A few people have mailed me asking if I had a photo of the canvas kayak I made using the Sea Kayaker article.I hope that a photo accompanies this post...There are three pics at the URL listed (hopefully).

I made it quite hard-chined, as is one of the examples shown in the article. I used canvas with oil-based paint mixed with boiled oil at 50-50 for the first coat, and at 1/3 oil - 2/3 paint for the next two coats. I put an extra coat on the very bottom of the hull (which used up the last of the paint...)

It came out a little heavy with all the paint and the canvas and a little overbuilding, which seems to be common for first-timers ;>. It is still much lighter than my plastic kayak, and I can proudly say I built it by myself. I used contact cement (Elmers Household) to glue in the cheap polypropolene foam mat to pad the masik and hip/seat area, but it just would not stick. So, I used some poly twine to tie the foam in place.Does the trick for now!

I followed the advice on Shawn's website to make my skirt from the scraps of canvas, which I waterproofed with the compound I used for the frame.Cost me a dollar for the bungie, and a few hours to cut out,sew, re-sew.... A length of cheap poly webbing serves as the grab loop on the skirt, as well as the loops on the front and back, or should I say fore and aft, of the kayak.These are attached with stainless screws and washers.

I used the information on Ross's site to make the paddle.It is 230 cm long, tip width is just over 8cm, and it weighs 1090 grams.

I want to thank all for the help that I have received during this project.Your information has been both educational and entertaining!

kelly