joined at both ends with doweling wedged
at both ends similar to the trunnel I used earlier. Finally
the keel is sawn and sanded to the right shape.


Here's the bow plate.


The view from the stern.


And from the bow.

Next up lashing the keel to the ribs and also
lashing/fitting the chines beside the keel.

Frame sanded and beams pegged

I sanded and dismantled the frame, and made sure the
tenons fitted the best they could. Then locked the beams in the frame
with trunnels and with the first lashing at both ends.


Trunnels wedged and fitted.



The frame clamped and the first holes drilled for the locking dowels.


Dowels in place ready for sanding.


After all the beams are locked with dowels, every other
beam is lashed against the tenon.

Next up finish the lashings.