Royal tells of making the PakYak longer...
May 2, 2000
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--- Ralph Diaz (author of Complete Folding Kayaker
) sent me an email about "reserve bouyancy".
(Yes, Ralph actually looked at all the
photos on the PakYak site.)
He had met Jim Heter (5' 8" (1.73 mtr) and 170 lbs. (77.1 kilos)) and thought the original
PakYak design worked great for Jim, but that at 6 ft. (1.83 mtr) and 220 lbs (99.5+ kilos) - I
should use a longer PakYak to get more bouyancy. _ I thought that was
a nice way of saying -- "you look a bit cramped and can easily ship water down the back
of your seat." _ I was, I agree. _ So I am building a 14 ft. 6 inch version (4.42 meters).
That's the overall length after extending the cockpit 6" (15.25 cm) (+3" {+7.6 cm} per stringer).
Then extending the sections fore and aft of the cockpit by 1 ft. each (30.5 cm) by using
3 ft. stringers (91.5 cm).
_ I had also considered making it taller, but when I assembled it, it would
no longer fold. _ So, back to the same height, just longer.
Just click on any image to see a full-size picture.
 Look at the longer length! particularly in the section immediately in front of the cockpit. |
 From the left rear quarter. Only the ends (bow & stern) are the original 2 ft. length |
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 Look how much longer it is when folded up. This is the same laundry bag as the next foto |
 12 ft. ver. folded |
 Mod to Gunwale. note: tab inside the cockpit (for rigidity) with wingnut for speed of assembly. |
 Outside view of gunwale. |
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 I had cable problems, so ... |
 another view |
 (2) 10/32 screws through the brace, (1) through the stringer |
 Again, wingnuts for speed. |
 Compare the 14 ft version with the ---> |
 12 ft. version |
 I can stretch my legs out! My knees are below the gunwales. |
 Look how long that connector stringer is now! |
