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Skin-on-Frame: Walrus Q's
By:Paul Probus
Date: 5/20/2003, 2:20 pm

I am considering building one of Putz's Walrus's and have gone through the archives, but may have missed the answers to my questions.

First question: What are the beam widths of each Walrus (W1 and W2)?

Second: Has anyone shrunk one of the designs down to 13' to 15' in length?

I am looking to build one of the Walrus's but shrink it down to about 15', though I may consider shrinking it further to 13' (although I believe I would probably build Clark Craft's BK#10 design and elongate it to 13' with a 30" beam). Since I am a heavier paddler (285 lbs.), I believe I need a beam of about 30" for either sized boat. If neither of the Walrus's have close to a 30" beam (I would consider 28" to be close, 26" to not be as close as I would like) has anyone increased the beam?

I may be opening up a proverbial can-o'-worms here, but is there a rule of thumb for "Greenland" style kayaks, like Putz's Walrus, Clark Craft's BK10, etc. for length vs. beam width for load capacity. I ask because I compared CC's BK10 to Folbot's Yukon kayak and they are rated for the same load (300#). Either CC is overly optimistic, Folbot is overly cautious or something in the middle because the BK10 is 11' long with a 28" beam vs. the Yukon being 13' with a 30" beam. Or perhaps they really are that different despite them being very similar looking to the casual observer.

If it matters, I am planning on using it mostly in flat water, inland rivers and streams, although possibly where one river near me is close to going to a large bay and is approx. 1 mile across.

Thanks,
Paul

Messages In This Thread

Skin-on-Frame: Walrus Q's
Paul Probus -- 5/20/2003, 2:20 pm
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Walrus Q's
Bill Price -- 5/21/2003, 11:22 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Walrus Q's
Paul Probus -- 5/21/2003, 12:46 pm
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Walrus Q's
Paul G. Jacobson -- 5/21/2003, 1:30 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Walrus Q's
Paul Probus -- 5/21/2003, 9:17 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Walrus Q's
Paul G. Jacobson -- 5/22/2003, 12:25 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Walrus Q's
Paul Probus -- 5/22/2003, 11:46 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Walrus Q's
C. Fronzek -- 5/20/2003, 8:53 pm
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Walrus Q's
Paul Probus -- 5/21/2003, 8:44 am