Kayak and Canoe Design Bulletin Board

Re: Surf Kayaks

Posted By: Shawn Baker
Date: Wednesday, 24 February 1999, at 11:31 a.m.

In Response To: Surf Kayaks (Rick S.)

The Necky Rip and Jive are supposed to be good whitewater kayaks that excel in ocean surf. The Jive has a flat, surfing hull with hard chines. It has a flat, rounded bow and stern. (I think they have a finned model designed specifically for surfing) It sounds just like you just described one.

See if you can rent any whitewater boats in your area and try them in the ocean. Then just take the best elements from each and put them into your own boat.

Technically speaking, if you're going to kneel in the boat, it will be a surf canoe, rather than a surf kayak. Kneeling will raise your center of gravity (which will still be significantly below your CG when surfing), but would probably allow you to shift your weight more. Whitewater canoes (C-1's) often use minicell foam saddles or pedestals to "sit" on while paddling--you could consider using something like this in your surf boat.

Shawn

> I am a month from completing my Great Auk and have begun thinking of my
> next project. I live in Southern California and surf a bit, so am thinking
> of designing and building a surf kayak. Any ideas? It is interesting to
> note some terminology differences between surfboards and kayaks.
> Surfboards have rails, kayaks have chines; surfboards have scoop, kayaks
> have rocker; kayaks have skegs or rudders, surfboards have fins ( box fins
> or tri-fins). Anyway, I am thinking a kayak 10 feet long with lots of
> rocker in the front, relatively hard chines in the back with a cut-off
> stern for carving, single boxed skeg, smooth bottom and softer chines in
> the middle section and a round flat long board nose. Anybody kneel in
> these things as opposed to sitting?

> I have access to 3D modeling software so developing cross sections for
> stripping won't be a problem.

> Thanks for your input, Rick S.

Messages In This Thread

Surf Kayaks
Rick S. -- Friday, 19 February 1999, at 1:41 p.m.

Re: Surf Kayaks
Nick Schade -- Friday, 19 February 1999, at 2:36 p.m.

Re: Surf Kayaks
John Fereira -- Friday, 19 February 1999, at 2:46 p.m.

Re: Surf Kayaks
Shawn Baker -- Wednesday, 24 February 1999, at 11:31 a.m.

Re: Surf Kayaks
Mike Allen -- Sunday, 14 March 1999, at 2:08 p.m.

Re: Surf Kayaks
Shawn Baker -- Tuesday, 16 March 1999, at 10:33 p.m.

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