[tunahound]

Just finished an aleut style kayak as well. Hope you enjoy and share the passion. Have a look. Check out the link as well for inspiration. Good variety of ideas and methods found here:

http://www.traditionalkayaks.com/Kayakr ... licas.html

Enjoy the pic, and e-mail me if you'd like to see it. At the moment I'm helping another cut the frames for his very own. Don't ask me to build one for you. You can do it!

Cheers

 

[aleg75]

Looks good and interesting!

Without being rude, how much to build? import etc?

Ashley

 

[tunahound]

Import?

It's a native, mate. Fifteen kilos of Camphor Laurel, scratch built from chainsaw to frame. Wood was donated, so it only set me back about fifty dollars in 80 pound test dacron fishing line to lash it together, total. Sixty to seventy hours of my free time, mostly milling down the timber. Shaping and lashing was a small part of it. Strength to weight ratio was adequate, if I had my choice I would have used Sitka Spruce, but not this time. White oak would also be an excellent choice though a bit heavier. The last one I made was what you call Oregon, Douglas Fir, also acceptable in terms of strength to weight, and economical.

Cheers

 

[YakAtak]

Love the shape, will it be skinned with glass, timber or otherwise?

 

[aleg75]

Import?

Yeah, should have said, buy the plans?

 

[justcrusin]

HI Tunahound,
Question on the Oregon. Being an aussie chippy the irish pine you used has a very poor reputation in it's weathering ability. (in fact its in the worst durability class for timber under australian standards) I have heard that while constantly submerresed it lasts a lot longer but i'm assuming the yak isn't always in the water.
So how long do you expect the yak to last or do you treat it with something to achieve rot resistance.

Cheers Dave (btw they look great)

 

[RedPhoenix]

Unfortunately, due to the change in ownership of this web site and the lack of response by the owners to my requests to remove my email address from all administrative-level notifications and functionality, I have decided to remove my posts on AKFF. Thank you for the great times, the fantastic learning experiences and the many many fish. If you are desperate for the old content of this particular post, it is available below base64 encoded and bzip2 compressed.

Red.

----

QlpoOTFBWSZTWUEG0icAACVfgAASQAMAAJRmXIA+79+gMAC5Iip+mmqfqZR6mzTVBoaGnqfqhjCYmgwRiGRhMGp6Ip+lPSaek9IPU00xPSBDhB0CoQiK5mmu1RX4YIHhdtJtY6Ndc9Y9JYCCF37lZ/AZ4hASYogZN9UE+tSoFLTw3xRQzLISH3LEElsBz972SlN08eAd88fs1XJVKlLsjmBRgIWDWJMIAUryUL15NpGfow2q0H8mVRsmjRIBtAuJDcVc0LOaifxdyRThQkEEG0ic

 

[bazzoo]

spotted gum, red,,,,,,, hard , works well takes a bend well , and handles water

 

[tunahound]

By Irish Pine are you refering to the Oregon or the Camphor? Sorry, I'm a newbie to your local species. The aleut badarka I made in Oregon outlived it's first skin, a few years, which I thought acceptable. I expect the Camphor will do the same. It will be skinned with 10 pound canvas duck, and painted, again not expecting more than a few years out of this one. Reason being, I like building them, and need an excuse to make another boat. Ballistic nylon is also being used extensively in these types of boats nowadays. I work with chippies daily, and gathering timber info as I go. Been told White Beech is one of your better ones for this. The gums may be too heavy. Procuring some Teak, right now, actually for the next one.

Cheers

 

[tunahound]

A few books available on the subject are readily available. Best I've seen is Chris Cunningham's, for the Greenland style kayak, he's a regular contributor to Sea Kayaking magazine, and George Dyson's for the Aleut baidarka.

By the way just used thinned linseed oil on the frame, a couple of coats, then finished it with a liquid wax and oil mixture. Will be stored dry and out of the sun.

Thanks

 

[justcrusin]

HI Tunahound,
Irish pine is a nickname for oregon

If you are after a long lasting timber turpintine is the best out here, most of the old wharf's were made out of it, however very heavy and also very hard it will blunten all of your tools in no time.

Something you may be interested in, just helped a mate make a marlin board for his boat and used a waterproof polyurethane glue called VISE. but the best part is it's a single material not a two part mix. very handy and ends up very strong.

Any of the aussie hardwoods will easily out last most of the pines / softwoods (huon and kauri is an exception of course but good luck getting enough of it)

Cheers Dave

 

[Phoenix]

Looks great

 

[bazzoo]

T H, in the building game, as Dave has said oregon is referred to as irish pine or irish timber because of the name, O`regon, the australian hardwoods make good boat timber , but are very heavy, good luck with the building mate ,i think i may join you soon and build a very light sea kayak, its a lot of fun doing it , just have to get the right design, although that longer one of yours looks the goods,,,,,,,,,cheers barry

 

[RedPhoenix]

Unfortunately, due to the change in ownership of this web site and the lack of response by the owners to my requests to remove my email address from all administrative-level notifications and functionality, I have decided to remove my posts on AKFF. Thank you for the great times, the fantastic learning experiences and the many many fish. If you are desperate for the old content of this particular post, it is available below base64 encoded and bzip2 compressed.

Red.

----

QlpoOTFBWSZTWX3kaYMAABjfgAASUAWAApAAEAo+77+wMAC6mK0Tah6J6QNGjTJ6gMZMTTCaYmAmmAanpMk0wiYRowRkIFLXjbg428rnvBN+vsEixKjVGggMcvFnddIyvFc1imdaCUF5IqQzr3gbgUVzAYb0X7u3kHCjQlCZPVE2zCFxOViT7fcvWAMZFHSVVSE4kVG2dI6T5Gu/VwphgPM3q15D5TghMIuIxvZwXEKG7DNkz3mlaelYaF3JFOFCQfeRpgw=

 

[bazzoo]

Leigh, the hardwoods are certainly denser timbers and will withstand greater stresses than softwoods, but in building a boat or kayak the sections of timber are basically that small that there is not a great opportunity to decrease the section size, but by using hardwoods , you get a boat that is a little heavier , but is much stiffer so will move through the water and hold its lines better and is so more efficient

 

[hairymick]

G'day Tunahound, Welcome aboard mate.

I just found your posts. beautiful boats mate. I prticularly like the coho.

With the SOK jobbie, how do you waterproof the lashings?

 

[Guest]

Very interesting stuff guys......

Great looking lines on the yak TH. Look forward to seeing some final pics when its skinned.

I know very little about woods for boat/yak building, so am finding it interesting hearing about which species are best.

My father was a logging contractor and also operated native forest plantations in Tasmania. I know a little about craftwoods, but not what is used for the specialist area of boat building.

Does anyone know if Tasmanian Blackwood would be useful in this type of application?. Its a beautiful timber, wondering if I should reserve myself enough to make a yak at some stage my Dad is 60 years old, but a very handy fellow making everything from cabinetry through to industrial hydraulics and metalwork.

My Dad has some large stockpiles racked up at home which he milled himself over the years, he sells it to local furniture makers, and also for his own personal use. Quite expensive stuff but beautiful timber.

Am starting to think I should speak to Dad about whether he is interested in him and I starting a little project together and building a kayak from some natural Tasmanian Timbers. Great way to spend some time with the old man and maybe learn from him along the way. The thought of having a kayak hand made by him and I of heirloom quality also pulls a few heartstrings.

If anyone can interpret the characteristics of Tasmanian Blackwood for me?? and let me know if its suitable that would be great!

http://www.tastimber.tas.gov.au/species/pdfs/blackwood.pdf

 

[hairymick]

G'day Dallas.

Mate, I don't know anything about Tasmanian blackwood but all the old timber plank boats were made from Huon Pine.

I think huon is protected now but if your dad has any of that in his stockpile it is priceless. The oldtimers tell me it is the best of all wood for boat building. Good elasticity and lasts a long time in water - also very good strength to weight ratio.

For frames and such on a SOK I would be looking at a cheaper - lower quality wood and epoxy saturate it for protection.

If you are thinking a stripper, I would recommend the Huon (if you can get it) or cedar or even sirian (Indonesian red cedar) and save the beautiful Tassie timbers for the brightwork. Again I would completely encapsulate all wood in epoxy.

If you are thinking of a stitch and glue ply job, no frames are needed but you could still include some of your timber into the bright work.

Really mate, the options are endless and only limited by your imagination.

There will be available shortly a free set of plans for a kayak from Jemwatercraft. They will be for a 12 ft S&G ply SIK that he calls a Freedom. A friend had built both the Coho and a 15 ft version of the Freedom (prototype) and he tells me the Freedom is a superior boat.

Either way, there are some very good plans for both S&G and stripper kayaks out there.

Here is a link to a forum where a bloke in british columbia is building a Stripper kayak. Superb boat and astonishing workmanship.

http://www.westcoastpaddler.com/communi ... opic&t=737

Here is one to a Pigmy Arctic Tern being built by a middle aged Japanese lady (her first build) again, amazing workmanship

http://www.westcoastpaddler.com/communi ... opic&t=755

Here is a link to the Jemwatercraft Freedom 15

http://www.neilbank.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2909

At the risk of hijacking this thread , I am posting this just to give you some ideas of what is available.

Here is my next project. an ocean capable, expedition touring canoe.
Length 17'9' - beam 28" Will paddle and perform much like a big kayak with the immense carrying capacity and loading ease of a canoe.

The plans will be publicly available soon.

 

[Guest]

G'day Dallas.

Mate, I don't know anything about Tasmanian blackwood but all the old timber plank boats were made from Huon Pine.

I think huon is protected now but if your dad has any of that in his stockpile it is priceless. The oldtimers tell me it is the best of all wood for boat building. Good elasticity and lasts a long time in water - also very good strength to weight ratio.

For frames and such on a SOK I would be looking at a cheaper - lower quality wood and epoxy saturate it for protection.

If you are thinking a stripper, I would recommend the Huon (if you can get it) or cedar or even sirian (Indonesian red cedar) and save the beautiful Tassie timbers for the brightwork. Again I would completely encapsulate all wood in epoxy.

If you are thinking of a stitch and glue ply job, no frames are needed but you could still include some of your timber into the bright work.

Really mate, the options are endless and only limited by your imagination.

There will be available shortly a free set of plans for a kayak from Jemwatercraft. They will be for a 12 ft S&G ply SIK that he calls a Freedom. A friend had built both the Coho and a 15 ft version of the Freedom (prototype) and he tells me the Freedom is a superior boat.

Either way, there are some very good plans for both S&G and stripper kayaks out there.

Here is a link to a forum where a bloke in british columbia is building a Stripper kayak. Superb boat and astonishing workmanship.

http://www.westcoastpaddler.com/communi ... opic&t=737

Here is one to a Pigmy Arctic Tern being built by a middle aged Japanese lady (her first build) again, amazing workmanship

http://www.westcoastpaddler.com/communi ... opic&t=755

Here is a link to the Jemwatercraft Freedom 15

http://www.neilbank.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2909

At the risk of hijacking this thread , I am posting this just to give you some ideas of what is available.

Here is my next project. an ocean capable, expedition touring canoe.
Length 17'9' - beam 28" Will paddle and perform much like a big kayak with the immense carrying capacity and loading ease of a canoe.

The plans will be publicly available soon.

Heya Mick,

Dad unfortunately does not have any Huon Pine amongst his timber. You are quite right about its properties, and is now totally protected and only found in small pockets around Tasmania. Small quantities are still available to local craftsmen, but it is only available in very small quantities, and as such is very rarely if ever used for larger pieces like furniture anymore. Any Huon Pine available for sale these days has generally been salvaged from the bottoms of local dams, rivers and waterways, or smaller trees which have remained on the forest floor because they were 'too small' by old standards. Even after 100 years, due to the natural oils in the timber its a matter of taking off the top layers which have started to decay, and the heart of the timber log is as perfect as the day it was felled 100 years ago. There is simply no other timber like it.

Back in the old days Huon Pine was even used in the construction of houses, there is a house like this on Cradle Mountain made completely of Huon Pine.

A mature tree is generally over 1000 years old, with growth rings around 1mm thick. Beautiful stuff!!.....and the smell...... so sweet, strong and unique.

Dads stocks mainly consist of Tasmanian Blackwood, Blackheart Sassafrass and Myrtle. If I do something like this with Dad, I would like to incorporate some of these timbers visually on the kayak. The kayak would not be an everyday paddle. More an heirloom, display piece, and above all else something I would treasure that he and I did together.....

If solid timbers cant be used, then maybe I can look into having some of Dad's timber veneered onto the ply used to build it?.....all things that would need to be investigated I suppose......I am doubtful top quality blackwood would be viable to have veneered, the average piece of Blackwood Dad has racked would be no more than 15cm in width, plenty of it there, but to have such narrow timber veneered onto ply as a one off would be very expensive I am guessing?

I really would like his timber incorporated into the design if he is keen to give it a go with me.......I only spend a week or two a year at home, so it would be a project put together over a few years......

Thanks for the tips mate , its all new to me so I'll have to bounce the idea off the old man while I am down there later this month and see what he thinks......

Cheers for the links mate, should keep me occupied for a while

Love the next project plans as well mate.......looks mighty sleek!

 

[tunahound]

Hey Mick,

Used 80 lb. test dacron fishing line for lashings and just waxed them as I went with a stick of carnauba. Made it easier to tie knots without slippage.
Thanks for the links.

Cheers