Hello All:

> I am no expert on kayaks - I just finished building my first one this
> year.

Same here.

> ... If anyone believes that slapping together cedar
> stips or plywood with epoxy in your garage is the most efficient way to
> build a kayak then you are mistaken. I'm not so sure I would trust my boat
> in a true wilderness expedition.

David, I don't wish to pick at your words, but efficient is not the goal I had in mind when I undertook this quest. More like, relief, from the haunting omnipresence of the image of that boat, that lovely, curvy, gleaming, glowing, living thing in my mind. At last I did succeed, and did trust my life to it during a week long expedition through the San Juan Islands.

I have a second observation about the quest for engineering perfection that is constantly alluded to in this space. I read a story once about Henry Ford. He commissioned several people to browse junkyards and to examine his cars, and note the cause of failure. These forensic auto-archaeologists returned a wealth of information, but one fact was never mentioned. Mr Ford never received news that his car was junked because the kingpins had failed. Not once. And Mr Ford used that knowledge to infer that his kingpins were "relatively" overengineered. And in the name of efficiency, he ordered that they be, well, I don't actually know what he ordered, but I got the sense that he was upset that he was wasting time material and energy producing a component that was never used to it's fullest capacity.

I, on the other hand, am content to portage the "overengineered" components of my kayak. I do not feel like I have wasted my time materials or energy if, when I have a failure, not all the links in my chain fail simultaneously.

> 2. However, Darrell is also correct (in my judgement) in that as long as
> the boat is reasonably safe, used responsibly, and you are enjoying the
> experience then have fun!

This is where I understand things.

> When I built my Arctic Tern I definately overbuilt the boat. I know that
> it is not the 38 lbs. that Pygmy says is possible, but, at least I think
> (hope) it is safe for its intended use. I know that my glassing is not up
> to standard. Basically, I understand that I sacrificed weight for
> strength. Not a problem -- just a better work out anyway.

On the water, the additonal weight does not seem as noticeable or important.

> Strip building seems to me to be more of an art than an exersice in
> efficient engineering.

Oh yes.

> If you build using the popular methods don't think that you have the most
> advanced boat on the water. If you're an engineer don't think that
> everbody cares.

Well put, but who are you talking to? I can't think of anyone in real life that this would actually pertain to.

> p.s. I promise never to comment on this subject again.

Oh, please don't, well, not pout exactly, but...quit communicating.

Ed Valley