Boat Building Forum

Find advice on all aspects of building your own kayak, canoe or any lightweight boats

Durability worries
By:Jim P.
Date: 3/23/2001, 10:29 pm

After spending the past 6 months bulding my Georgian Bay, I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I used a pretty basic 6 oz layup inside and out on the hull and 4 oz on the deck, reinforced at key areas. I'm looking forward to getting out on Lake Superior with my cronies in their Current Designs boats. Imagine my dismay when I stumbled upon George Roberts' site and read his review of the strip-building techniques I followed,

"After a proper period of curing I put the boat in the water and paddled to Mackinaw Island from the mainland. Landing in 6" chop on a shore comprised of sand with a few 6" diameter rocks put a hole in the hull - a 12" tear through the cloth and along the strips in the hull."

What the??!!! Now, while George may be a bit abrasive from time to time, I've had no reason to believe he was actually insane. Has anybody here experienced catastrophic failure in such gentle conditions as George described?

Worried in Wisconsin
(Jim)

Messages In This Thread

Durability worries
Jim P. -- 3/23/2001, 10:29 pm
Re: Durability worries
Pete Rudie -- 3/27/2001, 12:27 am
Re: G.R. :)
Dean Trexel -- 3/27/2001, 12:16 pm
Re: G.R. :)
Bruce -- 3/27/2001, 12:54 pm
:) *NM*
Bruce -- 3/27/2001, 11:10 am
Re: :) :) :) :) :) *NM*
Grant Goltz -- 3/27/2001, 10:25 am
Re: Durability worries
Nick Schade - Guillemot Kayaks -- 3/26/2001, 11:10 am
durability? build a second boat :)
Paul G. Jacobson -- 3/26/2001, 2:53 am
Re: durability? build a second boat :)
Jim P. -- 3/26/2001, 8:28 am
Re: durability? build a lighter third boat!
Lee Gardner -- 3/26/2001, 3:03 pm
Re: Durability worries
Bruce -- 3/25/2001, 9:48 pm
Re: Don't worry
Lee Gardner -- 3/24/2001, 11:40 am
Re: Durability (don't) worries
Mike -- 3/24/2001, 11:16 am
Re: Durability worries
Julie Kanarr -- 3/24/2001, 9:38 am
Re: Durability worries
Rob Macks -- 3/24/2001, 8:43 am
Re: Durability worries
Mike Hanks -- 3/23/2001, 11:09 pm