During day of New
Years Eve Tom fitted
20 ribs in Clas kayak
in 4 hours.
4 ribs borke
Lessons learned:
Soak all ribs
whole length
long enough
without disruptions.
Steam thoroughly
Thinned ends all
the way max 8 mm.
Strong tape may save
some ribs.
Tom used bending tool on shortest rib.
5.1.2007
When the rib has dried minor
splits can be secured by filling
with epoxy glue.
5.1.2007
Cover the glued split with tape.
5.1.2007
Pressure for good measure.
1.1.2007
Tom drives rib home
and drills dowel hole
Stop around drill
keeps hole from
piercing gunwale inner
wall.
1.1.07
Quote line from a movie:
"Something so beautyful"
1.1.07
Keelson rib was used
to trim ribs to
position before
pinning.
3.1.07
Wolfkraft sanding
drum in hand drill
works.
Cordless drill may
run to slow, older
drill plugged to
mains maybe better.
Wolfkraft drum bought
local tool shop.
On the Internet:
www.wolfkraft.de
3.1.07
Tom's kayaks stem
assembly.
5.1.07
2x2 dowels attach keelson
to stem.
7.1.07
Bottom part of Tom's frame done.
Finished in amonth.
Preparations, for instance
construction and running-in of
steam-box as well as finding
proper way to translate advices
from the BOOK into action,
took a fair number of hours.
Next one goes faster.
Said Tom.
9.1.07
Dowels thorugh stemplate
attaches gunwales to cutwater.
12.1.07
Starting to fit slats to Clas's
frame, Tom's waiting for the masik.
25.1.07
A Masik laminating jig, plyvood template and a laminated Masik
just removed from the jig.
25.1.07
Forcing the the packet of 2.5 mmm ribs (smeared with thickened epoxy )
to fit the curvature of the jig took a number of clamps.
24.1.07
Tom sculpted his Masik from a stout branch from an appletree.
The Moment of Truth came after attaching the Masik.
Getting into the kayak was a bit of a squeeze but
sitting as a paddler felt good.
8.2.06
Oil fram with boiled linseed oil,
first diluted, second time straight.
Cotton rag OK tool.
Floor covered with plastic sheet.
10.2.07
Ash cockpit hoop in bending jig.
Steamed 20 minutes in 95 C steam box.
Good jig built on 20 mm plywood.
11.2.07
Next day 11x11 mm coaming bent
on hoop as jig.
18.2.07
Attaching the coaming rib
to the hoop is best done
with a helper.
Instructions in the BOOK.
One with strong fists stretches the
lashing, the other locks the
lashing with suitable clamp to
stop it from sliding back.
In picture the clamp will be
attached before the tension is
released.
We had to do it over a few times
before the rib was somehow attached
to the hoop.
18.2.07
Round edges of hoop.
18.2.07
Hoop oiled with linseed oil.
18.2.07
Another task for 2:
Staple the 16 oz Polyester,
2x2 basket weave skin to
the frame.
Instructions in the BOOK.
One with strong fists tensions,
the other staples skin to frame.
Drumskin tight - in places.
18.2.07
Sewing proved easier than expected -
at least in the beginning.
Clas, Tom ja wife Tove took turns.
Each change of craftsperson improved
the result.
24.2.07
Tom cuts skin with soldering
iron before stitching.
Clas's skinned kayak to the right.
Deck skin creases were next day
mostly flattened with flat-iron.
For Polyester skin: Very hot iron,
don't press iron hard aginst skin,
work slowly
After unsuccesful Internet hunt for
clear 2-Component Polyurethane
flexible varnish we settled
for 1-Component Polyester Clear
Varnish, "Tikkurila Unica Super Laquer".
24.3.07
End of the construction that started 9.12.06.
Tom brings his SOF to be launched in the Hakunila pool.
The weight of the finished kayak was 20 Kg.
Frame = 9.0 Kg + 5.7 m2 16 oz/sq.yd. Polyester = 9.0 Kg
+ 7 layers Unica Record Super Boat Varnish = 2 Kg.
Thanks if someone checks this data.
24.3
The Grin of Success.
Squeezing into the cockpit wasn't too bad.
Primary Stability OK for a seasoned kayaker.
Secondary stability very good.
Didn't leak.
