Kayak and Canoe Design Bulletin Board

baidarka modifications to Chesapeake 17LT

Posted By: Gordon Price
Date: Monday, 10 May 1999, at 6:28 p.m.

Hello all, I am newly addicted to kayaking, and not in a position to perchase a boat. However, I can afford to build my own. I like the Ches 17LT, but I also like the look and performance of the baidarka shape. My though is to modify the Chesapeake as follows...

Stern: Cut off the stern as if for a rudder istallation. Place a 3 ply sandwich of 4mm marine plywood as the "fixed rudder". This piece would extend into the body of the boat and connect to a small bulkhead. The rudder piece would be held in place with hand shaped blocks on either side (which also provide the final shape of the boat as it narrows down to the flat rudder portion. The area between the blocks and bulkhead, all around the rudder connection, then becomes an end pour.

Bow: Trim the upper hull panels so that once connected, a slot 12mm wide exists from the bilge panels up to the shear clamps. A three ply bow piece comes thru this slot and back to a bulkhead, similar to the stern. This tripled extension sweeps forward and defines the basic shape of the bow extension. An addition ply on either side is trimmed to fit snuggly against the standard hull, and comes forward to define a bit of a bulb, which does not sweep up.

I have a few questions related to this idea.

1. Is this likely to affect the performance of the boat, making it more baidarka like (better handling of waves, better stracking, etc.)? Or does the entire boat shape need to change, and I am only making cosmetic changes?

2. Does the construction as described make sense? My experience is carpentry and architecture, so I am trying to apply that to boatbuilding.

3. Will these changes affect structural integrity of the boat overall, and will they be strong enough themselves?

Thanks for any advice or suggestions.

Regards, Gordon Price

Messages In This Thread

baidarka modifications to Chesapeake 17LT
Gordon Price -- Monday, 10 May 1999, at 6:28 p.m.

Re: baidarka modifications to Chesapeake 17LT
Nick Schade -- Tuesday, 11 May 1999, at 9:22 a.m.

Re: baidarka modifications to Chesapeake 17LT
The Big Legume -- Tuesday, 11 May 1999, at 12:28 p.m.

Re: baidarka modifications to Chesapeake 17LT
Gordon Price -- Tuesday, 11 May 1999, at 2:09 p.m.

Re: baidarka modifications to Chesapeake 17LT
Nick Schade -- Wednesday, 12 May 1999, at 9:18 a.m.

Re: baidarka modifications to Chesapeake 17LT
John Winters -- Sunday, 16 May 1999, at 4:06 p.m.

Kayak and Canoe Design Bulletin Board is maintained by Nick Schade - Guillemot Kayaks with WebBBS 5.12.