Looking for some insight from the experienced

[kayak456]

What is sot

[Memory Maker]

sit on top

[dkwon]

Progress

Keep posting pics on how your building is going, and post how you think it handles when it makes it's mainden voyage.

Just epoxied the interior a couple days ago, it snowed so I left it in the kitchen to finish drying. Still need to sand the deck beams. When I installed the support for the seat, I didn't realize I installed them on the wrong end. Because they are glued and screwed, I decided to just leave them there and just install another seat support on the correct side The seat support on the wrong side ended up being far enough for foot pegs. Just so everyone knows, this is a 2 person kayak (haven't installed the passenger seat supports yet). Just going to put an 8'' x 20'' x 1'' board on top of the 1st passenger support and a smaller 8'' x 16(or 17'') x 1'' board for the passenger. Using the Bass pro shop stadium/canoe seat.

[chimo]

Just epoxied the interior a couple days ago, it snowed so I left it in the kitchen to finish drying. Still need to sand the deck beams. When I installed the support for the seat, I didn't realize I installed them on the wrong end. Because they are glued and screwed, I decided to just leave them there and just install another seat support on the correct side The seat support on the wrong side ended up being far enough for foot pegs. Just so everyone knows, this is a 2 person kayak (haven't installed the passenger seat supports yet). Just going to put an 8'' x 20'' x 1'' board on top of the 1st passenger support and a smaller 8'' x 16(or 17'') x 1'' board for the passenger. Using the Bass pro shop stadium/canoe seat.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]5288[/ATTACH]

Looks good! Something about using something that you have made that adds a little satisfaction to any undertaking! Any idea what your final weight is going to be?

[Shady]

Pretty awesome that you are building your own kayak, I think thats an MKF first!? Anyways, I started out with the Ascend FS10 the Chimo and kayak 456 mentioned. I fished out of it many times in the Severn, Patapsco, and even Hampto Roads bridge tunnel in Norfolk, Va.

Looks like your building a nice stable yak there, so you'll probably be ok to take it on slightly bigger water, but make sure to monitor the weather closely. As others have said, you should probably start out on ponds or lakes to get used to paddling and managing your kayak. Looking forward to seeing your progress along the way.

[moc]

Looking good. I agree with Chimo, despite the cost, there is something satisfying about using something that you built yourself. It is almost like a guy who likes to build a computer or a kit car.... they tend to cost alittle more but you get the satisfaction of using someing that you made with your own hands....until you buy one already made as mentioned earlier. I could not tell from the pictures, but is the bottom of the kayak flat and smooth? I was just wondering how it would do in the wind?

[ronaultmtd]

It is like building your own airplane from a kit or blueprints- same analogy; same risks- same type of investment- your time and labor is worth roughly $40 per hour plus materials- then add it up and total it out for the total cost of building the kayak vs. buying one- don't want to hurt anyone's feelings here but interject some common sense- the reason we all use sit on top kayaks in the salt waters is safety first- ask anyone who has been involved in any type of "turtle" incident or who has been on the water when a summer thunderstorm comes out of now where and catches you out several miles from the launch- I think back on my friend Kevin Fry at Piney Point this past season- Chexone, Bill, and I were all fishing together when a big squall line came through- we were within yards of the launch and we barely got in before it hit with gusts over sixty miles per hour- Kevin was too far out and got caught in the storm- he ended up beaching his sit on top Ocean Kayak Big Game a mile down from the launch and walking back to get his truck- the waves in Piney Point got huge in just seconds- any open sit inside kayak would have been swamped, regardless of a bilge pump- any kayak with a hull full of water behaves differently regardless of flotation materials you install- it is like a water logged log- afloat but not fully functional-

It looks beautiful and your skills are evident- but for any serious Bay fishing you need a sit on top- everyone who has a sit inside will tell you the same thing-

[Memory Maker]

You did a great job dude ............ looks GREAT ...........I assume you will be putting a bottom deck on the braces ........ might want to consider some pourable 2 lb foam between the bottom and deck for rigidity and flotation ........

[dkwon]

Looks good! Something about using something that you have made that adds a little satisfaction to any undertaking! Any idea what your final weight is going to be?

Right now I would estimate it to be around 50 - 60 lbs. It'll probably end up having another 5-10lbs added because of the front and rear decks + seats and all that epoxied. So, final weight... probably under 75 lbs. Heavy, but manageable and mountable on the top of my car.

Looking good. I agree with Chimo, despite the cost, there is something satisfying about using something that you built yourself. It is almost like a guy who likes to build a computer or a kit car.... they tend to cost alittle more but you get the satisfaction of using someing that you made with your own hands....until you buy one already made as mentioned earlier. I could not tell from the pictures, but is the bottom of the kayak flat and smooth? I was just wondering how it would do in the wind?

The bottom of the kayak is relatively flat, definitely smooth. I made sure to sand the hell out of it and coat it with epoxy evenly. Though, I haven't sanded the epoxy yet. I figured that'd be a step right before painting. Hmm wind.. wind will definitely impact my kayak since the walls seem pretty high. Well, at least, that's what I think

You did a great job dude ............ looks GREAT ...........I assume you will be putting a bottom deck on the braces ........ might want to consider some pourable 2 lb foam between the bottom and deck for rigidity and flotation ........

Actually, those braces are meant for 8'' x 16'' boards to strap my seat to. I was thinking of doing a deck, but I really didn't see a need for it. Would you recommend installing a deck? And if so, what would be your reasons? Thanks!

[frettr00]

I think you'll be happy with kayak fishing. It's a little tricky at first since you have such a small space to work with for gear, but you'll learn. You'll never have a need for a boat again, unless you really have to travel far distances. Most spots I've fished in mid bay are within a 20 minute paddle, which isn't bad as long as you pace yourself.

Oh btw you might find this useful for launch sites...

http://www.paddling.net/launches/

[dkwon]

I think you'll be happy with kayak fishing. It's a little tricky at first since you have such a small space to work with for gear, but you'll learn. You'll never have a need for a boat again, unless you really have to travel far distances. Most spots I've fished in mid bay are within a 20 minute paddle, which isn't bad as long as you pace yourself.

Oh btw you might find this useful for launch sites...

http://www.paddling.net/launches/

Good info, thanks!


Didn't get to work on the kayak for the past couple days, New Years and all. Starting class this week so I'll only have little time on weekdays and weekends to work on it, but while looking around for some ideas on youtube, I stumbled upon this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TFEQI8Rt-s
(Summary of the video for those who don't want to spend time watching: This guy creates outriggers for his sit in kayak by attaching two 2.25 liter soda bottles with a T shaped pvc piece, which then attaches to a ~3ft pvc pipe, connecting into a locking bimimi mount on the kayak.)

I liked the idea of outriggers for a sit in kayak. Would be pretty easy to put together and install.

Also saw this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BnYD...mKD8g&index=33
(Summary: Guy makes outriggers out of styrofoam for his sot kayak. He uses pvc as a backbone to the styrofoam outriggers and pvc to mount it to the kayak.)

Going to mix to the two ideas together to create outriggers for my kayak. Probably will end up using 3L soda bottles for the extra flotation. Let me know what you guys think.

[chimo]

Unless you are planning on standing a lot I'd think they wouldn't really be necessary. I think you said this yak will be 36 inches wide which is wider than most kayaks on the market now so it should be pretty stable. The pontoons would just add drag and one more thing to get fish, hooks and whatever else tangled in.

[dkwon]

Front deck is on, working on the rear

Haven't had too much time to work on it, but I put on the front and working on the rear. Still got some work to do on the front (unscrew, fill, sand, epoxy, sand, ... sand), but the rear was what was causing trouble. I wanted to add a big enough square-pocket to fit a milk crate for storage. At the time, I thought I was making it correctly... but no, I was wrong. Having a square frame on a piece of plywood that is supposed to bend around the deck beam doesn't work (duh) . Going to try to steam bend the plywood (no steam box = boiling water + rags). I only need about 1'' to go, started from 2". If that doesn't work, just going to sand down the deck beam to however much I need to match the shaped plywood. Decided to keep the interior simple to reduce costs. Planning on buying a sot kayak later this summer

Still thinking of ideas for a front deck "riser?" (thing that redirects/deflect waves).

Will work on it throughout the week when I can and I'll keep posting. Thanks, suggestions are always welcome!

Don't mind the mess. Organized chaos.



Edit: Adding some more photos

[jet]

awesome job! i'm waiting for garage space to clear up, as i plan on building a wooden kayak as well

[seapinto]

Nice project! I haven't been able to contribute much in regards to fishing since joining this great forum but I did build a touring yak from Okoume and fiberglass so I thought I'd comment based on my experiences (included a couple pics of it). Another way to steam bend is to use an iron (especially in tight or small areas), simply dampen the wood apply the iron and work to the contour you need. You mentioned sanding to get that area level, if you're not doing a bright finish on the deck then that will work fine but if you intend on a bright finish then you run the risk of sanding through the top layer of veneer which won't be aesthetically pleasing once glassed and varnished. As for something to deflect water on the bow... see attached pic of the kayak that looks like an arrow, may be a bit extreme but just a thought. Or consider doing a cockpit coaming around the edge of the cockpit so that when water does break over the deck it'll hit the coaming and be deflected. If I may add a couple suggestions for consideration (sorry if you already know this) you will definitely want to glass the inside of the cockpit (floor and sides) for added strength since you’ll be loading it up with gear and standing on it when getting in and out, fill the weave just enough so you don’t have to sand it and so that it leaves some texture for grip. Are you going to glass the hull and deck? Just epoxy on wood won’t be strong enough longterm, the glass is where 90% of your strength is going to come from. It will work for a while but will fail MUCH sooner than just being epoxied. Hope this helps or at least gives you something to think about.


Sorry, just saw your other thread where you mentioned that you glassed...disregard my comment above on that!