My Kayak-Build Thread

[ckissick]

With the installation of the coaming, the build is done.

The coaming set in place before stitching it in.


Close-up of the coaming:




Overall view. Next step is to add color. It's done with an acid dye in boiling hot water. This will shrink the fabric and hopefully take out the wrinkles.

[ckissick]

I stained it and ironed it and the wrinkles came out!





You can't be up a creek without paddle, so I'm starting on a Greenland paddle.

[fanaudical]

For some reason I thought this one was getting skinned with cedar strips...

What material is the fabric skin? How strong is the stitching?

Does that get "doped" like airplane fabric?

[ckissick]

The fabric is called 840 X-Tra Tuff ballistic nylon. There are two kinds of stitching. One is a thick, tarred black thread, then there is the final stitching with a thin upholstery thread. Both are so strong you couldn't break it if you tried. Well, maybe you could break the upholstery thread if you really, really tried.

The skin doesn't get doped. It gets three coats of a 2-part urethane. I need to set aside about 5 hours for the coating, so I'll have to wait till next weekend.

[Scott Douglas]

This is a really cool thread. Thanks for posting Charlie.
Looks great so far!

[herr_oberst]

I'm impressed as much with the speed of the build as much as I am the craftsmanship! Way to stick with it and get it done.

Really cool. Is there a birch-bark paint job in the future?

[911 Rod]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

Really cool. Is there a birch-bark paint job in the future?

I'm thinking spitfire!

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by ckissick

The skin doesn't get doped. It gets three coats of a 2-part urethane. I need to set aside about 5 hours for the coating, so I'll have to wait till next weekend.

Great thread.

Do you have a color scheme in mind: Guards Red?

[craigster59]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

Great thread.

Do you have a color scheme in mind: Guards Red?

I'm thinking "Yum Yum Yellow".

[ckissick]

I was thinking flames. But it's just going to stay as seen above. Cape Falcon Kayak calls it Sunset. It was hard to pick a color. There are so many nice options:

https://www.capefalconkayaks.com/choosing-a-color.html

[ckissick]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

I'm impressed as much with the speed of the build as much as I am the craftsmanship! Way to stick with it and get it done.

Really cool. Is there a birch-bark paint job in the future?

The speed of the build will go down a bit. Next step is the urethane coating, but it has to be at least 60 degrees. My garage is unheated and it's been cool and cloudy lately. I have a small space heater that might do the job, I hope.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by ckissick

But it's just going to stay as seen above. Cape Falcon Kayak calls it Sunset.

It looks great.

Originally Posted by ckissick

The speed of the build will go down a bit. Next step is the urethane coating, but it has to be at least 60 degrees. My garage is unheated and it's been cool and cloudy lately. I have a small space heater that might do the job, I hope.

This is arguably the most important step. Hope is not a metric.

Wait or get supplemental heating.

The above sounds harsh but you are so close...don't get impatient.

[ckissick]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

It looks great.



This is arguably the most important step. Hope is not a metric.

Wait or get supplemental heating.

The above sounds harsh but you are so close...don't get impatient.

I'll wait for some sunny days. If the sun comes out, I'll be fine. It's supposed to be sunny and 56 degrees on Saturday. Until then, I'll make a paddle. That's also a fun project.

I bought a thermometer for the garage just to be sure.

[vash]

i'm not so sure i could build the paddle. the boat? forget it.

nice job C.. nice job.

[fanaudical]

Thank you, Charlie, for sharing this process with us. It's been very interesting to watch.

[drcoastline]

Great looking project Charlie.

[911 Rod]

Is there a spot for a flag?
Around here you are taking your life in your own hands without a way for boats to see you.

[ckissick]

Originally Posted by 911 Rod

Is there a spot for a flag?
Around here you are taking your life in your own hands without a way for boats to see you.

No flag needed. I'll mostly be taking it out to the harbor in Half Moon Bay, Tomales Bay, Lake Tahoe, the Truckee River, places like that.

[brainz01]

Looking great. An inspiring project.

[McLovin]

Very cool