> The boat I am working on this summer is a 14' x 26" kayak.
> I will have to scale up the plans from 1/4" scale plans in the
> book. This is fine for me, but my daughters want a slightly smaller
> boat (13').

I am sure I can do this by simply moving the frames slightly
> closer together, and shortening the keelson, right? I think I can
> also reduce the volume of the boat proportionately by drawing the
> frames on a (say) 29/32" grid instead of a 1" grid. OK so
> far?

> Now, if I want a 14' x 24" boat, will I do much damage to
> its handling characteristics if I copy the frames onto a grid that
> is 1" high and 29/32" wide? This would keep the same depth
> under the deck (for my ancient knees) while narrowing the boat slightly.
> Or would it be better to just find a plan for a 14' x 24" boat
> and go ahead with it?

> The first boat will be by the book, anyway. Thanks for your help.
>

> ps. I think I'm going to need a twelve-step program if I ever
> want to stop visiting this bulletin board.

Working from the ridiculous to the sublime---> The first step is acknowledging you have a problem with spending too much time here. It'll never happen, so forget the remaining 11 steps. Remember the ancient proverb: ``He who starts a twelve step progam from a kayak will soon learn he is in over his head, and all wet, too.''

Humor aside. You raise the question of whether there will be significant differences in handling between two kayaks if one is a `scaled' version of the other. Interestingly enough, you have already decided to make this smaller kayak. Hmm. I think you may be putting the cart before the horse.

You have two scaling questions here, and I think they may be confusing you. The first is that the plans are printed 1/4th life size. This is merely a convenience for the publisher, who gets to use smaller paper, and gives you the opportunity do more work.

Since you are already planning to build a ``proper'' boat, what do you hope to gain from building one that differs by one foot in length? Is this supposed to be more maneuverable or lighter for a smaller paddler? Is the smaller displacement that valuable to you?

It seems to me that once you have the patterns for making one boat you can save a lot of time and a significant amount of money by making two identical boats.

If these are strippers, you can practically set up an assembly line. You only have to enlarge, layout and cut one set of forms. Once the first hull comes off the forms you start another, while the forms are still lined up and ready to go. With enough room to work, you can be applying resin or varnish to both hulls on the same day, and cut the AVERAGE finishing time almost in half.

When making seats, coamings, hatches, and some other parts you can stack or double up your materials and cut two identical parts at the same time.

If these are skin on frame, you can cut duplicate frames at the same time.

These boats are going to last quite a few years, and your kids are going to grow. If they can handle a 14 foot boat, I wouldn't bother with making them shorter boats.

just my opinion Paul Jacobson