I was able to get the Sabalo in the water for her maiden voyage Sunday evening. My oldest boy wanted to ride on the new boat with me and, although he didn't know it at the time, my 79 year old father was assigned the Jem Touring Pirogue. He thought he was just going to take a few pictures and wait. I told him that wouldn't be much fun and that I have built more than one boat for a reason. I said he would get much better pictures from out in the river. He has not paddled for about 45 years so I thought it was high time he did it again.
We lauched from a boat ramp at a city park and headed upstream. I did not deploy the rudder right away because I wanted to see how well she tracked. I discovered she tracks like an arrow. I then deployed the rudder and found it was much easier to turn and wasn't as difficult to use as I thought it would be. I have never used a rudder in a kayak before so it was new to me.
Dad enjoying the paddling experience
Erik and I in the Sabalo
The stability of this boat is phenominal. I was sitting way on the edge with my legs in the water and it did not flip (although in these photos I am not at the edge) I then added the weight of my boy to the side and we still didn't flip it.
Erik thought about jumping in, but I convinced him it wasn't in his best interests due to the snags in the river. Even with him trying to go forward into the water, she was very stable and at no time did I feel like it would flip.
Erik found it stable enough to stand in while I paddled. This allowed him to jump into Grandpa's boat and take it over like a little pirate should. I figure if he practices enough, he should be ready to go to Somalia by the time he is 5 and take over some cargo vessels and make some good money.
Here he is after capturing Grandpa's boat. I think the smile on Grandpa's face says it all
Here they are trying to get a picture of the ducks and heron.
Erik trying to learn how to paddle. I will have to make him a smaller paddle.
He also enjoyed riding on the front deck so he could hang his feet in the water. He is giving his fake camera smile.
He then decided he would be a bow thruster and started kicking his feet. This is when I was really glad to have a rudder. I guess I should have had twins. One on each side and she would be super maneuverable.
Here he wanted me to go faster so we could catch Grandpa
And after a leisurely evening paddle we arrived back at the launch site. I had to help my dad out of the boat due to his leg falling asleep, but he still had a great time and wants to go again. He thinks the pirogue would be more comfortable with foot braces. I hope to install them this week.
My only regret was that I didn't have a fishing rod. The bass were jumping everywhere.
Maiden voyage of the Sabalo.
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Re: Maiden voyage of the Sabalo.
3 generations of paddlers!
That's just fantastic!!
That's just fantastic!!
-Matt. Designer.
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Re: Maiden voyage of the Sabalo.
It was fantastic, and you played a big role since they were both JEM designs.
Now if only free sanding came with the plans.
Now if only free sanding came with the plans.
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Re: Maiden voyage of the Sabalo.
Didn't you see that in the envelop?craiggamesh wrote: Now if only free sanding came with the plans.
-Matt. Designer.
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Re: Maiden voyage of the Sabalo.
Congratulations on the launch!!
What a happy trio
Great photos too Craig. They show just what this building and paddling your own is all about
What a happy trio
Great photos too Craig. They show just what this building and paddling your own is all about
John.
1 Cape Fear Sit In....a couple more planned
2 Laker 14's
1 Paddle board
"People who don't make mistakes don't make anything"
1 Cape Fear Sit In....a couple more planned
2 Laker 14's
1 Paddle board
"People who don't make mistakes don't make anything"
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Re: Maiden voyage of the Sabalo.
Great report Craig. I never cease to be amazed at the quality of both your boats and your photos.
Cheers, Bob
Laker 13 - christened and slimed (just).
Laker accessories underway.
Laker 13 - christened and slimed (just).
Laker accessories underway.
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Re: Maiden voyage of the Sabalo.
I must have missed itjem wrote:Didn't you see that in the envelop?craiggamesh wrote: Now if only free sanding came with the plans.
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Re: Maiden voyage of the Sabalo.
Bob,
Thanks.
I cheat on my photos and process them with "the gimp" software. http://download.cnet.com/1770-20_4-0.ht ... %3DWindows Its free online.
Also, if you like taking photos, this boat is a great book. One page per topic and the author makes it simple.
http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Photograp ... 623&sr=1-1
The book tells you how to process photos using Adobe Photoshop (PROFESSIONAL VERSION), but the free Gimp software is almost as powerful and has most of the same features so the book applies to it. I usually just fix them by adjusting the exposure if needed, cropping them (trying to hide all the junk in my garage by cropping), and using the "unsharpen mask" filter which sharpens the photos. According to the book the unsharpen mask filter is the secret to the pros.
Thanks.
I cheat on my photos and process them with "the gimp" software. http://download.cnet.com/1770-20_4-0.ht ... %3DWindows Its free online.
Also, if you like taking photos, this boat is a great book. One page per topic and the author makes it simple.
http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Photograp ... 623&sr=1-1
The book tells you how to process photos using Adobe Photoshop (PROFESSIONAL VERSION), but the free Gimp software is almost as powerful and has most of the same features so the book applies to it. I usually just fix them by adjusting the exposure if needed, cropping them (trying to hide all the junk in my garage by cropping), and using the "unsharpen mask" filter which sharpens the photos. According to the book the unsharpen mask filter is the secret to the pros.
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Re: Maiden voyage of the Sabalo.
Thanks for sharing the experience. How wonderful that is to have a 3 generational outing!
I can't wait to hear about your first fishing outing.
I can't wait to hear about your first fishing outing.
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Re: Maiden voyage of the Sabalo.
I would like to hit the salt the weekend of the 12th for a Kayak fishing derby, but I don't think I will be able to make it.