Dean,

I'm new to this S&G thing and how well lauan will hold up without glass. I had intended to at least glass the hull in the cockpit area. I'm open to any recommendations from the group. This is primarily a fun "build a boat on the cheap" project, so I'll do whatever seems best. I don't particularly want to overbuild it, but I won't hesitate to put down some extra glass if it seems appropriate and/or I get a lot of suggestions that direction.

Yes, I'll most likely put a finger divot or two around the hatch opening to lift the cover.

Nice offer on the plots. I hope you don't get swamped.

Ross

: Ross,

: Thanks, this is one I'll be watching -- I'd like to build it to compare with
: my Outer Island. Both have the same overall dimensions (18'x21.5")
: but they differ considerably in hull shape. I'm also thinking it would be
: a good boat to try for reducing weight with 3mm okoume and 2 layers of
: 3.2-oz. cloth. I was thinking of flush-mounting 2 VCP hatches as Bobby
: did, but with 2 oval ones like the Valley Avocet has. Of course this will
: add back some of the weight I'd be trying to reduce...

: I'm also curious to see how heavy it ends up being, with the 5mm lauan and
: 7.5-oz. cloth. Are you planning on just taping the inside seams as the
: instructions call for? My Tern has an inner layer of 6-oz. cloth that
: covers the lower hull panels and about 1" up the side panels to
: reinforce the chines.

: Also, do you plan on having a scoop in the flat deck to lift the hatches?

: TO ANYONE ELSE SERIOUSLY INTERESTED IN BUILDING THIS KAYAK: I have plotted
: all the corrected points and drawn smooth curves in CAD at work, although
: I haven't yet plotted them full-size. I just started a 1/8 scale of this
: kayak out of poster board. If there are A FEW people who are seriously
: considering building this boat and would be interested in full-sized
: gratis plots, please e-mail me directly. I don't want to push my luck at
: work, but I should be able to make a few plots off our 36"-roll laser
: printer. If this happens be illegal, please let me know; I ass-u-me that
: it's O.K. since the plans were printed in the magazine...

: Dean