Subject: RE: baidarka Inuit boat plans - any firsthand experience?
From: Peter A. Chopelas (pac@premier1.net)
Date: Sat May 06 2000 - 00:13:57 EDT
Wayne wrote:
Peter, you live near a number of places where you can try out a variety of
commercial boats. Why not try as many as you can yourself, and then compare
their designs to various Inuit designs and decide from there what you might
like? You can go to Northwest Outdoor Center in Seatle and paddle a
smorgasboard of boats for something like $10 half day (7-8 years ago). then
you can go upstairs and try out some of the designs at Mariner. Closer to
home you have Eddyline. Once you've paddled a variety of designs you'll
have a much better idea whats good for YOU.
Actually Wayne I have already done all of that already (almost exactly as
you listed it there) I have also had extensive conversations (and emails)
with other builders and with George Dyson and the Mariner "brothers" about
design, I find the information gathering an interesting and entertaining
way to meet people with common interests. This information gathering also
helps me formulate my own ideas and opinions, and as I stated before, will
allow me to narrow down what I build so I only have to do it once. Though
I do not expect a "perfect" design (my view of that will probably change
with more experience), I just want one "good enough" to enjoy using for
years to come. I just want to learn about as many opinions as I can gather
before I get started.
And just this last Thursday evening I got to try a native single and a
double that Jim Mitchell built, along with a number of factory kayaks at a
practice put on by the North Sound Sea Kayaker Assoc. (NSSKA) on a lake in
Everett. I have now paddled six very different designs within the last
month, both native and "modern" factory designs, mostly one right after the
other.
For what it is worth I'll describe my experiences with Jim's boats:
The single he calls "Raven" is (I think) 21.5 inches wide and 16 feet 4
inches long, weighing only about 30 LBS (Jim can correct me if this is
inaccurate). It was patterned after a native baidarka in a museum in AK,
and is similar to the design in Wolfgang's book, except it has a one piece
keelson and 'tight" lashings. It is made with a red cedar frame stringers,
gunwales and deck beams and white cedar frames, nylon skin and two part
poly sealant. The hull is almost semi circular in cross section with the
typical Aleut bifurcated bow and truncated stern. Despite sitting almost
directly on the keelson (comfortable with only a thin foam pad) the hull
was very tippy. Like trying to balance a bicycle without moving forward.
Some forward speed helped the balance though it was not a very relaxing
kayak to just float around in. It felt real "slippery" compared to almost
all the factory boats, gaining speed quickly with just a few strokes (with
a native paddle of course). This was also helped by the light weight. I
thought it tracked well and was easy to maneuver, but would take getting
used to before I would be fully comfortable in it. Not the type of kayak I
would recommend for a beginner, nor for casual recreational paddlers. This
boat was more unstable than all of the factory boats I've tried, even the
ones with a reputation for being unstable including a white water kayak.
But it was also a lot faster and lighter than any of the factory boats I've
tried. I needed help getting in and the small hatch made getting out
awkward in such a tipy boat, though I managed to stay dry. It was tested in
a lake with a little chop and light wind and rain. A good design for a
serious enthusiast only.
The double Jim named "Chinook" is 30 inches wide and 20 feet long, though I
did not ask about the weight it felt about 45 to 55 LBS. Construction and
general layout is similar to "Raven" except the size and it had the forward
and rear hatches just about as far apart as possible and still maintain a
smooth "Swede form" shape. It also has a smaller "cargo" hatch between the
two cock pits just behind the forward hatch. The separation of the two
cock pits keeps you from having to synchronize paddles and you can easily
avoid splashing and whacking each other. It also allowed the rear paddler
to see ahead better (in fact much better than any of the factory doubles
I've examined), this is especially helpful for docking or manuvering into a
beach landing. Jim says it rides bow heavy with two adults the same size,
it is better with the person in front weighing 80 to 100 less then the one
in the rear. I paddled from the rear with my ten year old daughter
paddling in front and my seven year old daughter just riding in the cargo
hatch (which was just fine with her). Combined they weigh about 100 lbs.
and I weigh about 200 so it balanced out nicely and the narrow bow allowed
my daughter to noticeably contribute to the paddling effort. The
separation was very nice since a smaller paddler would almost certainly
feel more comfortable with a different paddling cadence than a much larger
one, this is especially noticeable with a ten year old paddling in front!
Unlike Raven, Chinook was very stable and relaxing to paddle or just float
around in, it was remarkably easy to maneuver, even in tight quarters. The
stability felt about the same as sitting (up high) in a typical aluminum
canoe, of course in Chinook however you sit almost on the keelson with only
a thin foam pad. It did not track as well as I would have thought for a
boat this long, though it was easy to correct if it drifted off coarse.
The light chop on the lake and the cross winds were not even noticeable
and other boat wakes were just noticeable but not a bother. It is very
roomy with lots of cargo capacity, and room to stretch your legs! It felt
similar in control and stability to a typical factory single, which seamed
strange riding in back, seeing all that beam and length in front of you.
With two adults paddling you could probably maintain a good speed, the
boat just glided though the water. This would be a nice design for my wife
and I to paddle (she weighs about 115 LBS, I do not think she would mind me
saying that) both for day trips and on extended overnighters. And I think
it is probably stable enough for all ability levels, except perhaps very
uncoordinated individuals (who probably should not be in a kayak at all), a
beginner may take an hour or so to feel comfortable is all. both my
daughters enjoyed the boat, their first time in a kayak (though they have
been in canoes and other small boats), feeling comfortable after only about
15 to 20 minutes.
Now is that so hard for the rest of you? I think there is a lot useful
information in there for anyone considering building one of these, despite
them not knowing what kind of paddler I am (I have lots of experience with
canoes and other small water craft, but limited experience with kayaks).
And Wolfgang wrote:
Nobody will stop you from paddling a double boat solo,
but why do it? It's not that hard to knock out a
single after you've built a double.
I probably will build a single, a fast fun one, after I'm done with this
one. I just did not want to end up with a big cumbersome double kayak
nobody wants to use after my kids are a little older and my wife has her
own. I think a fairly light and maneuverable double would make a great
cargo hauler for extended trips, even with a single paddler. (Jim says
Chinook works fine with only a rear paddler, despite the aft location of
the hatch, as long as you balance out the boat with cargo in front). It
also gives you a good way to take friends out who are unsure about being in
a kayak.
Peter
Arlington, WA
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