Re: Why we are lucky
Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 5:54 pm
As others have said in this thread, Yes we are very lucky here.
It was an Aussie who sent me here, a bloke called Varp from the Australian kayak fishing forum (AKFF) He was going on and on about a thing called a Sabalo and I hadn't heard of such a boat. I asked the question and he sent me a link and I was hooked.
My biggest gripe with the store bought boats at the time was that they were little more than a paddling platform from which one might dangle a line. Little to no thought was given to the various hulls fishability or paddleability let alone a combination of the two.
I had played with the idea of building a boat to suit my needs/whims and had asked a couple of well known and highly reputed designers if they would be interested in a custom job for me. To a designer, if I even got a response was something like this, "These are my boats. Build them or go away." I went away
I saw the Sabalo and it was like a light bulb moment for me! here was a boat that had been designed by a fisherman for fishermen! It wasn't exactly what I wanted at the time but it was bloody close! but I was still intimidated by the thought of such a complex build. Then I saw Swampgirl. and although my build of this lovely boat wasn't pretty, she was so very functional.
and so the addiction began. and I realised, "Hey! I can do this!" I had a boat nearly 16 feet long and about half the weight of my factory 14ft fibreglass canoe.
Several lovely boats later and as I grow older, fatter and slower, my needs are changing. I no longer feel the desire paddle miles to sea in an effort to locate serious pelagic fish. I get my joys now in quiet rivers and creeks and even some gentle white water.
My new partner, Evie also prefers these quieter waters. To this end, the Jem boats we have work very well indeed ie, Laker, Sasquatch, Okwata and Southwind but we would both like a smallish pack canoe.
A couple of months ago, I sent Matt a message and asked if he would be interested in designing such a boat. The request was something like this, 13-14 feetl long, no wider than 28 inches, a bottom profile similar to Freedom. Stability and ease of paddling were the goals.
I think Matt has come up with an extraordinary design that is perfect for what we are looking for and I can't wait to start the build. he has called this boat "Akuna" which is aboriginal meaning The way forward. and I think it is very apt.
Thank you Matt, I echo all the previous comments.
It was an Aussie who sent me here, a bloke called Varp from the Australian kayak fishing forum (AKFF) He was going on and on about a thing called a Sabalo and I hadn't heard of such a boat. I asked the question and he sent me a link and I was hooked.
My biggest gripe with the store bought boats at the time was that they were little more than a paddling platform from which one might dangle a line. Little to no thought was given to the various hulls fishability or paddleability let alone a combination of the two.
I had played with the idea of building a boat to suit my needs/whims and had asked a couple of well known and highly reputed designers if they would be interested in a custom job for me. To a designer, if I even got a response was something like this, "These are my boats. Build them or go away." I went away
I saw the Sabalo and it was like a light bulb moment for me! here was a boat that had been designed by a fisherman for fishermen! It wasn't exactly what I wanted at the time but it was bloody close! but I was still intimidated by the thought of such a complex build. Then I saw Swampgirl. and although my build of this lovely boat wasn't pretty, she was so very functional.
and so the addiction began. and I realised, "Hey! I can do this!" I had a boat nearly 16 feet long and about half the weight of my factory 14ft fibreglass canoe.
Several lovely boats later and as I grow older, fatter and slower, my needs are changing. I no longer feel the desire paddle miles to sea in an effort to locate serious pelagic fish. I get my joys now in quiet rivers and creeks and even some gentle white water.
My new partner, Evie also prefers these quieter waters. To this end, the Jem boats we have work very well indeed ie, Laker, Sasquatch, Okwata and Southwind but we would both like a smallish pack canoe.
A couple of months ago, I sent Matt a message and asked if he would be interested in designing such a boat. The request was something like this, 13-14 feetl long, no wider than 28 inches, a bottom profile similar to Freedom. Stability and ease of paddling were the goals.
I think Matt has come up with an extraordinary design that is perfect for what we are looking for and I can't wait to start the build. he has called this boat "Akuna" which is aboriginal meaning The way forward. and I think it is very apt.
Thank you Matt, I echo all the previous comments.