Messing About In Boats

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April 1, 2001 Issue

April 15, 2001 Issue

April 1, 2001

Messing About In Sailing Kayaks
By Dan Swan
Here is a photo sampling of my messing about in my sailing kayak trimarans on the North Carolina coast. My double kayak is a Wilderness Systems SeaTwo sailing prototype that was never put into production. It was the interim design step leading to the Windrider concept, according to the Wilderness Systems gang. I got to know these guys when I did a college project setting up their first computer data base bill of materials in 1989. At that time they were building all fiberglass and kevlar handmade boats.
My single kayak is a Prijon Yukon Expedition. I bought the Prijon to paddle but quickly developed a feeling that I wanted to sail it when I realized that the double was a pain to haul around when I wanted to daysail solo. I spent a pretty $ for the BSD sailing system (sail rig, aka and amas) but it was worth it. I wanted to be able to paddle or sail with a quick conversion. The Prijon has the forward bulkhead modified to allow the entire sail, aka and amas to stow between my legs forward into the bow compartment. I have been able to do a total sail rigging setup while seated in the boat way offshore with a temporary paddle float rigged out to provide a bit of additional safety stability while so doing.
I have more fun sailing the single but it has limitation on payload and is somewhat slower than the double. The single carries a 32sf sail, the double has about 42sf, and I can also rig a small jib on it and still sail close-hauled.
I have had the double out in sizable surf, and the rudder and leeboard once needed extensive repairs from my failure to successfully launch through the surf. The boat did a neat ender in the sand as a wave pushed her stem down.
Some comments I have on my kayak trimaran sailing experience include: The abil-ity to reef sail really enhances upwind sailing especially in a stiff breeze; an 80/20% rudder is very efficient, 20% forward of the turning axis helping balance; large amas really are not needed.
I have gotten a wealth of information on kayak sailing from the internet where I belong to a kayak sailing mailing list. I met a guy this way who led me to building my Wharram Tiki 21 trimaran, Noha, and am now active on a Wharram builders mailing list also. One fellow on the kayak mailing list recently decided to quit pursuing kayak sailing because his boat wouldn't hit 20 knots. Okay by me, that's why Windrider offers the Rave. I prefer to sail 8-10 knots in shallow waters in which I cannot even paddle.
I might bring my kayaks to the Cedar Key meet in May and possibly later on think about bringing either Noha or the Core Sound 20 which is now taking shape in my boatshed. I also have heard of a sailing kayak cruising race from Tampa to Key Largo which should at-tract a good variety of sailing kayaks.
Next I am contemplating building an 18' twin hulled sailing kayak, the Seahawk design by Windhorse Marine. It's a small world for small boats.

Project Oriented
By Don Rodgers
I retired from teaching in June of 1998, and since then have discovered that I am hap-piest when I have a project I am working on. Late last summer found me without one and without much money to invest in one even if I had it. In time I decided to build Bolger's Payson Perogue. It would not cost a lot and would be fun to do.
This would be my third boatbuilding project. The first in 1989 was a Bolger Teal, and the second, in 1998, a PK78 designed by Mertens-Goosens. As it turned out, building the Perogue was fun and kept me engrossed for several months. The result was pretty and weighed in at 401b. That is heavier than I'd hoped for, but it weighed what it weighed and there was nothing to be done about it.
Now I had a 13' perogue/canoe, and once again, no project in the works. I did have though, a small trolling motor. In putting all of that together my little boat went into its first transformation. I built in a bulkhead, a motorwell and a battery box up forward. I used a small 12v scooter battery that weighed 251b. I ran wires back to a junction box via PVC pipe painted to match the boat. I steered, controlled speed and direction by using a tiller extension over my shoulder as I sat on a boat cushion in the boat. All of that worked pretty well even though it looked a little awkward. And, it kept me busy, happy, off the streets and out of trouble for another period of time.
Now I had a 13' perogue/canoe with an electric trolling motor in a well, and, again, no project in the works. What to do now? It bothered me that my boat wasn't an "electric boat". It was, to me, a boat with an electric motor clamped onto it. At that time I had been spending a lot of time studying Douglas Little's book, Electric Boats. I had been considering building "Sam", an electric boat Little describes the building of in his book. 1, however, wasn't ready to start all over again. I didn't want to go back to square one just yet. So, even though the boat I had just completed was smaller and not as rugged as Little's design, I decided on my boat's next transformation, that of becoming a true electric boat.
I ordered a 341b Motor Guide electric trolling motor, cut it up and mounted it permanently in the boat. The motor well was given a 1-1/2" bottom and became a motor box. I designed and installed steering linkage. I built a steering tiller, a speed control knob and a new battery box for a real deep cycle marine battery that weighs in at 531b. I built in a seat/chair with armrests. I moved all wiring from the starboard side to the port. I wanted all the controls on my left, leaving my right hand free to do whatever I wished to do. I tore off the original skeg and built a large, sweeping, weed-protecting one. It has laminations for strength and a removable end in case I ever have to drop the motor out of the boat. The main ideas for most, if not all of these modifications, came from Little's book.
This project was a lot of fun. I really enjoyed it. The boat looks good, runs well and calls for no further transformations.
Now I have a 13' electric canoe. And while I have no project in the works at the moment, I soon will have. I want an electric boat large enough for two people to camp on for a couple of days and that will have the capacity to run for 8 or so hours between charges. Today I mailed a check for $25 to Jim Michalak for a set of plans for "Electron", an 18' x 5' electric cuddy cruiser he has designed. It looks good. I'm excited. Another project right around the comer!

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