THE "STAR" BABY KAYAK

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 220, 17 September 1938, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE "STAR" BABY KAYAK

By PROPELLER COO

T think that the time is now ripe for giving you tin* detail* of the "Star" baby kavrik. Tlie-e details were printed about eighteen months ago in tile "N.X. Junior." and the response was so great that, after talking the matter over with I'eler I'm. we derided that it would be a good thing to place it again in the hands of those amateur builders who are looking for a really safe and speedy boat or canoe. The name kayak is, of course, taken from the Eskimo craft, on which the design is chiefly based, and, if for one reason alone, I think that you will agree that the design is vastly superior to the ordinary canoe; it has little freeboard, and thus is not caught in the wind anil made unmanageable. I know what I am talking about itt this matter, for I remember the first canoe

to fake it out and tip it over. Well, it will tip over, but only just. You have to try very hard indeed to succeed. And fast-well, it just walks past the ordinary canoes. Now before you decide to make the kayak, think over one or two items. Is it big enough for you? If not it can easily bo adapted by enlarging all sizes by one-third. Would you like it more easily transportable—especially the outsize one if you build it. It can easily be cut in three portions and made to join up. You can fish out of the kayak easily, Rnd if you have never hooked on to a decent kingfisii with a rod from a kayak your education ha« been neglected. Wellthere it is. I will go on. with the construction details and leave the rest to you.

See that all tlio frames arc properly notched for the keelson. gunwales and chines. and proceed to fit the frames to tlie keelson. If you temporarily clump mi the gunwales at this stage it will help you to get the frames all properly spaced and fitted neatly. Make sure they are truly upright. The chines and gunwale can now be securely glued and screwed in place. The fitting of the chine« is a little awkward as they get some odd angles, but a little perseverance will bring them into place O.K. Be sure and drill the wood of the gunwales and chines where they fit to the stem and stern pieces or the screws will split

X made, with Its graceful lines and high ends, with their y-ery pretty-looking curves, it was a thing of beauty, was light, fast and strong, but ohl will I ever forget that first off-shore trip? Two of us (a<lults), and used to boats, took it out from Cornwallis with a gentle off-shore breeze blowing. We reached about the point where the shelter of the bay ceased, and decided to turn for home. Well, the wind had freshened somewhat, with my mate in the bow and myself in the stern, we paddled and paddled and backwatered and did everything possible to get that darn canoe round with its nose to home, but only kept gently sailing out to sea. In the end we rested from our labours and held a committee meeting on the spot, and decided that, as we couldn't get the end round, we had better paddle it backwards. So this we decided to do, and our re-entry to the bay was greeted with such kindly remarks as "Do you always "coine in this way?" And, "What's the idea, of coming in backwards"? We met these remarks with dignified silence, but thev stung all the same, and I mentalH resolved that the next boat, would be one that would overcome such difficulties. Well, I made the "Star'' baby kftyak some time later for my kiddies, and what a success it proved to be! It has no vices, is easy to paddle and to transport. Now, there is one little catch. jMj friends all seem to lie six-footers, and admittedly the kayak is ju<*t a trifle small for this size of person. The knees appear to stick out like a pair of wings. But in the two seasons 1 have had this boat down at beaches, one and all have praised it, and believe me it has had some rough treatment. The boya like

Building the "Star" Baby Kayak. The framework, as will be seen in Fig. 2 (next week) is built on a set of formers, which are perhaps the most important part of the kayak, ais on the accuracy of their marking and cutting depends in a great measure the resultant look and performance of the boat. So the first step is to draw out the formers (See Fig. 1) or frames as they are called in the diagram, full size on reas onably heavy paper that will stand a bit of knocking about. The material I would suggest is kahikatea (New Zealand white pine), this being light and strong and easily worked. The kayak may oe symmetrical in shape, the frames A and 11, B and G, C and F and D and E are the seme size and shape, so you will only need to make the four patterns on your drawing paper. Here is a tip. Fold the paper in half. Draw one !:nlf of each pattern only with the fold in the paper forming the vertical centre line. Mark through by pricking <ind then when the paper is opened out you have the frames absolutely svmmettrical —no bulges more on-one side the other. Note that the bottom cross piece of each frame is lap jointed, whilst the top cross piece i« butt-jointed. This is clearly shown in the skeleton sketch of the kavak. All frames are of Jin thick white pine, and are glued and nniled. Copper nails are the best, of course, as they do not rust, but ordinary nails can be used if the cost is a factor. Xow make the stem and stern posts, being cilt from pine 2iin wide by lin thick, arid bevelled at bow and stern to }in. Secure these to the keelson by glueing and screwing, being strengthened by the triangular knee piece*.

Wonderful Little Boat For New Zealand Conditions

tlio wood. nml yoti <1 <> ti"f want 1 >ji<l joint* here. In fuel in must i-im-cs it is beet to drill a r-mall leading hole for the screws. I'lane the keelson and chines so that they will lie flush with tile frames. Thiti U worth while as it will make the plywood covering go on much more easily later on. Xow at this stage it i<s best to get out the paint pot and give the whole of the framework, inside and out and not missing one little bit, a good coat of red lead. The inside will later be painted to your fancy—but that is later on. (Concluded next week.)