Peter’s F1, South Australia

Hello Everyone. My name Is Peter and I live in Australia in the state of South Australia.

It must be at least 6to eight weeks ago that I purchased a set of plans and the video tutorial from Brain. It’s taken me a bit of time to source the materials to build the F1. I have finally got the timber for the framing. I have decided to use PAULOWNIA  a plantation timber grown in Australia, Here is the link to the supplier: http://paulowniatimber.com.au/timber.php it has the same or similar characteristics as Western Red Cedar, but lighter in weight.

Western Red cedar is available here but at a premium price and and not a great amount to select from.n I am still trying to get good bending stock mainly for the coaming. for the ribs I will be using 15mm x 5mm carbonised Bamboo I have used it before in a westgreen land kayak and it worked well. What I am trying to achieve is an Ultra light Kayak.

I have just completed a greenland paddle made from Paulownia  due to that I broke my last one trying to do a storm roll in to shallow a water and it hit the bottom and snapped. The paddle made from Paulownia comes in at 26.2791 ounces or 745 grams  that include 3 layers of linseed oil now we just need to see how it holds up. The Paddle made from Paulownia is the blond timber.

One of the problems I encountered with the Paulownia is that its hard to get long lengths in a bigger piece of timber say for example a 6″x 2″ I like to get my timber sawn and the i prepare it myself more cost effective for me in money  outlay. All that that means is that some pieces need to be scarfed joined. Not a big issue just a bit more time required, the pics that you see are me preparing the Gunwales. My finished size is  L 426.72cm. (14″) x  D 6cm x  W 1.55cm Ultra light. Have also finished the bending jig for the coaming ready for when I get my timber. Which is a Australian hardwood call Carbeen (Moreton Bay Ash )

Well we’re slowly making progress, the instructional videos are excellent. THANKS BRIAN for putting them together. I am also making minor changes to timber sizes manly trying to build ultralight and also making do with what I have. and sometimes laminating works well just takes a bit longer. My supplier of my bending stock for the coaming has had a few family issues and cant get the timber to me it will most probaly arrive when all is finished.

Well we’re slowly moving along with it in the next lot of images I have cut the ribs to length ( I am using Bamboo ) set up my steam bending box and fitted the ribs, Keel and Stringers to kayak. What I did with the Bamboo ribs was to soak them for 24 hours as I assumed the plywood that they were cut from was very dry. What I found during the steaming and bending process was that without the leather strap it was difficult to bend them smoothly due to the nodes in the bamboo strips. I tried a few ribs that haven’t been soaked, gave them longer in the steamer they bent more consistently. All in all I am happy with the result, only broke 6 or 7 . Placement of stringers was pretty straight forward with Brains great video instructions are very precise. As you can see by the picture I placed a clamp on the gunwale were the mortise is to make sure I didn’t get any breakage in that area as I made the Gunwales slightly thinner.

Well I am slowly getting there have finally got the skin on it took awhile to get to that stage as there were a number of other things that I wanted in the kayak before skinning it. Mountings for a electric bilge pump, extra blocks for mounting a sail cords for pulling in the float bags. And then of course I wanted to make my own float BAGS.This is easier when there is only a frame to get a perfect fit. Will get photos up shortly about the bags.

Well finally got it finished and it was an interesting build building it ultra light, especially placement of the skin. As I mentioned earlier and Brains suggestion it had to be kept very wet, literally soaking but it work. the skin is nice an taut even when very cold outside about 4c. I took it to the local reservoir for its maiden voyage all of about 2-3 kilometres and it work superbly. had no problem keeping it at a nice pass of 6.5 or about 4 miles per hour and I wasn’t paddling hard. But what surprised me most was how easily it edges. and the turning is fantastic as you would say turns on a dime. For the short time I was in it I LOVED IT. Don,t pay to much attention to the colour thats an other story. Also it weights a respectable 27.5lb. this is with an electric Rule pump, a battery, manual pump, foot boards, seat and perimeter lines. Without those extras in comes in at 22lbs. I LOVE IT. once I get my spray skirt I will give it a run in the sea.

THANKS FOR THE GREAT DESIGN BRAIN WELL DONE.