West Greenland Kayak Build Time Lapse 5: End plates, aft deck stringers, and Masik. Total build time so far, about 24 hours.
The stems are joined to the gunwales with thin wooden plates that get recessed into the wood. I used to make these from ash but I’ve been really enjoying working with cherry lately.
The short stringers on deck just behind the cockpit weren’t universal on Greenland kayaks, but they were common on this type so I add them.
I always wait to install the wide deck beam at the front of the cockpit (called a Masik) because it needs to fit tightly across the paddlers thighs but not so tightly that it presents a safety hazard. The only way I’ve ever found to get that exactly right is to fit it to the individual with the frame complete.
I made the masik out of beech this time simply because it was the only piece of wood I had around that was the right size. I thinned it as much as I dared to keep the weight down.
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