Kudzu Craft Long Shot

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This project came into being through a desire to make a seagoing "nice" kayak, or a "nice" kayak that would be fully sea worthy in the conditions I paddle in. My daily paddler is the F1, but only a mother could truly call her "nice" (apologies Brian:). To achieve this I feel that a heat shrunk skin is the way to go and I feel confident enough in my skills with this technique to achieve the following. A skin on frame kayak, with bulkheads and associated hatch openings, an electric pump, and a retractable skeg............"nice" enough to bring forth a Smile or two......

Preliminary set-up of frames which are a press fit over the keel at this stage....

A mate turned up from Brisbane. Scott thought he was on holidays but was soon coerced into doing some lashing - what are friends for?

Skeg box installed and cable test fitted. A brace will be installed across the top of the box from gunwale to gunwale.

Up at the pointy end these deck plates will allow me to use the Pacific Action twin masted sail.

A last look at the plywood frame at the front of the cockpit. After a test fit and lots of deliberation this was the start of a lot of changes all made to strengthen the frame for the conditions I paddle in.

Laminated deck beam is much stronger, gives a mounting surface for sail cleats, and fits my legs better....

Changes/mods....added eleven bent ribs, two additional deck beams and one additional plywood frame, all to strengthen the craft for the conditions and intended use...

Varnished frame - and a late night photo shoot.....

Baidarka like stern treatment....

Jeff has a good set of frame plans to cut out and paste on your plywood....

I was lucky enough to find a plank of cedar long enough for me to cut all the longitudinals without scarphing....

Frames all nicely sanded, varnished and hung up.

Starting to set up the gunwales and stringers...

Starting to look like a Long Shot. All held in place with bungee cords....

Used all the elastic straps I had - would have been easier with more...

Starting to check lines, getting all measured and square....

Scott having a lash - amazing what 5 minutes tuition can do :)

Stern piece all secure and lashed in place to stringers...

A moment of contemplation.

Hard to see but this is the start of mounting the skeg...

Forming up cockpit rim - steam bent bamboo...

A tight fit now that the skeg box is positioned. Only an inch to play with..

Skeg control mounted below gunwale....

Routing skeg control cable THROUGH rear deck stringer....

Mast mount.

Cockpit rim done and being tensioned into shape...

Another frame has been installed at the front of the cockpit. The original frame was too far forward cutting down on forward hatch space and increasing cockpit volume.

Detail of just one of the things I've had to think about. The deck lines will go through the "waterproof" compartments... ..So I've inserted a stainless steel tube at bow and stern to isolate the lines...