Launched: SOF Kayak, with a twist.

[DGentry]

It's got a wooden frame, at least . . . .

Starting, I think, in the 1940's, Percy Blandford made available many plans for non-traditional kayaks made of marine plywood frames, and wooden stringers, covered with canvas. Skip forward to today and we have Tom Yost, doing the same thing, but with a bit more modern take on it.

The genesis of this particular boat is a boring story, but suffice it to say that it has now become my interpretation of a generic Greenland style kayak, done in a quite non-traditional way. I used Tom Yost's ideas and methods to build this boat, and you should all check out his building manual, if this interests you: http://yostwerks.com/MainMenu.html

It's 16'10", by 19" wide, around 30lbs. 1/2" marine ply frames, WR Cedar stringers, 20mil clear vinyl skin.
It's relatively stable, and tracks well, yet also turns easily. On the maiden voyage (Sunday), I took it out in 15 knot winds, with 2' chop and it handled these conditions with ease, and surfed well. There was no tendency to weathercock, at all, which is refreshing.

The main problem with it is finding the time to answer the constant barrage of questions while on shore!
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/alias1719/HPIM2077.jpg

Yes, the hull is covered in this pic - it went into the water about 10 minutes later (though I was still answering questions as I paddled away!). The deck shows up well merely because of the glare from this angle.

SOF stands for skin-on-frame, in case you were wondering.

[pipefitter]

Cool looking boat. One of those instances when you hate covering up the nice framing and there you don't have to.

[mcdenny]

Beautiful job. Reminds me of covering a model airplane with transparent monokote.

[P.I. Stazzer-Newt]

I Want One Of Those

I get the frame - how did you do the skin part?

[Spokaloo]

After paddling it, do you feel that the 1/2" ply is the correct scantling or can you go lighter?

E

[Cuyahoga Chuck]

I can't decide if it's modern or retro. Yost seem to be stuck on rather narrow baidarka-like hulls. You have to go pretty far down the list of his designs before you find one over 19.5" wide.
As delicious as that design is, if it can't pass the "relaxation" test not too may paddlers are going to find it desirable. I'd have built one of Yost's designs long ago if there had been one about 3" wider. Don't know why Yost seemed to find 19.5" such an insurmountable barrier.
Percy Blandford had the right idea. His designs had to mesh with the capabilities of his audience which were British Sea Scouts.

[Bark]

Gorgeous. I'd love to take her out for a test drive.

Ben

[JimD]

A beauty. On the narrow side so I bet she really slices through the water. How's your roll? ;)

[Pernicious Atavist]

Beauty! A couple questions:
-How tough is the skin?
-Since you've now built a "glass house," you have to keep both the in- and outside clean! How do you plan on accomplishing that?

[DGentry]

I'll try to answer some of the questions...

The hull skin is one piece - the deck another. Industrial strength pvc cement is used to join the two, and the ends. Full instructions for that are in Tom Yost's builder's manual....

I really wouldn't go lighter than 1/2" (12mm) ply for the frames. Perhaps 3/8" for some of them, but nothing near the cockpit. Even so, I think I read that some of the rear cockpit frames had broken in other, similar, boats, so I made mine of 3/4" there - plus I increased its size, at some expense to the rear interior access. Getting in and out is when the strength there is needed most, of course.

In the few other transparent kayaks out there, there is a previously discovered phenomenon - condensation! After an hour or so, it can get foggy inside. My paddling partner suggested RainX. We'll see how that works!

The skin is pretty darn tough. I can't tear scrap bits by hand, at all. It resists punctures well, too. It takes something hard and narrow, like a flathead screwdriver, and a good bit of force to go through. Something sharp goes through quite easily! I recommend not stabbing boats like this with screwdrivers, avoiding broken glass and barnacles, and not letting your cat get at them.

She is a bit narrow, but I was very comfortable, and I have little sea kayaking experience. I have (or had) a bomber combat roll, from my whitewater days, but I didn't come close to needing it. That being said, there is very little "relaxation factor" built in to her. There is some, yes, but I won't be taking any naps in it! On the other hand, it was a real blast to paddle in the chop - handled really well, went well and it's neat to see your toes and into the waves!

[P.I. Stazzer-Newt]

This (http://yostwerks.com/SeaRiderWoodFrame.html) seems to be the start page - follow the "Next page" links in the top right.

Neat Neat stuff.

[DGentry]

A Sea Sock - that's my conclusion for keeping the inside of the hull clean, too. RainX might stop the condensation, or it might not. A sea sock surely would, plus they, obviously, have other benefits . . . .

[Tom Hoffman]

DGentry, Where can that covering material be found? I am going to start on a 24' SOF Rowing Shell, pattern taken from one of Robert Morris's plans.

Just a note for any one that ever wanted to build a SOF boat, Morris's book SOF Boats is a gold mine of information.

One point. Each boat is built to suit the user, if you want it wider, you make yours wider. My SOF Shell will be wider than my wide behind. YOu do that by the tried and true techniques of the oridinal SOF boat builders, and you will learn how to do that by reading several books on the subject.

[Spokaloo]

Im definitely inspired.

Looking for more info on building the Yost boats, looks very cool.

Copied off the info, Let us know how you like the boat, how it paddles, etc.

E