The lifting and groaning of heavy polypro is getting to me. What about composites?

I'm still workin on a carbon mfg to comeup with something light weight. Big $$. But what alternatives are there?

You can get very light weight srip build canoes/yaks out of wood. Build for you as pricy as Little Wing , mid $4K.

But a stitch and glue JEM is designing for me may shave a few pounds off poly, and should be relatively inexpensive.

But a real light weight alternative would be skin on frame. Probably under 30 lbs.

Most everything I can find on the web SOF design is eskimo oriented.

Has anyone seen a skin on frame design in a SOT configuration? I suspect if there is one there would be some internal decking of plywood or fibered over foam.

Another alternative would be a strip canoe whose hull is ocean oriented, then use a skin frame top to keep out waves. Sort of a take off on an OC-6 design with skirts.

So maybe a composite that includes SOF, stitch & glue, strip construction? Was kind of thinking about the old foldboat I built over 35 years ago.

Dan,
I got a newsletter from Chesapeake light Craft in fall of 2006 showing that they now have a SOT made with 1/4 plywood stitch and glue, designed by Nick Schade. It's called the Sea Island Sport. It's 15'6" and is 27" wide and has scupper hole drainage. I'm guessing since it has scupper hole cockpit drainage that a mirage well penetration would be a possible modification. It's 48 pounds and is faster than most SOTs. 16 pounds lighter than an Adventure.

Sea island sport photos The kit is $999.

Their other hardwood marine plywood hulls have the option of a hybrid deck made from cedar strip construction.

I'm not sure how you'd put a Mirage well in a skin on frame, though I'm sure it's possible.

In the future as a replacement for carbon fiber, we may be able to use spider silk, mass produced from the milk of genetically modified goats. They are planning to spin the silk which is 5 times stronger than steel into fabrics which can make flak jackets and bullet proof vests. Spider silk spun into fabric and here on CBS news story today fibers to replace petroleum based fibers

This message has been edited. Last edited by: dduffe,

I guess you want something lighter and cheaper than a Hurricane, right?

NC

The Phoenix 140 is listed at 52 lbs.

I'm suggesting a weight around 30 at the highest 35 with my "composite" idea.

DDuffe

I believe someone has converted one of the Chesapeake craft to a Mirage Drive. The pics on the net somewhere. JEM's design for me will have it, and will be in that weight class.

Keep an eye on Native Watercraft, they've got something in the works, no more dtails at this point, but it will be light and not fiberglass.

Want something light?

http://www.zeiners.com/4fishingnews/050316cayak.html

Actually Luna the thing may be OK for ocean use. You could probably fit it witha SOF cover and keep the weight down.

Are they still in business? The web site domain is for sale.

Did you try to Google Compass Cayak?

My Wave Witch Horizon came in at 28 lbs.

I think I will have to give up on skin on frame in my environment. See posts for Nov 3 & 6th.

http://kfs.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/7066039021/m/3...051081354#4051081354

quote:

Originally posted by AlohaDan:
The lifting and groaning of heavy polypro is getting to me. What about composites?

I'm still workin on a carbon mfg to comeup with something light weight. Big $$. But what alternatives are there?

A great alternative to Carbon is 6871 S-Glass. Its woven cloth, not the chopped strand mat that everyone automatically thinks of when they hear the word fiberglass. Its IS aerospace strength fiberglass. Its used in the wing structures of various comercial and military jets. The price is around $14/yard, as compared to carbon which is in the $45/yard range.

There really is no reason to use carbon over s-glass in a fishing kayak. The strength, weight, potential to crack are all so close they are non-factors.