Foamey Yak

[Wobbly Wheels]

Hehe...that's exactly the reason I got hooked on sailing too and yeah, it would be great to see more people into it. With S&G and epoxy, it's gotten so that building small boats like these is achievable by pretty much anyone. There's no more lofting, spiling, caulking, etc.

I was originally going to build in a daggerboard trunk but a leeboard will let me play with the CE/CLR lead while I'm on the water. If I do want to build in a trunk later, I'll know exactly where it needs to go.

I'm blown away that you able to build it strong enough that it doesn't tear itself apart, and still keep it nice and light.

What's the next project, a foamy Moth ?

[clermont cubby]

WW'

Go for it. I am sure the boat with a sail would be fun and sail great. I would go with a simple leeboard. I am into simple and easy.

A "foamie Moth" hum... no. Next build, I would like to organize a youth boat building clinic.
Try to get more young people interested in boating/sailing. Would make a great teen project at our church.

Larry

[oakinteriors1]

A foam core kayak....epoxy-fiberglass...
http://www.texaskayakfisherman.com/foru ... 1&t=158180

[clermont cubby]

OakInteriors"

Enjoyed the read. I have built and sailed two boats using the dropcloth and Titebond II method vs. epoxy. I think it is safer to work with especially when I have young folks helping me the builds. My current Kayak weighs in at 45 lbs, without the sail rigging. Easy to transport.

Larry

[GPW]

Not to be too OT ... Vinnie and I have been working on a forward rowing system for his yak'... he’s got a design with bellcranks , etc.... complicated ... I came up with this after watching some videos .... Simple ... seems like it would work eh ??? Any thoughts from you experienced mariners ...?

[clermont cubby]

GPW:

Not the most technical guy. Seems it should work, I'm partial to a simple set of aluminum oars or kayak paddle.

Larry

[kudzu]

Have you heard of Reelfoot Lake boats, also called stump jumpers? They have a forward facing oar set up. I believe they sell the mechanism separate from the boat & oars. You add your own oars. It's just standard oars cut & bolted to the rowing mechanism. My dad has one. Works very well.

http://www.reelfoot.com/calhoun1.htm

[GPW]

No matter what forward rowing designs we look at they all seem to have the same basic geometry ... a bellcrank and lever thing ... mounted on a pivoting attachment to the gunwale ... Just trying to explore something “simpler” ... if that’s possible ... Simple enough for a foamie boat ...

[bonnie]

Two quick questions about this method. I am in the very beginning stages of building a pirogue canoe. I intend to deck it and make it more like a kayak. I have an extra piece of 2" foam I was considering for the bottom. I would lengthen the sides 2" to make up for the height loss. Crazy or no? I'm also thinking canvas and TBII for the finishing with a good paint. If I use glass tape on all the seams and then cover with canvas will that hold up? Or would it be better to try fiberglassing, which I have never done.

[GPW]

Bonnie , you have a drawing ?

[Wobbly Wheels]

I am in the very beginning stages of building a pirogue canoe. I intend to deck it and make it more like a kayak.

I built one of these a few years ago of epoxy and glass over 1/4" ply.

Despite the designer calling it a canoe, it has the flat bottom and hard chines of a pirogue. I found it to be much more tender ('tippy') than a canoe but once you get used to that, you can use the chines to help steer the boat much more than you can with the round chines of a canoe or a yak. I put a cambered foredeck on mine and a flat aft deck with a hatch. I could carry a whole lot of weight in camping gear but it was a beast to move through the water. I don't remember the last time I used it because it's such a barge - right now it's in a pile for my next dump run.
If you are starting with a canoe or pirogue design, the first thing I would do is reduce the freeboard (height of the sides above the water) because, when you're sitting in the bottom of the boat, the paddle shaft drags along the gunwhale. I would also narrow the beam for the same reason, but that would significantly change the shape of your side panels.

As for doing it on foam, I don't see why not - obviously it's not going to be very resistant to abrasion so you have to be careful, but there are plenty of skin boats out there that their owners have to be even more careful with.

Personally I would use epoxy and glass, but I'm biased that way. Have you looked at the stitch and glue kayak designs from CLC (among others) ?
One ought to be able to replicate those panels in foam easily and you will be starting with an actual yak design. Whichever way you go, your plans were likely drawn for plywood: with foam you'll have less weight and more buoyancy so some adjustments might be needed to get the most out of it.
Then again, if you're just looking for something that floats and can be paddled, none of that really matters...

No matter what forward rowing designs we look at they all seem to have the same basic geometry

There's a pretty noticeable loss in efficiency vs rowing backwards but it's still a lot less tiring than facing forward and trying to push the oars. I played around with them a little bit for my Whitehall but decided to K.I.S.S. instead. Gig Harbour Boat Works makes a bolt-on SS kit - I haven't seen anyone come up with anything other than a similar linkage system, personally. I would be interested to see what you guys come up with.

[bonnie]

Bonnie , you have a drawing ?

These are the plans I bought. The sides are 10" normally. One reason for the foam is to cut the overall weight. I must be able to handle it and get it onto truck racks without help.

http://www.unclejohns.com/boat/default.htm

I absolutely love the stitch and glue kits. I don't have that kind of $$ right now. I could build the entire pirogue for less than 200 with canvas or about 250-300 with fiberglass. I want something I can putz about it. Maybe have Daisy the wonder dog along, or a grand kid. Fishing is an option. Tried a kayak recently and loved it. With making this out of foam, I could transport it on BUB.

The trailer has to get done first, but I'm dreaming and plotting. The finished boat would be about 30-35 lbs either way. I am also making the chairs on that site. Just loved them.

[GPW]

Wow!!! It really is a pirogue .... They are the Standard boat to have around here... Everybody’s got one (or more) ... True !!! They are very easy to make and very efficient , easy to row or push pole , but not the most stable of boats ... Good balance is required !!!!!! ... If you make it a little wider , It will be much more stable ... I’ve been put in the bayou many times in a tippy pirogue ... Life jackets are a GOOD idea ... (for the dog too)

Just thinking , it may require some extra bracing made of foam ... it is a very “minimum” boat ... Glassing it would only make it Heavy ... and expensive ( it’s all been tried before )... These boats evolved out of the cultural need for easy cheap transportation across the water , and here, there’s water everywhere...
This is one case where you might abandon the Foamie principle and just build it EXACTLY according to the plans ... They serve a very specific purpose and seem to last a long time if you keep them out of the rain ... This is one that’d been well proven over a long time and reached the peak of development/evolution ... It’s as good as it gets...

Would be interesting to re-design the humble pirogue for foam construction ... just more bracing should do it ... canvas over foam should be fine ... (remember all those canvas covered canoes ) ... and it would Float ... That’s important !!!...

[clermont cubby]

Bonnie,

My foamie yak started out as a pirogue/duck punt flat bottom type kayak. I reduced length from 15+' to 8' for easy transport. I haul it on the back of a hitch hauler cargo rack.. Boat weighs about 45 lbs without the extra gear. I built a jig (strongback) and framework to support the foam.

Strongback jig.JPG (21.2 KiB) Viewed 782 times

The kayak is 34.5" at the widest part of the boat. I find it to be very stable while paddling or sailing. I have built two boats using the foam/canvas/titebond 2 system. Been very pleased with the performance of this system.

100_3820.JPG (20.33 KiB) Viewed 782 times

[GPW]

Subject that keeps coming up around here is Fishing ... in the shallow marshes and estuaries that surround this area. Only thing I can think of is a Foamie ... We priced a 40hp outboard and all the accessories to make my current boat fish-able ... and that’s definitely not an option .. So now we’re back to a small-ish’ Foamie that I can fit in the back of the pickup .. 4’ wide (max) X 10’ long ... I think we can still get those large blocks for beaded foam , same as we built the FS out of ... 2’ X 10” X 10” thick ... @ $20 each ... That sounds workable (affordable ) .. Simple canvas covering , easily repairable , nothing fancy ... has to have a place for a cooler or two, a battery and electric trolling motor ... and a couple built in rod holders .. Low budget , Maximum fishing potential ... Big Wide Yak might do it ? Any ideas or opinions ? Maybe just a big floating platform ... sorta’ like a bass boat , but SIMPLE ... Really SIMPLE !!!