Dick Gamble

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This skin-on-frame kayak is my second boat building experience. The first one was a Bobby Curtis designed "Sea Spirit" (as a hybrid) --- great boat.

This traditional West Greenland style kayak is 18 ft. X 20.5 in. and weighs 34 lbs. It took about 3 months to build, but the next one would proceed much quicker. The skin is 16 oz. "basket weave" polyester fabric, coated with 2 coats of epoxy and 2 coats of marine spar varnish. The gunwales and chine stringers are white pine, the ribs are steam bent white oak -- all coated with boiled linseed oil and turpentine (half and half). No screws or glue were used -- just mortised joints tied with artificial sinew.

For instructions, I had very helpful input from Dean Bertoldi and Jay Babina -- also a video by Boucher and a new book by Robert Morris. It handles nicely in the pool and rolls easily. Its rough water characteristics are yet to be experienced. I have a feeling it will feel a bit twitchy -- at least for a while until my reflexes adjust to it.