Working on a new mount for an electric kayak motor. I’ve been testing the Bixpy Jet on both the solo and catamaraned canoes. I can’t paddle as much as I’d like to due to ongoing health issues, and that’s made it important to me to explore options that might help people get out on...
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Testing a more traditional canoe seat option
Testing a more traditional seat option in one of the solo canoes. The seat itself will be removable, so it won't interfere with nesting multiple canoes together....
Back to canoes. Working on refining flotation, catamaran and seat options
Back to canoes. Working on refining flotation, catamaran and seat options before heading back into the shop for a final refinement on the overall shaping....
David’s F1 kayak build
Check out the excellent build that David has been documenting on his feed. Really solid build - it's always such a pleasure to watch students' boats coming together....
Why I use leather straps on my kayaks
I believe you should be able to carry, tow, or rescue from any deck line on a sea kayak which is why I use English bridal leather straps on all my kayaks. This stuff is ridiculously expensive but I like it because it has a little bit of stretch but is also as strong...
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You know that saying about the cobbler’s kids?
You know that saying about the cobbler’s kids never having shoes? For the first time in a very long time, I’m building *my* ideal F1. This surf-optimized F1 will be the new Cape Falcon demo boat, available for test paddles if you’re passing through Portland. I always like to see folks try out one...
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Brittany in the shop, building keyhole kayak coamings
Brittany in the shop, building keyhole kayak coamings....
It’s not every day you put a kayak on a tiny car
Snapped this photo this morning, because hey, it’s not every day you put an F1 on a tiny car. Little did we know that this would be the start of a three-hour long kayak car chase. Two F1s were scheduled to go out today. They were 99% identical. Packed this one on its way...
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Video: Oiling paddles in the summer sun
Oiling paddles in the summer sun...
Video: Rolling my West Greenland near-replica kayak
Short video rolling my West Greenland near-replica kayak. Just posted a video walk through of my West Greenland design, its history and features - check it out on the YouTube channel!...
Canoe build 2, Prototypes 6 and 7 complete
Skin-on-frame build 2, prototypes 6 and 7 complete. 11' long, 26.5" wide and 11'-8" and 28.5" wide, weighing in at 17 lbs and 19 lbs respectively. Getting closer to dialing in the measurement system to be scalable to any size....
Canoe build 2: Coated and curing
Coated and curing… there’s nothing like the ghost white of a new skin. UV rays interact with the polyurethane coating on skinboats, causing them to yellow over time, which is why I stick to warmer earth tones with my dyed boats. After a summer of paddling, these boats will be more of a cream...
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Canoe build 2: Skins and outwales on
Skins and outwales are on canoe round 2 (aka prototypes 6 and 7, but who’s counting?) Really interested to see how these paddle, and getting closer to a truly scalable rib measurement system. At least one more round of prototypes ahead, a few other variants, and then a final build to film the instructional...
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Canoe build 2: Ribbing action shot
Ribbing action shot. Stringers and keel get tied on today, then it’s oil the frames and get them out in this heat to dry. Working with adjustments on multiple variables in this iteration on frames, I already have a new list of changes to make, but it’s worth finishing out these builds to see...
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Canoe build 2: Final ribs going in canoe prototype number seven
Final ribs going in canoe prototype number seven. Shape looks good, we'll see how it actually paddles......