Looking for details on “Reg Lake” style skeg mechanism

Submitted byShawn onWed, 05/13/2020 - 20:14
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Kayak Building

If any have attempted this style of skeg/skeel do you  have any details or images of your skeg box/router jigs/skeg blade design? (maybe John A.?)

What clearance did you leave for the skeg in the skeg box?

I’m building my skeg blade (pie wedge) out of a polystyrene core wrapped in carbon fibre and glass, with thickened epoxy along the edges and bearing points. When the skeg blade is completed I will wrap in shimming material and build a fibreglass skeg box around it.

the skeg box will be mounted/installed similar to the demonstration by Etienne Muller in his “skeg project” but I like the idea of the supported cable in the Reg Lake design.

I’m just trying to figure out the last bits of the blade and am looking for any suggestions.

thanks.

JohnAbercrombie

Wed, 05/13/2020 - 21:21

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Reg Lake was very helpful with the skeg when I built mine. I actually bought a skeg from Reg and then kept that one for my 'spares' and built a copy for the boat.

I used a solid plastic for the skeg blade.

I think you will have problems making the channel in the side of the skeg if you use foam core.

Here are a few pics I found with a quick look in my files here.  I used a router/drill press jig with the pivot at the axle point, and used the jig to shape the parts.  Fire away with questions!

skeg

 

skeg

 

skeg

skeg template I started by making a template for the skeg blade

resaw foamResaw 1" extruded polystyrene to 2 pieces just over 1/4" thick and 1 piece just over 3/8"

sanding jig 1 sanding jig 2 I used a jig to sand to consistent thickness and taper the back edge.

glassed both sides channels cut I glassed both sides of the foam to provide structure before cutting, then used a forstner bits in a drill press, and a router jig to cut away some of the foam. I left the glass intact on 1 side.

filled  Filled with tinted epoxy with cabosil and mini fibres, left is after trimming and sanding.

wrapped  milled  wrapped in carbon fibre, and 4oz glass, then drilled and milled using the original pattern for reference. I used the same router jig as used to originally cut the foam. The 3/8" thick piece of foam mentioned previously was used to make the skeg box (incomplete, shown in last image).

I still need to install the cable guide in the skeg box. I will be using Parker Synflex airbrake tubing covered with a carbon fibre sleeve epoxied in place (just like J.A. did?)