I need some advice how to hook up my new yak
blufftonyak
Mornin’;
…sweet ride! Where did you get that? Here’s a link to the “Southern Paddler”. This should give you some ideas of how to rig a wood yak, without drillin’ any holes. http://www.neilbank.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=4094 Have you had it out yet?
a.k.a. "X-Fishin’ "
took it out today
she is very stable no leaks caught the first trout in it
what kind of paint should I use
I need to get ideas for a seat
great website paddlin4reds’s for rigging new yak
you did a great job with building the yak
blufftonyak
Mornin’;
…I just wish the finish had come out better. Paint is “Interlux” Brightside Poly-U “White”. Try a boat supply. It’s pricey approx. $26. qt., but it’s good (even has Teflon in it). A qt., should do about 4 coats. The wood can be varnished with “Schooner” varnish. It has a UV protector and it will darken the wood over time (probable needs to be warmer to varnish it). If your a lil’ handy…here’s the seat I’d put in it. http://www.unclejohns.com/boat/seat/default.htm Since your boat was built without ribs. You might want to glue down a cross rib to set the front leg brace of that seat in. Then just make that recess cut in the leg support, match the size and shape of your rib material. Here’s a modified seat with a cushion set up. http://www.jemwatercraft.com/proddetail.php?prod=SitBacker …also note how that boat has that cross member with the rod hoders. You could build a board like that and bolt it down thru the Inner gunwales. They’re 2 inch blocks spaced approx. 2 inches apart
a.k.a. "X-Fishin’ "
THANKS
blufftonyak
I don’t know Bluff… a couple cans of krylon, a hacksaw, a drill and a lawn chair are I see it needing 
Beautiful yak man… I have never beenin a wooden yak before… looks fast though Congratz…
“Well sounds like a textbook release. I’m sure he will live to fight another day.” – Misplaced Prioity
paddlin4reds, how light is that yak? would like to learn more about building one.
projectile yakker
Mornin’;
…I never weighed it. It is 15’ 3", I’d guess >50#. But, it really isn’t a Yak, by the definition. It’s really a Decked Pirogue (minus support ribs). Don’t get me wrong, it seems nice (I never had it out, so I’m not sure how it paddles). I didn’t even know it would float, or not leak, until Bluffton cleared it up. I will be making more, with minor changes . It seems like a Redfish, trout, flounder machine. As for wood, I plan on replacing all my yaks with wood. The wood yaks are really unreal how they paddle, it’s like cruidin’ a nite spot in an ol’ street rod. The feel is unreal,(plus their easier to mod and repair…plus they weight less)
hey projectile yakker check out and register on “Southern Paddler.com”
a.k.a. "X-Fishin’ "
Looks a lot like the “6 Hour Canoe” plan with decks added. Really a pirogue. Bet it paddles sweet! I have a soft spot for wooden boats too!
J Ford
J16 cc Carolina Skiff “Hydro Therapy”
Nice boat Bluf.
The anchor trolley setup paddlin4reds sent works great. I’ve got it on my Mll Creek 13.
http://www.clcboats.com/boats/millcreek.php I built it from plans in Wooden Boat for about $100. I guess now you could still build one for less than $200.
You don’t really want the uncle john’s seat. I used to put them in my wooden yaks and they look nice, but aren’t very comfortable.
with a cheap plastic john boat seat from K Mart. nice and comfy. I’ve also used one of those fold up camping seats, not bad, but the john boat seat is more comfy for less $
BTW Mine is 38 pounds dry and carries a lot of gear.
So much water, So little time
Mornin’;
…it is a pirogue. But it’s not symetrical like most, and there are no internal support ribs. It was stitched and glued. Bulkheads added fore and aft, then decked. The hull, decks and cockpit were all fiberglassed. I’ll be making another. But, right now I’m workin’ on the 54 Chevy Pickup kayak hauler.
a.k.a. "X-Fishin’ "
Paddlin4reds
what type/ thickness of plywood?
I’ve used everything from 1/4 luan to 1/8 marine ply… depending on how long I wanted a boat to last and how much a customer was willing to pay.
I built my mill creek from 1/4 A-C ply using stich and glue. The deck is 3/16 luan. I rolled a complete coat of epoxy on it inside and out prior to paint and varnish. 10 years later and still going strong for about $100
So much water, So little time
Mornin’;
It’s hull pieces & aft deck are 1/4 Luan, Fore deck 1/8 luan. Aft deck was intended to have 1/8, but I didn’t have enough. Hard part is finding Void free sheets of plywood. I tear the Home Center shelves up lookin’, but I put it all back. Employees go nutz, “…can we help you sir?”. I’m hoping to buy a load of Okoume this Spring
a.k.a. "X-Fishin’ "
Are you happy with the Luan. I ordered a kit today and am trying to decide what type of wood to use. I don’t even know where to get marine grade around here and I am sure it is more than I want to spend. Next year I will not be on the bank for BARF:sunglasses:
Mornin’;
…most kits, come with CNC cut panels made from Okoume, or did you order plans? For a first kayak building experience (not for a Pirogue), I’d suggest paying extra for a kit. That way any problems you run into, you know it’s your technique and not a miss cut panel(s). Then for your second boat, build from plans. Luan is heavy and has voids. If you make a panel and it has a void in it, when you start to bend the panel it will normally crack or break at the void. I like Okoume (mahagony plywood), but it’s hard to find. You can order it on the net, but shipping is very high (it pays to buy alot at one tiime, the shipping doesn’t go up). Luan is fine, and lots of people have luan boats that are 10yrs old. For me it’s the process of building that’s fun, although paddlin’ a wood boat is fun too. I’ve only built boats for myself, BlufftonYak is the first person to have one of my boats. Unfortunitely it got rushed to make the BARF tournament.I actually did a coat of epoxy on the decks and cockpit, then suspended the boat from the ceiling and painted the hull. I pulled that trick off, two days in a row.
a.k.a. "X-Fishin’ "
Thanks for the info. I got the Uncle John’s kit, comes with plans stems and ribs. The luan I have looked at looks great on one side but has “patching” and knots on the other. Lowes has Oak and Birch that look better on the back side but not perfect. I have not read where anybody has used either of those. To be honest the best looking plywood I found was pine but was a true 1/4" and seemed really heavy, all the others I looked at were 5.?mm and light. I will keep looking, thanks again for the info.
Brian
sheetsrep
I’ve used true 1/4 pine on a few boats and yes it’s heavy. It is VERY durable though. I did a lapstrake canoe for a guy 15years ago and he’s still using that old boat
I’f you’re not carrying long distances a 50# boat isn’t bad.
I’f you’re painting it, then use whatever you like. The luan makes a great looking deck.
I even sheathed an old runabout with luan several years ago
The little girl is 14 now and the boat still looks good
So much water, So little time
Thanks TB. What do you think about using Birch ply if I glass the whole outside and the inside seems and bottom? I looked at wood today and found some nice Birch.
It would work fine. Similar weight to pine, looks nice and usually no voids. If you can find thin birch with 5 or 7 pies, it’s awesome.
tape the seams inside and out. If you have extra epoxy roll a coat on the whole hull w/ a foam roller, then sand and paint
So much water, So little time