Skin-on-frame Kayak F1

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As you can see from other pages on this site I have been building the F1 kayak design by Brian Schulz of Cape Falcon Kayaks for a number of years. I was aware that Brian had been exploring other types of SOF craft designs but it was not until August of 2019 that I was able to offer the "66" canoe as the answer to a clients requirements.

Ian and Lee wanted to explore remote anchorages around Tasmania's South West in Ian's converted 33ft cray-boat. To do this they wanted something light, nimble, strong......but most importantly, something that could be stored in the minimum of space......

A pair of nesting canoes seemed to be the answer and I was keen to work through the "66" building process.....

A start is made on laminating three pieces of cedar to form both sets of gunwales to a pre-set shear curve...

Decks formed up and the stems being positioned...

A perpetual joy when making these small skin-on-frame craft is seeing the shapes develop.......Light and Shadow play well together...

Now up until this stage it was all fingers crossed and measure again.....this is the first opportunity to carry out a test fit, and indeed, 1+1 does equal 1...

Smile73 and Smile74 seeing the light of day for the first time...

Late afternoon light and shadow...

2 keels, 4 gunwales, 20 stringers, 46 ribs, 982 lashing points.......................And they still fit!!!

SOF + Sunlight = Smile73 and Smile74...... Now for some pics of them on the water - over to you Lee :)

The start of gathering a LOT of measurements...

Basic stem layout...

Temporary gunwales set-up to test bending characteristics of an assortment of timbers for steam bending...

...and at the end of the day it was Leatherwood by a nose from Swamp Gum....

...the documents...

Ian and Lee - the laying on of hands...

Placing stems...

A final adjustment of the keel before starting to steam ribs...

Ian getting to grips with steam bending...

...followed by Lee...

Sometimes it takes two...

Now this is going to test my clamp reserves...

and more clamps...

...and all the clamps I have...

Lashing stringers to stems...

Lashing stringers almost done...

....a lot of lashing, lashings of lashing...

Which results in something crafty...

Oiling frames - transformative!!

Setting the keel to the stem..

All done and beautiful...

Proof, if proof be required...

Let the stitching begin...

...and then the stapling...

All done and outside again to dry off...

Lee doing some fine stitching...

A few days of just admiring...

Ian taking the green tape to heart, or at least his soles...

Mix for 5, then goop away...

All brand new and shiny...

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