Umiak-Peapod

[huisjen]

I think I'm going to try building one this winter.

http://www.rockisland.com/~kyak/Images/umiak.jpg

I think I want more tradional rails than this one, meaning more like a wood peapod, and I don't like the two wharf stabbers in place of a normal breasthook and bow (or on the stern either), but I like the shape, the weight, and the idea of being able to sail rather than just row.

I'd like to hear peoples experience with a) umiaks and b) covering materials on skin-on-frame kayaks.

Dan

[Nicholas Carey]

Originally posted by huisjen:
I think I'm going to try building [an umiak] this winter. I'd like to hear peoples experience with a) umiaks and b) covering materials on skin-on-frame kayaks.Umiaks are Big. Maybe 12-16 paddlers.

They [can] sail OK. Not terribly weatherly, though. Come down to the Center for Wooden Boats (Seattle) and you can take one for a test drive. Here's the kids now:

http://www.skinboats.com/images/image008.jpg

Up here, people like heat shrunk dacron stitched on and coated with a liquid urethane, typically colored with earth pigments (burnt sienna, umber, etc.)

You should talk to Corey Freeman at Spirit Line Kayaks (http://www.skinboats.com/). He teaches workshops on kayak and umiak building and is a veritable font of information.

Corey has built such interesting critters as "Zoomiak", a skin-on-frame bastard child of a Zodiac ridgid inflatable and an umiak, and a skin-on-frame houseboat powered by a diesel inboard.

[ 09-02-2003, 06:37 PM: Message edited by: Nicholas Carey ]

[huisjen]

Nicholas, you may notice that I've moved as far from the Emerald City as I could without changing citizenship. ;) Coming down to CWB may be less than simple.

However, I was once a Washington resident and member of the CWB. (Katey found it wierd, because everything had "CWB" on it, and those are her initials.) I've seen that boat, and it's a data point in my thinking, as is the pram they have.

I'm thinking skin on frame, but looking at the construction details in "Building Skin-On-Frame Boats" for the Providence River Boat. It has an external keel, giving it some lateral resistance under sail. The Peapod form is native to my neighborhood, so it seems somehow more appropriate. I've been looking in some of John Gardner's books for info on lines and handling.

I guess I need to get my hands on the Umiak book by Skip Snaith. The biggest thing I'm missing is figuring out the thickness' of the ribs and stringers.

Mostly I just don't want to build yet another plywood box. Two years ago I built a small skin-on-frame canoe for a friend with a cheap cotton canvas skin, coated with house paint and latex sealant. It seemed to go okay, and she says she likes it. Now I'm ready for something bigger.

Dan

[brian.cunningham]

Sweet project.

Be sure to ask over at http://www.kayakforum.com

Quite a few people building SOF kayaks over there.

[Kermit]

Since you're now a landed immigrant Mainiac, have you thought about any of Platt Montfort's GeodesicUltralight thingies? I think he's got something peapodish.

And -- a skin-on-frame diesel-inboard houseboat? What's Corey smokin' these days? :rolleyes:

[Dave Williams]

Dan,

I built one; 22ft.x 5ft. Total weight maybe around 200lbs. without gear. We have sailed and rowed her all over the coast of Wa. and B.C., campcruising. She's been a blast! Cheap and quick to build. She has a spritsail rig and leeboards and two rowing stations. Sails pretty well and rows very well. Biggest problem is keeping her bilges clean, what with all the framing and lashings. "More traditional rails" would help that problem; but that is difficult to do with the skin lashings.

Re: the wharf stabbers. You will learn to love them when hauling her up and down the beach!

I'd be glad to talk more with you if I could be of help.

Here's to kindness,
Dave

[huisjen]

Kermit, I have a copy of his "Classic 12" plans, which is sort of a whitehall thing. I do like what he does, but I'm looking for something a little more rugged. Again, it's another data point in my thinking.

I now have Skip Snaith's Umiak book on order.

Dave, you're a bad influence. :D I'm trying to keep focused on about a 15' boat, but I keep seeing camp cruiser designs (Big Jenny, for instance, in the most recent WB) that are in the low 20's. I may ask you more about your experience sometime soon though. Thanks.

Dan

[huisjen]

There, now I have time to write.

Dave, my thought on rails is to put a rabbet in them on the outboard side, then drill holes through in the rabbet. I'd wrap the skin around a bit of line, then sew it to the rail through those holes. The skin and line would be sucked down out of harms way in the rabbet. I'd probably put the rabbet about in the middle of the board, then (with skin on) half cover the rabbet with an additional small outwale piece, which is what would take the abrasion when I ran into things.

I'll make sure the ribs join at an angle to make the skin tight to the rail, so when she gets rolled for cleaning most of the debris will come out gracefully. The other cleaning option is to hose her in the upright position and use a shop-vac as a bilge pump. I once cleaned a spill in a carpeted car footwell with a shop-vac and a garden hose, and it works great. What's left behind drys quick enough.

Another details to be worked out: Platt Montfort advocates the ribs coming up just inside the outwale, and held by a spacer block between that and the inwale. "Building Skin-On-Frame Boats" mortices the rails to accept the ribs as tennons. Plan A is more rigid, but Plan B may be more durable and makes for easier sewing.

I'm curious how you deal with weight and balance under sail. How big of sail do you use? Is your luggage and camping gear enough to balast you properly for sailing? The live load must do it's part too, I imagine.

I've never dealt with lee boards either. How does tacking go with them? Do you reposition them on each tack?

Dan

[ 09-08-2003, 08:40 AM: Message edited by: huisjen ]