: Hey, I was wondering if anyone could help me out. I need to make a boat for a
: recycled boat race. I'm thinking a Kayak design might win it for us this
: year (other designs have been way to heavy). So i was wondering if anyone
: could send me a schematic of what a basic two person Kayak looks like. The
: plan right now is to build it out of PVC pipe (needs to be kinda cheap
: too) but if anyone has any other suggestions it would be appreciated.
: Either reply to this or e-mail me at glaceria@hotmail.com

Ya gotta remember that the original kayaks were constructed from inedible parts (skin, ribs, bones, sinew) that were thrown away from the walruses and seals that Northern people captured for food and fuel, so building kayaks from recylcables is kinda traditional. There are therefore many designs that can be made. A lot depends on what materials you have handy. (Personally, I've been contemplating building a boat from Chicago Tribunes. I'd like to turn out a boat made just from a single Sunday edition.)

So, what do you have on hand? Also, what are the rules for this contest? How much can be new and how much has to be recycled? And a big question: How much time do you have to build this?

As for a PVC boat. Go with the Putz design. Once you have the forms cut it should be a pretty quick job to wrap them with long strips of 1 inch PVC. You can use short sections of pvc for the trestle style birdge work he uses for stiffening the frame. If you can find some 45 degree connectors, you can use those to connect the trestling. For convenience, consider cutting away pieces from those connectors so they can install (with suitable solvent) at intervals along the chines.

Bow and stern pieces can be gently heated and bent to shape.

Do you need to make your paddles from recycled materials, too?

Best of luck with this project.

Paul g. Jacobson