river kayak

[sidneyhuskey]

I am wanting to build a strip kayak for rivers. Most of what I have seen are sea kayaks. Am i mistaken that wooden kayaks are not strong enough to use in rivers? Does anyone have any ideas from places that may have plans?
Thanks

[George Roberts]

You could be right or wrong..

I paddle my 8' 20# kayak on C III water from time to time. i used to paddle more but I am too busy.

Will not help you on plans.

[seafox61]

Think the problem is not strength but the thought of shattering that lovely wood on an ugly rock <g>
you migt try Kotick from Mr Bolger.
for a river kayak I suspect that I would prefer polyethylene. having watch a tuperware kayak bounce from rock to rock down the escalante river has me convinced of their utlity
jeffery

[TomFF]

I built a drift boat from wood that would carry me through rapids. The wood held up fine. Many guys put a plastic bottom to protect the wood. I didn't, nor do I think did early drift boat builders.

Of course the bottom was 3/8" marine ply.

[ 03-09-2003, 11:09 PM: Message edited by: TomFF ]

[LeeG]

start here http://www.kayakforum.com/cgi-bin/Building/index.cgi

then ask here http://lists.zooid.com/pipermail/sbka-list/

follow a few threads and you'll have suggestions by the end of the day. Like an all fiberglass boat it won't hold up if you hit rocks so pick your path.

[Don Maurer]

Squirt boats used to be built of fiberglass, and I believe I recall a designer at one of the larger producers of polyethylene kayaks saying that their prototype designs for test paddling were built out of cedar strip sheathed in fiberglass. Problem is, those squirt boats usually looked like c**p after a season or two of running whitewater. If you don't care about the looks, go for it. Actually, the newer designs of whitewater play boats have a flat bottom planing hull and vertical side panels. You may want to consider plywood construction for at least the bottom and sides. It might be better suited to the abuse it will receive.

[brian.cunningham]

Be careful of "oil canning" where the deck collapses. If, while the boat is under, it can get wrapped around a rock, you can get stuck. River kayaks address this by putting a lengthwise bulkhead between your legs.