I am extremely happy with how the new 230 pound size LPB frame has come together. This version is 23 1/4 inches wide and 17 feet long, although just like all LPB’s it is 1 inch narrower where you actually take the stroke, and that combined with the flared hull makes it functionally equivalent to paddling a 22 inch wide kayak. Waterline length is 16 feet.
Unlike my previous approach to scaling the LPB this is an exact 1.065 proportional scale of the medium size version (a kayak I love) which is normally 22 inches wide and 16 feet long.
From the stern view, you can see the dramatically Swede form shape of this boat which is very different than any other kayak currently on the market. It’s basically the bow of a surfski glued onto an elongated version of my F1 stern. This gives superior paddling economics, but also much of the the surfing and rough water performance of my F1. It’s not designed as a true “fast kayak” but it’s quite efficient at high cruising speeds, and probably as fast as you can build a kayak that doesn’t weathercock a peep without a rudder or skeg.
I did everything I possibly could to keep the weight to a minimum. I cut 2 inches off of the length in the bow., I thinned the Gunnels 1/32 more than usual, and I reduced the scantling on the first six ribs, and the last one rib. Final frame weight is 24.6 pounds without the coaming which isn’t bad for a kayak this size.
For the framing, I decided to outfit this for our catamaran and sailing system because that way whoever I end up selling this to has those options if they want it. I used a NICE piece of Sitka spruce I’ve been saving for the bow deck ridge.
Another interesting feature is that I built up the bow and stern keel much thicker than normal which gives me up to 3/8 of an inch that I can increase the bow or the stern rocker, without rebuilding the kayak if I find that the tracking is too tight on the test paddle.
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