Good for you SG.
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Happy 1st Sighting of Pacific Ocean by Lewis & Clark (1805)! 🧭
J Winters "Kite" build
- Thread starter stripperguy
- Start date
I know you were shooting for lighter, but even so, 31 lbs is pretty impressive in my book.
Congrats on the maiden voyage! Thanks for sharing your build with us!
G
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Beautiful build Stripperguy. The final shiny coat will make it look outrageously good.
Thanks to all for the accolades, suggestions and viewings.
I'm glad some of you were entertained, happy that some were educated, and even more pleased that some were inspired.
I try to expose the strip building "mystique" for what it is, nothing more than a series of small steps. All you need is the desire, a plan and some commitment.
Same steps to build a house, build a business, get your PhD, or any other seemingly daunting goal.
Back to the canoe in the spotlight, I too am pleased with the aesthetics and am anxious to see it in all its soon to be sparkling glory. Even more impressive than the looks is the performance, which is really all I care about. So far, this hull looks to do all that I hoped it would and more. I think it will be ideally suited for about 95% of my paddling.
I'm leaving the country for a week or so, but after I return, I'll get that clear coat on and post the photos.
Thanks again to all that followed along!!
Mike T.
I'm glad some of you were entertained, happy that some were educated, and even more pleased that some were inspired.
I try to expose the strip building "mystique" for what it is, nothing more than a series of small steps. All you need is the desire, a plan and some commitment.
Same steps to build a house, build a business, get your PhD, or any other seemingly daunting goal.
Back to the canoe in the spotlight, I too am pleased with the aesthetics and am anxious to see it in all its soon to be sparkling glory. Even more impressive than the looks is the performance, which is really all I care about. So far, this hull looks to do all that I hoped it would and more. I think it will be ideally suited for about 95% of my paddling.
I'm leaving the country for a week or so, but after I return, I'll get that clear coat on and post the photos.
Thanks again to all that followed along!!
Mike T.
Well, I just had a chance to get back to the Kite build. Last month or so has been total chaos. But, I can squeak in a few hours here and there...
After close inspection, I realized that my brilliantly crafted CF over foam gunnels aren't all that. It's pretty clear that the gunnels probably won't survive long term use.
So I decided to add a layer of glass tape, in the areas where the gunnels will be bouncing around on a roof rack. Here's a couple photos from tonight's efforts.
This photo shows one gunnel that I wet out yesterday, and the other gunnel with the glass tape draped and ready for resin.
Here is a close up of yesterdays already wet out gunnel. I'll have to put a covering coat or two to hide that weave.
But you can see how the CF perks up when coated with resin. That's how all of the gunnels will respond when I (eventually) spray on the clear coat.
And I had some leftover resin, so I slathered the thwart to gunnel joints
And that's it, until I can steal some more time to finish the seat frame and do the clear coat.
After close inspection, I realized that my brilliantly crafted CF over foam gunnels aren't all that. It's pretty clear that the gunnels probably won't survive long term use.
So I decided to add a layer of glass tape, in the areas where the gunnels will be bouncing around on a roof rack. Here's a couple photos from tonight's efforts.
This photo shows one gunnel that I wet out yesterday, and the other gunnel with the glass tape draped and ready for resin.
Here is a close up of yesterdays already wet out gunnel. I'll have to put a covering coat or two to hide that weave.
But you can see how the CF perks up when coated with resin. That's how all of the gunnels will respond when I (eventually) spray on the clear coat.
And I had some leftover resin, so I slathered the thwart to gunnel joints
And that's it, until I can steal some more time to finish the seat frame and do the clear coat.
"It's pretty clear that the gunnels probably won't survive long term use.
So I decided to add a layer of glass tape, in the areas where the gunnels will be bouncing around on a roof rack."
It is a good thing there are no "I told you so" types around here. I am strapping my canoe without thwarts, but with CF gunnels, 2 layers + kevlar + glass to an Otter tomorrow and I won't be concerned. Off to lake trout land in WCPP. Pretty pumped about that. Flying in and paddling out. It has been a grind of a year so I thought I deserved the fly-in.
Gorgeous canoe. Great to hear that it is a keeper!
So I decided to add a layer of glass tape, in the areas where the gunnels will be bouncing around on a roof rack."
It is a good thing there are no "I told you so" types around here. I am strapping my canoe without thwarts, but with CF gunnels, 2 layers + kevlar + glass to an Otter tomorrow and I won't be concerned. Off to lake trout land in WCPP. Pretty pumped about that. Flying in and paddling out. It has been a grind of a year so I thought I deserved the fly-in.
Gorgeous canoe. Great to hear that it is a keeper!
Testing.... Some things about this new format do not work well at all....
Believe me, your posts were ringing in my ears and in the back of my mind for a while. And the untimely response from Charlie only added to my trepidation.
Although, I had only a drip or two to clean up!!
I am appreciative for the real world feedback. I don't have the time to test everything before I commit.
I would say, that's the greatest part of the internet (in general) and this forum (specifically). We can all benefit from the pooled knowledge and experience, while avoiding the pitfalls and cesspools of ignorance.
Thanks again to all that followed, and those that gave me insight and direction. It all is a great benefit.
I think it's great you're documenting this and showing that it's not so tough after all. I built a Kite a few years ago (my first stripper) and was pleasantly surprised to find out how quick and easy it was.
I love that you tried the foam and carbon gunwales. I'll probably be doing another stripper this winter and was wondering about trying that. Good to see someone who has tried it and was honest about the results.
Also nice to see someone who looks at a stripper as more functional than traditional. I wanted to hold my weight down too and although I used the traditional 1/4" strips and 6oz. glass I went with 2 piece Bell aluminum gunwales and built a lightweight, narrow, sliding pedestal that allows for sitting or kneeling. I came in just a little over 40 pounds.
I also see you mentioned you've built a woodstrip DY Special and got the plans from David himself. I've often wondered about doing this same thing but wondered how cooperative most designers would be and how much work/interpretation the plans need build the forms. I don't know if I have the know how yet to just take a spreadsheet full of numbers and turn them into proper forms.
Looking forward to spending some more time on this site. Just found it recently.
Alan
I love that you tried the foam and carbon gunwales. I'll probably be doing another stripper this winter and was wondering about trying that. Good to see someone who has tried it and was honest about the results.
Also nice to see someone who looks at a stripper as more functional than traditional. I wanted to hold my weight down too and although I used the traditional 1/4" strips and 6oz. glass I went with 2 piece Bell aluminum gunwales and built a lightweight, narrow, sliding pedestal that allows for sitting or kneeling. I came in just a little over 40 pounds.
I also see you mentioned you've built a woodstrip DY Special and got the plans from David himself. I've often wondered about doing this same thing but wondered how cooperative most designers would be and how much work/interpretation the plans need build the forms. I don't know if I have the know how yet to just take a spreadsheet full of numbers and turn them into proper forms.
Looking forward to spending some more time on this site. Just found it recently.
Alan
Alan,
I was disappointed when I weighed my Kite, I was shooting for around 25 lbs, I should have cut my strips to 5/32 instead of 3/16...
I contacted DY directly after he responded to my inquiries through Bell Canoe. He was extremely cooperative, but said that he couldn't sell the plans (a legal SNAFU), but he could give me the plans. He even custom altered the gunnels for me, said it would be easier to build that way. We chatted a few times on the phone, it was fascinating to hear the stories behind the designs. He sent me a set of hand drawn profiles, it was very cool.
I have built many canoes, some from a table of offsets...with modern CAD and 3D software, it's almost too easy.
Let's hear about your Kite. Any photos? Still paddling it? Was that the only boat you've built?
I was disappointed when I weighed my Kite, I was shooting for around 25 lbs, I should have cut my strips to 5/32 instead of 3/16...
I contacted DY directly after he responded to my inquiries through Bell Canoe. He was extremely cooperative, but said that he couldn't sell the plans (a legal SNAFU), but he could give me the plans. He even custom altered the gunnels for me, said it would be easier to build that way. We chatted a few times on the phone, it was fascinating to hear the stories behind the designs. He sent me a set of hand drawn profiles, it was very cool.
I have built many canoes, some from a table of offsets...with modern CAD and 3D software, it's almost too easy.
Let's hear about your Kite. Any photos? Still paddling it? Was that the only boat you've built?
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I've got a few pictures of it on my Flickr page: https://www.flickr.com/photos/7935459@N05/sets/72157631325506854/
I got the whole thing stripped and fiberglassed in pretty short order, got pulled away, and didn't get back to it for about a year until I finally installed the gunwales and seat. I'd never done any fine woodworking before and was afraid I wouldn't have the skills/patience for it. But it wasn't near as bad as I thought. There are a couple boo-boos but I guess that's to be expected for a first time and it's likely no one else would notice them. One is that I only installed a single strip before the start of the knuckle so there was only 3/4" to attach the gunwales too. I was a little worried about that but they fit fine.
The Bell gunwales, for those who aren't familiar, are two pieces (inwale and outwale) but are made for composite boats that aren't very thick. I had to put a metal cutting blade in my table saw and trim a little off the inwale to get them to fit nicely. It was kind of a pain in the butt and not real fun but in the end it worked out fine. Saved a good amount of weight, is maintenance free, and I can use the same portage yoke as on my Magic.
It's a nice boat but I rarely paddle it. Not much need for maneuverability around these parts and I like to paddle hard and fast, usually upstream and then back on the river; tough to do in the Kite. If I remember right with the GPS I could keep it around 4mph with a Canadian stroke (3 1/2 was more comfortable) but to go faster than that I had to hit and switch....not too fun when you have to switch every couple strokes and even then it topped out around 5mph.
So I get it out a couple times per year and just paddle it downstream. Been seriously considering selling it the past few weeks. I don't like seeing boats sit around unused.
That's my only stripper to date but I'm hoping to build another one, or two, this winter. Leaning towards a Barracuda.
Alan
I got the whole thing stripped and fiberglassed in pretty short order, got pulled away, and didn't get back to it for about a year until I finally installed the gunwales and seat. I'd never done any fine woodworking before and was afraid I wouldn't have the skills/patience for it. But it wasn't near as bad as I thought. There are a couple boo-boos but I guess that's to be expected for a first time and it's likely no one else would notice them. One is that I only installed a single strip before the start of the knuckle so there was only 3/4" to attach the gunwales too. I was a little worried about that but they fit fine.
The Bell gunwales, for those who aren't familiar, are two pieces (inwale and outwale) but are made for composite boats that aren't very thick. I had to put a metal cutting blade in my table saw and trim a little off the inwale to get them to fit nicely. It was kind of a pain in the butt and not real fun but in the end it worked out fine. Saved a good amount of weight, is maintenance free, and I can use the same portage yoke as on my Magic.
It's a nice boat but I rarely paddle it. Not much need for maneuverability around these parts and I like to paddle hard and fast, usually upstream and then back on the river; tough to do in the Kite. If I remember right with the GPS I could keep it around 4mph with a Canadian stroke (3 1/2 was more comfortable) but to go faster than that I had to hit and switch....not too fun when you have to switch every couple strokes and even then it topped out around 5mph.
So I get it out a couple times per year and just paddle it downstream. Been seriously considering selling it the past few weeks. I don't like seeing boats sit around unused.
That's my only stripper to date but I'm hoping to build another one, or two, this winter. Leaning towards a Barracuda.
Alan
Alan, was it you on myccr who was asking about the Barracuda? I built one quite a few years ago.
The internet sure has this a small world indeed!! I remember stumbling upon your Kite photos when I was deciding to build the Kite. Nice job, BTW, especially since that was your first stripper.
I see that you're in Iowa...what river(s) are nearby?
And mem, how did you like that Barracuda??
I see that you're in Iowa...what river(s) are nearby?
And mem, how did you like that Barracuda??
Yes, that was me asking about the Barracuda on myccr a while back. I've since heard a rumour that Northwest Canoe in St. Paul has one and if that's true I should be able to arrange a test paddle, which would be great. Just need to get up there on a weekday sometime.
What do you think of yours? It will sound funny but I'm really curious to see how my dog fits in it (30 pounds). She loves being in the canoe and when I catch the paddling bug I feel bad leaving her stuck in the house after work, so she nearly always comes along. A little tippiness doesn't bother me but I'm curious how it compares to other boats you've paddled. I've had my dog out in my former proboat (V1) and that was a bit dicey in the chop since she switched sides every time the bow paddler did so she didn't have a paddle in her face. Never tried her in a J boat, both because I don't think there was room and I had a difficult enough time keeping that dang think hollow side up with just me in it.
I live in NW Iowa (Estherville) and we're fortunate enough to have the Des Moines river flowing through town. Not much of a river in terms of volume this far up but it's pretty enough and makes for a nice paddle until summer when levels get too low.
Alan
What do you think of yours? It will sound funny but I'm really curious to see how my dog fits in it (30 pounds). She loves being in the canoe and when I catch the paddling bug I feel bad leaving her stuck in the house after work, so she nearly always comes along. A little tippiness doesn't bother me but I'm curious how it compares to other boats you've paddled. I've had my dog out in my former proboat (V1) and that was a bit dicey in the chop since she switched sides every time the bow paddler did so she didn't have a paddle in her face. Never tried her in a J boat, both because I don't think there was room and I had a difficult enough time keeping that dang think hollow side up with just me in it.
I live in NW Iowa (Estherville) and we're fortunate enough to have the Des Moines river flowing through town. Not much of a river in terms of volume this far up but it's pretty enough and makes for a nice paddle until summer when levels get too low.
Alan
I originally thought I would use the barracuda for a fast tripper. Got rid of that idea pretty fast. Not sure about your dog, if you can try one first, I would reccomend it. I ended up lowering the seat really far down, and I eventually gave it away to a friend who has a double blade. She sits on the bottom to paddle it. It should be a good hit and switch boat. Think I found a pic, I'll see if I can scan it at lunch time.
I'd love to see a pic. Anything interesting in the building process? Pretty straight forward?
No plans to do any tripping in mine but while I don't really race anymore I do like getting out for workout paddles and a faster boat makes it more enjoyable. The dog fitting wouldn't be a necessity but it would be nice. I normally paddle my Bell Magic, which I love, but it could be a little quicker for workouts. Can you make any comparisons, stability wise, to hulls like the Advantage or Sawyer Shockwave?
Alan
No plans to do any tripping in mine but while I don't really race anymore I do like getting out for workout paddles and a faster boat makes it more enjoyable. The dog fitting wouldn't be a necessity but it would be nice. I normally paddle my Bell Magic, which I love, but it could be a little quicker for workouts. Can you make any comparisons, stability wise, to hulls like the Advantage or Sawyer Shockwave?
Alan
Dang, getting a nine day trip for 20 people off the ground for Monday, forgot all about those pics, I'll try to remember tomorrow. Strangely enough, although I live in the middle of a canoe paradise, very few people canoe, and I'm sure I have the only dedicated solo hulls in the area. My exposure to solo hulls is limited to the ones I have built. Reason I didn't like the barracuda was because it tracked so hard, I like something that will turn. My favourite solo out of the three winters solo designs I have built is the Raven, so that will tell you where my preferences are.
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