Went for a little paddle this afternoon - Woodworking Talk

**Daren** · 08-26-2009, 08:12 PM

OK, so my vehicle of choice is my old camper van...hey it has a potty/bed/fridge, what else does a guy need ? I of course keep fishing poles/full assortment of tackle in it at all times...AND and inflatable kayak, just in case. Well I was on the way back to town after taking care of some business and drove over a bridge and the water looked very inviting

So me, a fishing pole, and camera (had it for the business I was doing) in a dry bag took a little paddle. I was only on the water for a little over an hour...didn't have any snacks and got hungry, so I had to head home. This is a nice little quiet spot, I will go back when I get a chance.

maybe sooner than later, but with provisions this time and not on an empty belly.

Gary Beasley · 08-26-2009, 09:57 PM

Looks wonderful! Time to explore...

jeffreythree · 08-27-2009, 09:49 AM

That looks like fun. In all my travels, I constantly find nice quiet creeks that would be great for that. I just don't have a kayak

.

frankp · 08-27-2009, 12:41 PM

Ah, Daren, now it's time to build a "real" kayak. :) None of this inflatable stuff, put a beautiful cedar stripper together and join the club! Or at least a SOF. If you really need it to be packable, that is an option too, with either type.

**Daren** · 08-27-2009, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frankp

Ah, Daren, now it's time to build a "real" kayak. :)

Frank that has been on my list of things to do someday, really.

...it's not like I don't have the wood to do it. I looked at those wooden kayak kits decades ago, long before I started sawmilling (or even woodworking for that matter). My mill cuts lumber as thin as .10 inch in 1/10" increments, I reckon I could mill all I need for a real nice one.

TS3660 · 08-27-2009, 03:10 PM

Did you catch any fish?

I had an uncle that lived on a small pond and he'd walk around it about 4 times a week fishing. I asked him once if he ever caught anything in there. He said "No, and I hope I never do."....lol. I thought, Now that's the kind of fishing that is relaxing.

frankp · 08-27-2009, 03:14 PM

Daren, I'll make you a deal. You bring me a slab of figured walnut or maple and I'll help you build a boat!

**TexasTimbers** · 08-27-2009, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frankp

Daren, I'll make you a deal. You bring me a slab of figured walnut or maple and I'll help you build a boat!

Frank, you're on to something big, but you're missing an important part. How bout you let Daren bring you some expensive slabs, then you build me a boat, and Daren gets to go fishing with me in the boat (if he does the rowing).

If you go in halves with Daren for shipping it down here, I'll let you wet a hook with us! Deal?

**Daren** · 08-27-2009, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TS3660

Did you catch any fish?

Yea, a few small bluegill. Come fall that stretch of river should be plum full of crappie from the looks of it.

**Daren** · 08-27-2009, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TexasTimbers

Daren gets to go fishing with me in the boat (if he does the rowing).

Well now, how to put this politely ?...You would make great ballast

**TexasTimbers** · 08-27-2009, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daren

...You would make great ballast

'Fraid not, I'm carrying an extra 15# right now. But if we capsize I'd make great flotation.

ssgtrob2336 · 09-10-2009, 06:35 PM

I really think everyone should break from the rectillinear and build a boat of some kind. My preference is canoes, because they can actually take gear with them, but once I am firmly outfitted with canoes, I plan on building a kayak or two and maybe a small sail boat.

Anyway, Paddle on!

frankp · 09-11-2009, 07:58 AM

ssgtrob, hate to break it to you, but I can carry more than a weeks worth of gear in my low-medium volume kayak, and it stays dry. It's also less likely to spill out and be lost in a capsize situation. "Luke I AM your father. Come to the dark side."

I do think if people just realized how easy and quick it is to build boats, there would be far more home-built craft on the water. The last SOF I built took me about 12 hours to complete. The two before that only took about 20-25 each and my S&G took about 100. Ripping the top off and stripping the S&G to make a hybrid will probably take another 50 or so. So in three weeks worth of work hours I'll have a fully custom, incredibly good looking and performing kayak for another 10-15 years (already had it for 6).

johnep · 09-12-2009, 03:30 AM

My father and I built a 17' Kayak (The British Scout Kayak) way back in 1947. Made from oregon pine strips on frames and covered in canvas with a ply deck. Sufficient of a novelty in those days that was in local paper when we tried it out on local pond.

Appeared in the national press when we capsized in the Thames and had to be rescued. After that my father made up an outrigger and we had several holidays sailing around Thames estuary. Great introduction to sailing.
johnep