Tor's Southwind

Builder show and discuss their progress.
Bemm 52
Posts: 309
Joined: Wed Feb 13, 2008 3:57 pm
Type of boat I like: <-- Please read instructions to the left and delete this text. Then, tell us what type boat you like! :-)
Location: Sydney Aust

Re: Tor's Southwind

Post by Bemm 52 »

Thats a good looking boat Tor :D

I've dropped mine too onto the bitumen :oops: but like you say they are tough.

Enjoy your xmas break
OnkaBob
Posts: 401
Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2008 10:12 am
Type of boat I like: <-- Please read instructions to the left and delete this text. Then, tell us what type boat you like! :-)
Location: Seaford, South Oz

Re: Tor's Southwind

Post by OnkaBob »

Looking good Tor - must be very stable to be able to have the seat that high. She looks to be nicely trimmed too, not too high at either end.

As for the steering:
Tor wrote: paddling like mad
..... could be part of the problem. There is a tendency in some of us (me included) to try to steer by paddling more/faster/harder on one side to make the boat head toward the other side. This has more effect on speed than direction and in my early learning stages caused me to head for obstacles at great speed :shock: .

The best way to do minor corrections is to do a wider stroke on one side while still maintaining the left/right rhythm. For more correction make this wide stroke longer as well. Making the stroke longer means it starts close to the hull, pushes out wide from in front of you and then pulls back in behind you. This has a strong effect on direction. It can be difficult to get into the habit of doing this all the time but making a conscious effort for a while will get you there (well it worked for me anyhow).
Cheers, Bob

Laker 13 - christened and slimed (just).
Laker accessories underway.
Oldsparkey
Design Reviewer
Posts: 1272
Joined: Sat Jun 19, 2004 11:08 am
Type of boat I like: Wood boats .
Location: Somewhere around Central Florida
Contact:

Re: Tor's Southwind

Post by Oldsparkey »

Just a suggestion and nothing more ..... Paddle however or whatever is comfortable for you , I don't like to paddle and work at it , relaxation when paddling is what I enjoy.

You will save a lot of wasted time by paddling only on one side , the paddling strokes are easy to learn. You can Google canoe paddling strokes. The basic "J" Stroke is the main stay of paddling. It will move you forward or in any direction you want to go and can be done on either side of the boat.
Here is a good link to it. http://www.redrockstore.com/Jstroke/index.html

It will take some time to learn it but when it becomes a habit you can make the boat do what ever you want from only one side. Your paddle is in the water more then doing the left to right switch every other stroke which makes the paddle be in the air more then in the water. Not to even mention throwing drops of water in your boat of on the person in the front by switching sides all the time.
If you want to take a break then do the same on the other side. Myself I usually paddle only on one side most of the day by using the "J" Stroke and then using the blade of the paddle as a rudder if that step is needed. Normally the "J" Stroke does that for me. Especially since I paddle solo.

Want to cover some water or paddle up stream , a kayak paddle does wonders for that and requires a lot less skill to use it.
:lol: :lol: :lol: Better yet , have the person in the front do a standard draw stroke ( paddle is put in the water and drawn back along the boat) and you sit in the back with your paddle as a rudder for the boat. Traditionally with two persons in a boat the front person provides the forward motion and the person in the back helps but controls the direction of the boat , his main job.
When I show folks how to do it ( with two paddlers) I like to express it this way.... "It is easier to pull a chain then to push it" :roll:

Chuck.
Remember:
Amateurs built the Ark...... Professionals built the Titanic
Visit some fine paddlers at The Southern Paddler
olsnappa
Posts: 300
Joined: Mon Dec 17, 2007 7:03 am
Type of boat I like: <-- Please read instructions to the left and delete this text. Then, tell us what type boat you like! :-)
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Re: Tor's Southwind

Post by olsnappa »

Fantastic job Tor...... She's come up a treat. :D :D
As for dropping the boat.....I well know that sickening, heart in the mouth and stomach churning feeling.
I dropped the Laker the day before I delivered it to my friend......horrible feeling ....and sound! :shock:
Last edited by olsnappa on Mon Dec 07, 2009 5:21 am, edited 1 time in total.
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"
craiggamesh
Posts: 465
Joined: Mon Aug 04, 2008 12:01 am
Type of boat I like: <-- Please read instructions to the left and delete this text. Then, tell us what type boat you like! :-)
Location: Portland, Oregon

Re: Tor's Southwind

Post by craiggamesh »

Great looking boat. I see you were using a Kayak paddle at one point. If you are interested, here is a great sight on kayak paddling techniques. It has animated instructions which make it very easy to understand. http://www.kayakpaddling.net/
Regards,

Craig
------------------------------------------------------
If I had more clamps, I could build more boats.
Image
Tor
Posts: 219
Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2008 6:46 am
Type of boat I like: <-- Please read instructions to the left and delete this text. Then, tell us what type boat you like! :-)
Location: Melbourne

Re: Tor's Southwind

Post by Tor »

Oldsparkey wrote:Just a suggestion and nothing more ..... Paddle however or whatever is comfortable for you , I don't like to paddle and work at it , relaxation when paddling is what I enjoy.


Chuck, I totally agree, generally I just paddle enough to move forward :). I used a single paddle and a double during the day and as long as I was smooth all was well and I can keep it reasonably straight paddling mainly on one side.

Feel free to provide advice I'm happy to take the bits I like and ignore the bits I don't. I've paddled for about 40hours all up I figure you paddled a little more than that... :) so you might have some wise words to share.

I wondered whether when I had someone in with me the front was lower and so a little more sensitive to turn. towards the end of the day I could hear it go as the back end went sideways.
olsnappa wrote:As for dropping the boat.....I well know that sickening, heart in the mouth and stomach churning feeling.
I dropped the Laker the day before I delivered it to my friend......horrible feeling ....and sound! :shock:
Bemm 52 wrote:I've dropped mine too onto the bitumen :oops: but like you say they are tough.
I'm a little happier knowing I'm not alone :roll:

Thanks for the compliments I will be sanding a little and spraying the varnish as I'm still not happy with the finish but I needed to take it for a paddle.

Tor
Image
Barneseye
Posts: 47
Joined: Mon Sep 07, 2009 5:32 pm
Type of boat I like: Building a Merrimac.
Location: Lost in Kent UK

Re: Tor's Southwind

Post by Barneseye »

She looks fantastic mate.
I too am a novice paddler and the couple of times i've had the merrimac out i've had loads of trouble keeping straight.
Search on google videos for 'Bill Mason path of the paddle'.
Some good video tutorials on paddling technique.
OnkaBob
Posts: 401
Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2008 10:12 am
Type of boat I like: <-- Please read instructions to the left and delete this text. Then, tell us what type boat you like! :-)
Location: Seaford, South Oz

Re: Tor's Southwind

Post by OnkaBob »

Barneseye wrote: Search on google videos for 'Bill Mason path of the paddle'.
Thanks for that Barneseye - I borrowed the book from a library about 10 years ago and it was a fascinating read (oriented toward traditional canoes in fast water) but didn't know there were videos available now. Must have a look.
Cheers, Bob

Laker 13 - christened and slimed (just).
Laker accessories underway.
Tor
Posts: 219
Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2008 6:46 am
Type of boat I like: <-- Please read instructions to the left and delete this text. Then, tell us what type boat you like! :-)
Location: Melbourne

Tor's Southwind - it's never quite over

Post by Tor »

After trying to strap a transducer to a lee board without much success I made the drastic decision to grind a hole in a perfectly serviceable canoe :shock: :shock: :shock:

The idea was to grind out the inner glass layer and the wood, leaving the bottom layer of glass intact... :?

The transducer

Image

The victim (showing position, under seat)

Image

The amount of area affected

Image

The weapon of choice and some extra ammo

Image

The first cut and sequence of removal.

Image
Image
Image
Image

The final "hole" and only two small nicks in the glass

Image

Packaging tape on the underside ready to fill with resin

Image

I had a few bubbles in the resin so after allowing it to settle a few minutes I gently scraped away the top of the puddle which removed the bubbles.

Does anyone know if the transducer with work though filleting or sanding filler (not balloons of course)?

Should I patch the top of the hole with glass before pressing the transducer onto wet resin for an intimate fit?

I will be adding a reservoir to fill with water (I've seen a thread by Hairymick that does this but can I find it ...) over the resin patch to allow the transducer to work.

Tor
Image
Bemm 52
Posts: 309
Joined: Wed Feb 13, 2008 3:57 pm
Type of boat I like: <-- Please read instructions to the left and delete this text. Then, tell us what type boat you like! :-)
Location: Sydney Aust

Re: Tor's Southwind

Post by Bemm 52 »

Tor your a patient man with all that Dremil work................ :shock:

I did a similar instal in my Sabalo.................although I cut a hole same shape as yours all the way thru the hull then used your tape idea to hold epoxy fill in then glassed inside and out. :wink:

i filled hole with thickened epoxy useing a west system product I used for unseen fillets (white powder)

Image

Image

To fix transducer I used Sellys All Clear a product you can get at Bunnings in Vic.........just a big glob and press transducer into it takes about 8-12hrs to set but Ive had no problems with sounder pictures or sounder falling out....................my transducer stays in kayak......................if you want to have it removable perhaps Micks wet mount is the way to go

Cheers Paul
Post Reply