tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70683985078377301142024-02-02T14:20:47.147+00:00Auld BlugDr Blug presents ....Dr Blughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08095927472442080554noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7068398507837730114.post-82362825516126700332013-03-29T23:04:00.002+00:002013-03-29T23:04:17.902+00:00Stoves and fuel...free and otherwiseBlimey! been ages since I last posted, but weather getting better days getting longer, so will be out and about at last.<br />
Recently I built a small wood burning stove from an Ikea stainless steel drainer following the method most people use to make one, ie cut a rectangle out of it with a Dremel so you can push fuel in once it's going. Loads of vids on YouTube if you want to investigate further.<br />
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It works remarkably well, taking 8 mins to boil 750ml of cold water once a good bed of embers is established. I used 2 tent pegs to support my Alpkit Mytimug<br />
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Have now bent a clothes hanger to make pot support<br />
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I was in an outdoor shop recently and saw this new bio ethanol gel fuel made by <a href="http://www.fuel4.co.uk/" target="_blank">Fuel 4</a> ..</div>
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It can be used a substitute for meths in a Trangia/pepsi can type stove so I bought a £2.50 sachet to try it out...</div>
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I poured it into the dimple on an overturned pepsi stove I made ages ago, popped it into my Ikea burner, lit it and turned the timer on. It took about 9 mins to bring about 0.5l of water to a boil, not bad, no soot on the pot like meths and no smell either. </div>
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Nice clean blue flame...</div>
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Verdict: handy to keep as an emergency fuel if no other free bio fuel (ie wood) available. </div>
Dr Blughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08095927472442080554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7068398507837730114.post-70685514407563931682012-05-30T20:21:00.002+01:002012-05-30T20:40:30.069+01:00Lakes bakes!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X29sngNRUB8/T8Zqj2T6NdI/AAAAAAAABcM/t5f5SS9Obk8/s1600/muncasterbridge.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I cashed £30 worth of Tesco vouchers in for £90 of Youth Hostel credit what seems a long time ago, and realising that they were due to expire at the end of May offered a 'free' night in the lakes at Eskdale to my good pals the Jones Brothers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We met up at Ravenglass in good time to unload, and move the cars to the station carpark which unfortunately isn't free anymore, but very handy for the beach.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We set off out to sea, almost getting to the bar when a chap waved us over having got out of his MOD Landrover...'you lot do know you are paddling in a danger area don't you?!' Of course we did; we were just poking our noses, but about turn and we went up the Esk, a lovely trip which I have only done as part of the annual Seaquest event. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We got to Muncaster Bridge and carried on until the ebb, seeing Grey geese and their babies, listening to the warblers hidden in the reeds, but no otters or kingfishers unfortunately. I had never been past the bridge before due to the urgency of Seaquest, but look forward to doing it again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We popped over to Wasdale originally planning to have a quick paddle, but it was really windy and choppy so we settled for a quick early bite to eat at the first beach and Dave went photo mad...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">After settling in at Eskdale YH we ambled down to the Woolpack Inn, somewhat different from my last visit, but still highly recommended<br />The next day we were up early for an assault on Scafell from Wha House Farm with a return down from Foxes Tarn to Cam Spout and back along the Esk. 11.2 mls on the hottest day of the year, it was a hard long walk, but highly satisfying when we got back to the hostel </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Looking over to the Pike..it was very, very busy</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Dave and Gareth on Scafell summit..sponsor: Tilley Hats.<br /><br />After a shower we forced ourselves back to the Woolpack for dinner, cider beer and fun, making the most of the free wifi to take silly pictures, call the family on Skype [no phone signal in Eskdale] and even update Facebook (Dave = FB addict). We marvelled at the people with awful sunburn too. We were slavered in Factor 50 and nay a spot of redness!<br /><br />A wonderful couple of days only spoiled by the knobhead who decided to make his bed up in our room in the hostel at 11-30 pm. A cyclist too. Ought to know better.</span></td></tr>
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<br />Dr Blughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08095927472442080554noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7068398507837730114.post-11070613564871589062012-04-10T18:43:00.001+01:002012-04-23T21:17:06.673+01:00re-fibreglassing a cedar strip kayak<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After the recent job 'I wish I had never started mk1' [fitting rubber hatches] the comments along the lines of 'ooh.. I thought cedar strip kayaks were supposed to be quite light'...started to annoy me and reflecting on my usage of boat and the Sherman tank like 'Expedition' layup I used when I built it 4 yrs ago I decided to remove said 'exped' fibreglass and epoxy resin from the hull, as demonstrated in a <a href="http://youtu.be/BHNHXD-g2N0" target="_blank">YouTube vid</a> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">by Nick Schade of Guillemot Kayaks, one of the worlds top builders... to make Tootega a bit lighter so my pals have less to whinge about when they are lifting it off the car and down to the beach...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To be fair, removing the old glass and resin only took a couple of hours with a hot air gun and a paint scraper, but may have contributed somewhat to global warming.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Removing the resin left stuck to the hull was a pig of a job. 40 grit sanding discs only just about doing the job [B+Q own brand...I have a healthy suspicion they are nowhere near as good as discs made by Bosch.] It now weighs 4.5kg less, so I hope for a finished weight of 25kg inc hatch covers and electric pump</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hull was eventually sanded off, new cloth and resin arrived so on a nice warm day I got to work. Against all the advice I give to others, I decided to use MAS, a different epoxy resin than the normal West System I have used in the past. I ordered the 'Fast' variant and believe me it is. I'll stick to west System in future.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The resin went off so quick I had to replace some of the glass as it didn't wet the glass out, however the rest of the job went quite well and apart from a slight cosmetic fault, I've got the fill coats on and now doing the boring wet+dry stuff.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> All the sanding completed and the boat rinsed off with clean water. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Total wet out so no greasy spot or fish eyes..ready for varnishing!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First coat of International Compass varnish. It's the best varnish I've used yet. I'll give it 3 coats to protect the epoxy and re-coat it over the winter. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm going to fit a graphite keel strip in the next week or so.</span></div>
</div>Dr Blughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08095927472442080554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7068398507837730114.post-22556964961226873682012-02-15T20:45:00.003+00:002012-04-10T18:47:22.134+01:00New hatches? [Job you wish you had never started mkI]<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once again in a fit of 'I must do something to the boat as it's soon going to be the start of the season,'......I must fit some new Kajaksport oval hatches to fit to Tootega.. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The original cedar ones aren't 100% watertight and I wanted something reliable, and prefer the Kajaksport ones to Valley covers as they are easier to get on and off especially with cold fingers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was a big hole at the front...</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AxuToji1Kbs/Tz1L-cv9fsI/AAAAAAAABSg/RKDz-S7O5c0/s1600/P1020774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AxuToji1Kbs/Tz1L-cv9fsI/AAAAAAAABSg/RKDz-S7O5c0/s320/P1020774.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and a smaller hole at the back...same enormous hatches though..</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ytrj_XHypyI/T0Fg3oZroyI/AAAAAAAABTM/bS07oVS1ltU/s1600/P1020793.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ytrj_XHypyI/T0Fg3oZroyI/AAAAAAAABTM/bS07oVS1ltU/s320/P1020793.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Got the hole boxed in to the level the rim will locate into. Suddenly it doesn't look so severe, I'll be filing the rest with Fomex strips, and then a bit of body filler, which will create the mould for the fibreglass insert. I built in a flat panel for a compass insert.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LLLO5WXoeoI/T0VL1cxdyBI/AAAAAAAABTY/ihYoztnQ3kg/s1600/P1020799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LLLO5WXoeoI/T0VL1cxdyBI/AAAAAAAABTY/ihYoztnQ3kg/s320/P1020799.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hole now filled with Fomex strips, superglue and car body filler. As it's a one off I won't have to get a perfect finish as this surface will be on the inside of the boat. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The exterior will be a layer carbon fibre.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Internal mould removed</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hatch rim in place in the surround. I beefed up the hatch surround from the inside with a couple more layers of cloth and tape. A pig of a job, but a bit easier as the holes are so big.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFbPFBjIV5tnsMuDU5IrtIZjrC_hFGqNq_wfn5PeBzp8g1xWC97vCecCtv7NujAXFS1G9d2bxWbfCtZDahF2sY3nuvkl30N_P5J3nndx00e8kZlaBXOp7bcAsmj_mR8DqjtJ-D4y7KJQE/s1600/P1020875.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFbPFBjIV5tnsMuDU5IrtIZjrC_hFGqNq_wfn5PeBzp8g1xWC97vCecCtv7NujAXFS1G9d2bxWbfCtZDahF2sY3nuvkl30N_P5J3nndx00e8kZlaBXOp7bcAsmj_mR8DqjtJ-D4y7KJQE/s320/P1020875.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finished at last. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Boat now weighs 28.5kg including the electric pump; not exactly lightweight, [but it is a big boat similar in size to a Tiderace XploreX]</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've since replaced the seat with a P&H Cetus seat</span></div>
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</div>Dr Blughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08095927472442080554noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7068398507837730114.post-81347855574880070572012-02-07T15:50:00.002+00:002012-02-26T08:01:57.317+00:00Carbon fibre Greenland paddle 1<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally got off me backside and made the plug for 'BlackFinger' the carbon fibre version of the <a href="http://bluggery.blogspot.com/2011/06/formby-fingerbuilding-greenland-paddle.html" target="_blank">Formby Finger.</a></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ImmQKjuINy8/TzFGJSV64yI/AAAAAAAABKc/07dF-rhM1-g/s1600/P1020744.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ImmQKjuINy8/TzFGJSV64yI/AAAAAAAABKc/07dF-rhM1-g/s320/P1020744.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I shaped it from MDF [cheap] sanded it as smooth as possible, filled any rough areas with Polyfilla Fine surface filler and gave it a couple of coats of epoxy resin. The wet and dry paper came out and sanded down to 600 then I stuck it onto to a backing board which also has a coat of epoxy on, both sides to eliminate warping.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bPyGgEtBggI/TzFGUbwEyiI/AAAAAAAABKk/XrIlJ7TJAYY/s1600/P1020746.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bPyGgEtBggI/TzFGUbwEyiI/AAAAAAAABKk/XrIlJ7TJAYY/s320/P1020746.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A couple of days later the wet and dry came out to smooth it even further, and after 8 coats of Honey Wax the mould popped off in a jiffy. The paddle consists of 4 blade shells each consisting of 3 layers of carbon fibre cloth [pictured] bonded together and finally joined in the middle. </span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ed6opk-8hlo/TzJP0CtOczI/AAAAAAAABK4/zd_5Tk35v3M/s1600/P1020750.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ed6opk-8hlo/TzJP0CtOczI/AAAAAAAABK4/zd_5Tk35v3M/s320/P1020750.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the tape stops the edges unravelling</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BmphgbrFebI/TzJP6RtKPgI/AAAAAAAABLA/mijX65g3Jic/s1600/P1020751.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BmphgbrFebI/TzJP6RtKPgI/AAAAAAAABLA/mijX65g3Jic/s320/P1020751.jpg" width="180" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First layup in the mould the next day..</span></div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_He9evAKaSE/TzJQC8veD5I/AAAAAAAABLI/AeaE9J3-AU8/s1600/P1020752.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_He9evAKaSE/TzJQC8veD5I/AAAAAAAABLI/AeaE9J3-AU8/s320/P1020752.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">out of the mould; a few dints to fill with epoxy</span></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm trying to use the absolute minimum of resin at the layup stage and it was a swine to get the round end to conform to the mould, and eventually I had to use clamps and a former to press the cloth into place. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When it came out of the mould it weighed 80g , but it was a bit flexible so another internal layer was added to make each part 4 layers thick, I'm aiming at a final paddle weight of around 600gms. [The original cedar Formby Finger weighs 815gm]</span><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3tW_bJI9wdo/Tzw3wjKjEhI/AAAAAAAABSU/kZvjld1QRSg/s1600/P1020771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3tW_bJI9wdo/Tzw3wjKjEhI/AAAAAAAABSU/kZvjld1QRSg/s320/P1020771.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Finally finished all 4 components and epoxied them together tonight.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have tried out a method of joining them similar to a biscuit tin. It has taken me some time to perfect the method and for now I'm keeping it to myself.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Total weight so far 600gm/ materials cost £70</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxvYQIKQJ2pf7wPt6iz2vZFfmW3uOvWloiaRUth9JN7CXOFtlToT5k2e9SZcoFO7X3VqpYGzTWZKYkaBP5NZw-y9y10bLj1KVVUN3ZYp4V0EAoakSJUSsIrxcQB1_uW7dzLnmuYZNgGo/s1600/P1020803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxvYQIKQJ2pf7wPt6iz2vZFfmW3uOvWloiaRUth9JN7CXOFtlToT5k2e9SZcoFO7X3VqpYGzTWZKYkaBP5NZw-y9y10bLj1KVVUN3ZYp4V0EAoakSJUSsIrxcQB1_uW7dzLnmuYZNgGo/s320/P1020803.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All glued, filled, sanded, and satin varnished..</span><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PsRWVdq6Z4E/T0aDuMS-OzI/AAAAAAAABTs/di1GvFcXt7c/s1600/P1020805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PsRWVdq6Z4E/T0aDuMS-OzI/AAAAAAAABTs/di1GvFcXt7c/s320/P1020805.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qi96zfTVoW4/T0nlvdzTjAI/AAAAAAAABT4/gBQz7HWVSI8/s1600/Blackfinger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qi96zfTVoW4/T0nlvdzTjAI/AAAAAAAABT4/gBQz7HWVSI8/s320/Blackfinger.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The 'Formby Finger' and 'BlackFinger' </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by Dave Jones</span></span></div>Dr Blughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08095927472442080554noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7068398507837730114.post-49604821075927151462011-07-10T21:14:00.027+01:002011-07-12T22:49:02.339+01:00The Martindale Round.<div style="text-align: center;">My mate <a href="http://beardedgit.com/">Stef </a>and I went to the Lake District so he could tick off a few more Wainwrights from his diminishing list.</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We met up by the church just past the Howtown Hotel on the east of Ullswater late Friday, just as Stef had knocked off Hallin Fell. It started to rain. Warm fine rain...Having decided to travel light, wearing shorts, I reasoned if it stopped raining I would dry out soon rather than wearing hot and sweaty waterproofs.... it didn't stop raining.</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> <br />
</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; color: #0000ee;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627826507979204402" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5q14RWvsSws/ThoOZDmgpzI/AAAAAAAABDI/yydIAOQfTHk/s400/P1020097.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 225px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> <br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">We bashed up the 'path' through the bracken for 1.5m past Brownthwaite Crag to get up high for our first nights camp at Gowk Hill.... [memo.. don't wear shorts in the wet when going through bracken paths; nettles grow in amongst them, your calves get stung and yer boots and socks get wet....doh.]</div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Thankfully the rain stopped, there was a fast flowing beck for fresh water, and apart from a few midgies we had a pleasant night and telling a few yarns and I extolled the virtues of <a href="http://www.sudocrem.co.uk/">Sudocrem</a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Day 2</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">No rush today, weather getting better and after brekkie we walked up onto High Street over Red Crag and over to High Raise. Great views and finally a nice bit of rock under the boots rather than mud, grass and bog.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; color: #0000ee;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627833599394478770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmURrIZ0KLsy25TdxLcIgSYhPOK40BsdvZoAKJ1inXol3NOsC0XtnkQ_ISgusHvUmq4lLicY835L_mkds1GALI2Eld8jBXSxYloj3_VUhyZ3sP8iMGZsWWNcp33eGDJYaL27fyvMbHMrA/s400/P1020116.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 225px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">self portrait.. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">High Raise</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> <br />
</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">We could have gone up Kidsty Pike but 'been there done that' so pushed on, popping up onto the Knott with great views over Hayeswater, then down towards Satura Crag and our camp at Angle Tarn.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">On the way I spent an hour snoozing in the sun, occasionally passing the time of day with the people making their way down to Patterdale or Hartsop whilst Stef sweated his way up and down Rest Dodd to bag another WR.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSLjllUvPjhxA71ALdLRSTgCqGuhTnk1mA67-l-roB1BaQ-Q4bdR5LUI1rY7hs3e87Z9FbelO9YyD7IJMvf4Pj32V5eb0cIbtsF6wTdBvJE2VwwIpt4A0mdZpsy2n3sRShwrbxIcHsTtA/s1600/P1020128.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627826532170253698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSLjllUvPjhxA71ALdLRSTgCqGuhTnk1mA67-l-roB1BaQ-Q4bdR5LUI1rY7hs3e87Z9FbelO9YyD7IJMvf4Pj32V5eb0cIbtsF6wTdBvJE2VwwIpt4A0mdZpsy2n3sRShwrbxIcHsTtA/s400/P1020128.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 225px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Looking down to Hartsop</span></div></div><div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; color: #0000ee;"> <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627822277775619938" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bU1WOd-3a3U/ThoKi03Yd2I/AAAAAAAABC0/jyDtrl35Cuc/s400/P1020126.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 225px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Stef photographing small things with a big thing.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I had not been to Angle Tarn before and it is a superb wild camp site. Great views, good level places to pitch up, and after wolfing down my evening meal we sat and watched the water, Stef spotting the trout in the tarn, and telling some very entertaining fishing stories, whilst a few geese and their young patrolled the banks.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; color: #0000ee;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627848133099078162" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iMk_H0hge1I/ThoiDzc3QhI/AAAAAAAABD8/rK5c_hiF1T4/s400/P1020143.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 225px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; color: #0000ee;"> <br />
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</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; color: #0000ee;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627820323475174786" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpOndEEEDPXaeNdG2jdvHFWFJ0tIb5y-vsgV3zMcUXyzX5a-Qzz-GHMhVx3AqiKbhbJehgVwVyzP-5bMWjo9NhLWgA407gUX8UgG5vEs_SMviubboThokEntN5pwP0VZFl3eDlM5bvyA/s400/P1020159.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 225px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;">Angle Tarn from above</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7xKmGKf6iiw/Thy-6ZrcADI/AAAAAAAABEo/N0mAY2oUJGM/s1600/P1020134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7xKmGKf6iiw/Thy-6ZrcADI/AAAAAAAABEo/N0mAY2oUJGM/s400/P1020134.JPG" width="400" /></a> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">View from Camp Blug</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> <br />
</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627822252872599170" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OR1P6HE0UvE/ThoKhYGChoI/AAAAAAAABCk/EtjXD7ZH7TA/s400/P1020142.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 225px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Towards Camp Clarke...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The sun went down and the moon came out and it was just so peaceful...tired... zzzzz......</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Early the following morning Stef saw some of the red deer from the deer forest in Bannerdale up on the ridge behind us, however I missed out as my tent faced in a different direction and I didn't see any the next day either.<br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It got quite chilly around 3am and I only got to sleep well after putting on my insulated jacket, fleece leggings and socks because I had left my lovely down sleeping bag in Wales and was using a ME Ultralight synthetic bag... Ultralight=Coldatnight... especially when camping by water in a valley.<br />
Stef snored happily away in his <a href="http://beardedgit.com/?p=6487">Lifeventure</a> down bag.</div></div><div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Day 3</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Up early, packs a lot lighter now we went straight up the slope from Angle Tarn to Heckbeck Head [...feckin' love that name...] Stef going on across Beda Fell to knock off some more WR’s whilst I descended down Martindale Common to walk the road back to the car.</div><div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; color: #0000ee;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627820314692206258" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YN6Yx5wUJ8c/ThoIwjz0vrI/AAAAAAAABCQ/-zNO-oILUk4/s400/P1020168.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 225px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Looking south to Bannerdale. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">About an hour later Stef was hollering down to me whilst making his way down the bracken[ugh]path from Raven Crag. We walked the last km back to the cars where I produced the best moment of the entire trip....not Sudocrem but..........</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; color: #0000ee;"> <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627820307627007250" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VRK82l-djDg/ThoIwJfWXRI/AAAAAAAABCI/pCJehebm86I/s400/P1020176.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></span><br />
<div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> <br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Cold... really, really cold Becks Blue beer fresh from <a href="http://bluggery.blogspot.com/2011/06/review-of-coleman-coolboxes-supplied-by.html">the coolie box that Go Outdoors</a> sent to me to review.</div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Unbelievable. The car had been in the hot July sun for 2 days, There was still ice in the frozen bottles of water and lovely lovely cold beer and sandwiches. </div><div style="text-align: center;">And as it was non alcoholic we could have a few and drive home safely! Brilliant!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It was a great trip, only 11miles [not counting the ups and downs], we're not mountain marathon men, we stop frequently to take in the views, get our breath back, take pictures have a laugh and a chat with other walkers and on occasion a quick snooze!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; color: #0000ee;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627844879051685474" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cUTV416-w64/ThofGZLgfmI/AAAAAAAABDw/t7hGuRF3Y2c/s400/Martindale%2Bround.png" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 271px;" /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; color: #0000ee;"> <br />
</span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Dr Blughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08095927472442080554noreply@blogger.com2Martindale, Penrith, Cumbria, UK54.529200908013209 -2.876615899292005554.48909090801321 -2.9218483992920055 54.569310908013207 -2.8313833992920054tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7068398507837730114.post-57005188406965609282011-07-04T20:26:00.011+01:002011-07-04T22:50:50.611+01:00Abersoch, the Tudwals and a rant..<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UKK0eK7ScEA/ThIZ0rvPuXI/AAAAAAAABB0/duC92trYr6Q/s1600/P1000984.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lJl30ir2r0Q/ThIVzKzOKwI/AAAAAAAABBo/yuCnZxXslIM/s1600/P1000961.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lJl30ir2r0Q/ThIVzKzOKwI/AAAAAAAABBo/yuCnZxXslIM/s400/P1000961.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625582853355875074" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">A trip with my friend Ian setting off from Machroes at the far end of Abersoch beach to Porth Ceiriad, a short top of around 7 miles. Ian has purchased a <a href="http://web.me.com/cedarboat/Cedar_Boats_Europe/The_Formby_Finger.html">'Formby Finger'</a> Greenland paddle from me and was keen to try it out on the sea, after an initial demo on the River Dee.</div><div>
<br /></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hze0u7AvZLE/ThIU9fWOv6I/AAAAAAAABBI/xnSxVqwXqJM/s1600/P1000963.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hze0u7AvZLE/ThIU9fWOv6I/AAAAAAAABBI/xnSxVqwXqJM/s400/P1000963.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625581931158486946" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px; " /></a></span><meta charset="utf-8"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">We paddled over to the Tudwals, 2 small rocky islands 1km offshore, and quickly went round them, quite a few birds still nesting on the ledges, and young cormorants practising their diving skills all around us. A few seals spotted, and unfortunately one dead pup floating in the water. </span>
<br />
<br /><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bqL1Ef4Ei1M/ThIU9oUoHrI/AAAAAAAABBQ/vghCMogZb9Q/s400/P1000974.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625581933567680178" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px; " /> </span></div><meta charset="utf-8"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--0IQUo-Q1xE/ThIU-NeLeFI/AAAAAAAABBY/fNtW97K1BYY/s1600/P1000979.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"> <img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--0IQUo-Q1xE/ThIU-NeLeFI/AAAAAAAABBY/fNtW97K1BYY/s400/P1000979.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625581943539857490" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px; " /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6yPHzGTSZ7I/ThIVaH5KiPI/AAAAAAAABBg/0pwi7y0RY_4/s1600/P1000992.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6yPHzGTSZ7I/ThIVaH5KiPI/AAAAAAAABBg/0pwi7y0RY_4/s1600/P1000992.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We decided to go straight across and round the headland at Trwyn yr Wylfa and have lunch at Porth Ceiriad, and do some rock hopping on the way back. The fine weather had brought plenty of people to the beach; unfortunately some of them also decided to bring their speedboats and jetskis and at the same time leave the part of their brain that controls sensibility at home. </div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;">It really does beggar belief how unobservant some people are when behind the wheel of a fast boat, we had to wave our paddles several times at boats that threatened to collide with us, and we constantly saw adults and children without lifejackets. </div><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UKK0eK7ScEA/ThIZ0rvPuXI/AAAAAAAABB0/duC92trYr6Q/s400/P1000984.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625587277423950194" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><meta charset="utf-8"><div style="text-align: center;">After a quick lunch and pitstop at Porth Ceiriad we followed the coast back round to Machroes, sticking our noses into some of the caves, and taking in the geology. We were going against the ebb, but it was easy paddling.</div><div>
<br /></div></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6yPHzGTSZ7I/ThIVaH5KiPI/AAAAAAAABBg/0pwi7y0RY_4/s1600/P1000992.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6yPHzGTSZ7I/ThIVaH5KiPI/AAAAAAAABBg/0pwi7y0RY_4/s400/P1000992.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625582423078766834" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span></div><div>
<br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">We both agreed it would be a a far better midweek trip and best done at the crack of dawn.</div>Dr Blughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08095927472442080554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7068398507837730114.post-37494431894067597102011-06-11T22:45:00.008+01:002011-06-17T21:23:39.741+01:00The Formby Finger..building a Greenland paddle<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix0xI8ocEcrNW15c71ir0H2zf2d7Sz6Q1EeaTq9_MlTrq8aIX6ANTejBa0kD_USWHXCUdMcoE_R-9dTrSMlhpguOrQCqa0I4wRjNHpuKf5gEKIgRwTCalo4FAhdkiBlYQUjGwSqFypTZ0/s1600/P1000893.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BEA7GWDGlbA/TfS4ICjJGQI/AAAAAAAAA_o/FAA3oJYcegM/s1600/Straits%2Bwith%2BM%2526M%2B027.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div style="text-align: center;">A few days ago with some time to spare I decided to build a Greenland style kayak paddle. </div><div style="text-align: center;">The main reason being that the low angle paddling style might alleviate some of my back and shoulder problems.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I bought the Western Red Cedar from the same supplier as usual, a bit shocked at how much timber has gone up in price, but 2 x 2.44m lengths of 140 x 25mm would be enough to build 2 paddles.</div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">As the working thickness I needed was 40mm I had to cut the boards into strips and used West System Epoxy to join them together to produce a 100 x 40mm blank.</div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I used <a href="http://www.qajaqusa.org/QK/makegreen2.pdf">Chuck Holst's GP design</a>, which is a very clear and concise instruction manual to building a paddle and I found it easy to follow after converting to metric. I won't go into discussion of paddle length, technique etc.. it's all in Chuck's article.</div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TkybJ8JyCcY/TfPob48H5QI/AAAAAAAAA_c/USQvX6UzEjA/s1600/Screen%2Bshot%2B2011-06-11%2Bat%2B21.24.24.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Kp5RcZfsMLU/TfPoFhtai1I/AAAAAAAAA_U/1RF1gXMqAlM/s1600/P1000848.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Kp5RcZfsMLU/TfPoFhtai1I/AAAAAAAAA_U/1RF1gXMqAlM/s400/P1000848.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617088341906983762" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">After the first cuts to remove surplus timber to form the blades, some careful marking for the loom and blade tips. The paddle is 12mm thick at the tips.</div><div>
<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ROBREL8Vowg/TfPoFQXiUfI/AAAAAAAAA_M/X-X9JbLgZkA/s1600/P1000850.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ROBREL8Vowg/TfPoFQXiUfI/AAAAAAAAA_M/X-X9JbLgZkA/s400/P1000850.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617088337251815922" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">All cut out on a bandsaw, then a couple of hours whittling in the garden...</div></div><div>
<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2jeqZu1IZfE/TfPoE_ZUqkI/AAAAAAAAA_E/AdcAlzAq2uA/s1600/P1000855.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2jeqZu1IZfE/TfPoE_ZUqkI/AAAAAAAAA_E/AdcAlzAq2uA/s400/P1000855.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617088332695906882" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">A remarkable amount of wood shavings resulted from extensive work with a block plane and a few sharp knives, great for lighting the bbq later on..</div></div><div>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tRu9wfygSAydsJJYVCbJvu6K0knBNgJWewUHjVxb7aYANRSgGQXV3-n9Ffjhjwnw-UAfgbokXqqQmehmztM45PB7V9fJpgZJyZHlxn9ePkpMJYdiuyN2glPEsEz6InotArg2VV8GvdI/s1600/P1000865.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tRu9wfygSAydsJJYVCbJvu6K0knBNgJWewUHjVxb7aYANRSgGQXV3-n9Ffjhjwnw-UAfgbokXqqQmehmztM45PB7V9fJpgZJyZHlxn9ePkpMJYdiuyN2glPEsEz6InotArg2VV8GvdI/s400/P1000865.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617082815741527522" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Blade tips after sanding.</div></div><div>
<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2rYg4bN96yw/TfPjDVyIJoI/AAAAAAAAA-w/xefdrgrWSkY/s1600/P1000864.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2rYg4bN96yw/TfPjDVyIJoI/AAAAAAAAA-w/xefdrgrWSkY/s400/P1000864.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617082806787647106" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Main tools used [no bandsaw in garden]</div></div><div style="text-align: center;">And finally a lovely smooth paddle. </div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lpF6stgeW-k/TfPjDDQAjpI/AAAAAAAAA-o/d9VH3fWqFNI/s1600/P1000868.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lpF6stgeW-k/TfPjDDQAjpI/AAAAAAAAA-o/d9VH3fWqFNI/s400/P1000868.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617082801812704914" /></a><meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><div style="text-align: center; "><meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix0xI8ocEcrNW15c71ir0H2zf2d7Sz6Q1EeaTq9_MlTrq8aIX6ANTejBa0kD_USWHXCUdMcoE_R-9dTrSMlhpguOrQCqa0I4wRjNHpuKf5gEKIgRwTCalo4FAhdkiBlYQUjGwSqFypTZ0/s400/P1000893.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619286904166060498" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span>After couple of coats of Danish Oil to seal it I joined some friends in Wales for a trip on the Menai Strait to try it out. Very different from a Euro paddle; at first the low angle style of paddling felt very strange, but after 10 mins it started to feel quite natural, and I didn't notice the lack of feather compared to my usual Lendal carbon fibre paddle. It has a 'soft' feel and after going into the wind and tide for 6 miles I felt like I could have kept going all day, and my friends gave it a favourable review too. </div><div style="text-align: center; ">Only minus point is that the high front of the Rockpool Alaw's cockpit doesn't allow a true Greenland paddling style.</div><div style="text-align: center; ">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center; "><meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BEA7GWDGlbA/TfS4ICjJGQI/AAAAAAAAA_o/FAA3oJYcegM/s400/Straits%2Bwith%2BM%2526M%2B027.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617317083500583170" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center; ">Many thanks to my friend Ray McCarthy, builder of the 'Wirral Wand' for his advice and support. I hope the 'Formby Finger' meets his expectations.</div></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></div>Dr Blughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08095927472442080554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7068398507837730114.post-80455146593935622802011-04-19T21:53:00.005+01:002011-04-19T22:35:57.767+01:00Liverpool Docks<div style="text-align: center;">A pleasant easy paddle with a group of friends from Liverpool Canoe Club, I took a tour around the Docks, setting off from Liverpool Marina Harbour Club slipway at Coburg Dock.</div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8"><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8"><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3qLQGayi5Ns/Ta33NKH8NiI/AAAAAAAAA8k/k-fcs6TjkdM/s400/IMGP0712.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597401717319415330" /><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8">
<br /><div style="text-align: center;">New iron work but old stone work which has withstood the sea and the bombs in WW2</div><div>
<br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWL_T_IZWh3wZeBF9nVYha-1iw1t3QoajWYZJQ6Z6pT0Qb3qHUJCF27UEvrGp_V4wGpSHLmfR-MqLDc4-V6JImL2yPpV5XLZ0LvDZvjfphjuLF7f_AlETfEMf14iZshsjsO5C5J-CLT40/s400/IMGP0750.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597402467240710738" /><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8"><div style="text-align: center;">At various points around the docks there are depth gauges carved into the stone; this one in Roman numerals is the only one I have seen, but there may be more. The water seemed to be around 20-22' in all the docks we paddled in</div></div><div>
<br /><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rXo7ffQTXpI/Ta33NvaZG_I/AAAAAAAAA88/RwVX5AU0l20/s400/IMGP0730.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597401727328918514" /><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8"></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">I wonder if these are the original timbers at the entrance to the Albert Dock?</div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m_RkqO3lEJY/Ta33NR58YaI/AAAAAAAAA8s/_kHwehxKSKg/s400/IMGP0717.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597401719408189858" /><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8"><div style="text-align: center;">The new bridge across Dukes Dock.</div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-60iHVoCNd8E/Ta33NYLDqFI/AAAAAAAAA80/FHT9m4LcOeg/s400/IMGP0722.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597401721090582610" /></div><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8"><div style="text-align: center;">The Liverpool Waterfront has changed immensely over the last 5 years, not long ago the skyline was dominated by cranes, and the surrounding roads were a nightmare as the city struggled to finish work for the 'City of Culture' year. Three years on it is just about back to normal. </div><div style="text-align: center;">There are many pontoons around most of the docks to attract houseboat and barge owners, and the Marina itself is full of craft old and new.</div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tQ6yjCMGHjA/Ta334r6TohI/AAAAAAAAA9E/Hcq2gE3VAVw/s400/IMGP0746.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597402465123410450" /><div style="text-align: center;">One of the oldest ships in the Albert Dock.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w5mmdKaAs1o/Ta335mipksI/AAAAAAAAA9c/NCHqsUInYyU/s400/IMGP0755.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597402480861876930" /></div><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">The Liverpool Wheel and the Echo Arena.</div><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8"></div><div><div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8"><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8"><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8"><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8"><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8"><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8"><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_MHCqqbZUno/Ta335a9UP4I/AAAAAAAAA9U/2Rxj1XrHhgc/s400/IMGP0754.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597402477752500098" /><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8"><div style="text-align: center;">And finally the most bizarre craft we saw all day..WaterWalkers..</div><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8"><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8"><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8"><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8"><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8"><div style="text-align: center;">
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<br /></div></div></div></div>Dr Blughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08095927472442080554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7068398507837730114.post-39198535522084165622011-02-27T17:38:00.005+00:002011-02-27T19:06:05.131+00:00The leaving of Liverpool..<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">HMS Liverpool 1980-2011</div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--sicLSPtYy4/TWqS_mYoLiI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/eXyZFgKvmhU/s1600/P1000358.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--sicLSPtYy4/TWqS_mYoLiI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/eXyZFgKvmhU/s400/P1000358.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578432709785038370" /></a>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span">Today I went to visit HMS Liverpool, which is berthed at Liverpool docks for the very last time with Dan and my nephew Stan.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Launched in 1980, Liverpool will be decommissioned [ie scrapped under government defence cuts] later this year after an illustrious service history, this is despite a full refit in 2009 which cost millions of pounds.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tphw_nEqykQ/TWqUAUQaeNI/AAAAAAAAA70/rO3yT6q1GkA/s400/P1000394.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578433821610244306" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">
<br /></span></span></div><meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><p style="margin-top: 0.4em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">HMS Liverpool<span style="padding-left: 0.1em; ">'</span>s nickname is "The Crazy Red Chick" derived from the Liver Bird which appears on her funnel badge which, in common with other ships of this class, features some aspect of the crest of the namesake city.</p><p style="margin-top: 0.4em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">
<br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0.4em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; line-height: normal; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tpvBqGy5qB4/TWqT_77XzeI/AAAAAAAAA7s/M-b2l8YOZkk/s400/P1000363.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578433815079538146" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0.4em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">She was part of the Naval Task Group 03 (NTG03), intended to take part in exercises in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Far_East" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; ">Far East</a> as part of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_Power_Defence_Arrangement" class="mw-redirect" title="Five Power Defence Arrangement" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; ">Five Power Defence Arrangement</a>. The task force was, instead, sent to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_Gulf" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; ">Persian Gulf</a> where they took part in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_Iraq_War" class="mw-redirect" title="2003 Iraq War" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; ">2003 Iraq War</a> and later in the Caribbean.</p><p style="margin-top: 0.4em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">
<br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0.4em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; line-height: normal; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bKkJRJWSiyY/TWqUAzsi6wI/AAAAAAAAA78/cSiUa8Mv9_0/s400/P1000413.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578433830049737474" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; line-height: normal; ">
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; line-height: normal; ">
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; line-height: normal; "><meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aGuiiyym_mk/TWqS_4NOiKI/AAAAAAAAA7g/nApM-9hSfxc/s400/P1000398.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578432714569058466" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px; " /></span></span></div><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0.4em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">The number of people queueing to visit the ship showed the affection the people of Liverpool have for 'their' ship and talking with the crew and some of the old seafarers and ex crew who were present today justifiably proud to have served this ship or her predecessor, there will be a few tears shed when she slips her mooring and leaves the Mersey for the last time tomorrow.</p></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; line-height: normal; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NhGlWXWiJ34/TWqUBKVFf6I/AAAAAAAAA8E/u-HcRs5L0z0/s400/P1000412.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578433836125355938" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></span></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; line-height: normal; ">
<br /></span></span></span></div>Dr Blughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08095927472442080554noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7068398507837730114.post-52557556835478830692011-02-17T19:49:00.010+00:002011-02-20T20:07:02.312+00:00Irton Pike to Boot<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mivMDMZNnXQ/TWF0O_rPjYI/AAAAAAAAA7M/shQR2ndpRzg/s1600/P1000189.JPG"></a><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><span class="Apple-style-span">My friend Karen and I enjoyed a grand hike today whilst on holiday in Eskdale.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></span></div><meta charset="utf-8"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FyfdfxRi7aw/TV5Mtaiv54I/AAAAAAAAA6g/L-2EPT5OFBw/s1600/P1010806.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FyfdfxRi7aw/TV5Mtaiv54I/AAAAAAAAA6g/L-2EPT5OFBw/s320/P1010806.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574977731834144642" /></a><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-416ujAJzYto/TV2BP63dTVI/AAAAAAAAA6U/kjrQJ_KOz2s/s1600/P1000156.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-416ujAJzYto/TV2BP63dTVI/AAAAAAAAA6U/kjrQJ_KOz2s/s320/P1000156.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574754024254426450" /></a><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8"></div><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PxtXKmVjOZk/TV1-o18zrkI/AAAAAAAAA6I/ulixfuucVcI/s320/P1000163.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574751153896533570" /><span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">We were rewarded with some great views of Scafell, Yewbarrow, Pillar and Great Gable.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">The Mountain Rescue helicopter was hovering around Scafell, hopefully all involved are safe.</span></div><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8"><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8"></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-72vLwQB2Iz4/TV1-op_i_II/AAAAAAAAA6A/T8pOvl1Bhzg/s320/IMG_2580.JPG" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574751150686796930" /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">We walked from Irton Pike up to Whin Rigg, along Illgill Head and swooped down to </span></div><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Burnmoor Tarn and thence to Boot where we refreshed in the excellent Boot Inn.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8"></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">My lovely wife Francie and Karen's partner Nigel joined us at the start of the walk and met us at the pub!</span></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Great news when we got back to hear that the Forestry Woods sell-off has been cancelled. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">The Government are taking notice of some the people in this country at last .</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Day 2</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">A short 4m trip, we walked up the River Esk from Brotherikeld Farm to Lingcove Bridge and back.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">With all the recent rainfall the waterfalls along the route were at their best, and at the bridge you get magnificent views of some of Englands finest mountains. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">I used a Lumix DFC-FZ38 camera for these pics; it's a 'bridge' camera, ie not compact or SLR, with an 18x optical zoom, and I am very impressed with it so far. The zoom is sharp at its maximum, and the built in 'anti-shake' function works well.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WxmEgQJ9vBo/TV-FgJplrCI/AAAAAAAAA60/CkA8HqE1i9A/s320/P1000226.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575321651100625954" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mivMDMZNnXQ/TWF0O_rPjYI/AAAAAAAAA7M/shQR2ndpRzg/s400/P1000189.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575865614621183362" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">
<br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">The Scafell Massif from Hardknott For</span>t</div></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nyfPRt1w3so/TV-Ff3f89FI/AAAAAAAAA6s/FLd7_nCVias/s1600/P1000247.JPG"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nyfPRt1w3so/TV-Ff3f89FI/AAAAAAAAA6s/FLd7_nCVias/s320/P1000247.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575321646228370514" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px; " /></a></span></span></div>Dr Blughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08095927472442080554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7068398507837730114.post-24452819027028707522011-01-02T23:05:00.003+00:002011-01-02T23:29:16.460+00:00A wet start to the New Year!<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13.3333px; ">Happy New Year all..</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13.3333px; ">So off I went to Craig-y don near Llandudno with the new Rockpool Alaw, to meet up with a few hardy souls with the intention of a wee trip around the Great Orme and a bit of rock hopping.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13.3333px; ">Bearing in mind I bought the Alaw after a very satisfactory demo session in Scotland last year, I got a bit of a shock when I found it really twitchy and was dumped out of it about 15 seconds of launching, because I a) got turned by a wave and b) hadn't put me spraydeck on. Cue huge embarrassment all round.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13.3333px; ">Right onto me gammy shoulder, which complained, but after a couple of Voltarol kicked in I relaunched and joined up with the guys for a brief trip from one end of the bay to the pier and returned back on my own.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13.3333px; ">Pleased to say that my Gul cag with the latex neck seal performed admirably, [see post 2009/10/rubber-me-up], and I remained dry after dunking.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13.3333px; ">Hopefully things will improve on my next outing.</span></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/TSEFjfZt3AI/AAAAAAAAA5w/dD80rV2V1YI/s1600/IMGP0660.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/TSEFjfZt3AI/AAAAAAAAA5w/dD80rV2V1YI/s320/IMGP0660.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557729522434825218" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/TSEFjA72QfI/AAAAAAAAA5o/1ati3b9gptM/s1600/IMGP0659.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/TSEFjA72QfI/AAAAAAAAA5o/1ati3b9gptM/s320/IMGP0659.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557729514256482802" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13.3333px; ">A Rockpool gathering..</span></div>Dr Blughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08095927472442080554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7068398507837730114.post-13171603313313524982010-10-05T20:12:00.003+01:002010-10-05T20:15:30.545+01:00Seakayakpodcast now live!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/TKt5DcrnCAI/AAAAAAAAA48/bdc6fSJVxcQ/s1600/meSKP.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 135px; height: 136px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/TKt5DcrnCAI/AAAAAAAAA48/bdc6fSJVxcQ/s320/meSKP.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524642468045719554" /></a>
<br /><meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; color: rgb(79, 79, 79); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; "><b><p class="paragraph_style_3" style="color: rgb(88, 77, 77); font-family: ArialMT, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; opacity: 1; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; ">Earlier in the year Simon Willis the outdoors author and presenter of <a href="http://seakayakpodcasts.com/">Seakayakpodcasts.com</a> interviewed me when I was on holiday at Loch Fyne, Scotland.</p><p class="paragraph_style_3" style="color: rgb(88, 77, 77); font-family: ArialMT, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; opacity: 1; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; ">We chatted for over an hour about building cedar strip kayaks and the podcast has now been published for the world to listen to.</p><p class="paragraph_style_3" style="color: rgb(88, 77, 77); font-family: ArialMT, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; opacity: 1; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; ">I hope you enjoy it; Simon has built up a good collection of entertaining podcasts on many kayak related subjects, its exponents and characters, and I am honoured to have been included. Please have a look at his site, all the podcasts are available for free download. If you have an iTunes account you can also subscribe to them.</p></b></span>Dr Blughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08095927472442080554noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7068398507837730114.post-70792573073449907242010-07-16T10:44:00.006+01:002010-08-23T22:02:40.746+01:00Cedar Boats website..<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I've finally got round to building the Cedarboats website aimed at UK and European builders of cedar strip kayaks and canoes.</span><br /></div> </div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://web.me.com/cedarboat">http://web.me.com/cedarboat</a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:arial;">At the moment I'm hosting it on my me.com account thanks to Apple; but it will be moving to its permanent site, <a href="http://cedarboats.co.uk/seakayak.html">cedarboats.co.uk</a> very soon.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">In the future I hope to be able to supply materials and kits for boat builders, custom designed boat plans, host short courses in kayak construction and build bespoke boats.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Please have a look and if you know anyone who has built a boat and would like to display it on the Gallery, or is considering building one and needs some advice, get in touch via the link on the home page.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;">There's an article in Ocean Paddler Magazine Issue 22 this month.<br /></span><br /></div></div>Dr Blughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08095927472442080554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7068398507837730114.post-53094515299455699442010-06-07T20:13:00.009+01:002010-06-09T22:03:05.494+01:00Scotland<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/TA1VF9tYx2I/AAAAAAAAA0Q/ZMrxa5hJ8Ic/s1600/P1000810.JPG"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/TA1VFSnAMuI/AAAAAAAAA0I/LEghFrc9jTI/s1600/P1000774.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/TA1VFSnAMuI/AAAAAAAAA0I/LEghFrc9jTI/s400/P1000774.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480129870962897634" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">We went on our annual jaunt up to Loch Fyne a little earlier this year and were well rewarded with fine weather and few midgies.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></div><div> </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">Our rented cottage is right on the shore of the loch and it was a doddle to get the boat out, and I was on the water most days for a couple of hours.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></div><div> </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">There's little tidal flow in the loch, so it feels more like paddling on a big lake, and there are good trips in all directions, islands to explore and lots of wildlife and stunning scenery.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/TBABO8eJLuI/AAAAAAAAA0s/7HDJf9sHLCc/s400/IMGP0207.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480882102772248290" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/TBABOdAWR4I/AAAAAAAAA0k/lI0ClKn3NrE/s400/IMGP0206.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480882094325778306" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/TA1HtqiFzUI/AAAAAAAAAy4/HGTisCIoQ68/s400/IMGP0205.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480115171416722754" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">Plenty of jellyfish in the water this year..</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/TA1HuNvE23I/AAAAAAAAAzA/NdRYtQVEZ-U/s400/IMGP0215.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480115180866427762" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">At times it was like a mill pond...</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">Over the Bank Holiday weekend </span></span><a href="http://karitek.co.uk/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">Kari-Tek</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"> held a demo day at Tayvallich on Loch Sween, which was only 20 miles away and a fabulous venue. It was very well attended with a full fleet of boats being tried out by paddlers of all standards. Some people took advantage of some coaching; £50 for 2 days..well worth it if you had never paddled a sea kayak before.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;color:#333333;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/TA1NZzrnZgI/AAAAAAAAAzM/g1Tn_JJXAgo/s400/P1000791.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480121427344975362" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">Strangely, I have never paddled a composite sea kayak before and took the opportunity to try out the Rockpool GT and Alaw, as well as the P&H Cetus and Scorpio.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">I was very impressed with the handling of the Alaw straight away, it turns quickly, and fitted me so well I may buy one.The GT and Cetus are good fast boats, but I felt that my big cedar strip boat Tootega will do the same job for me at my pedestrian paddling pace.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">The Scorpio felt much like my old Valley Aquanaut HV, but its spoiled by its thigh grips and the truly awful P&H skeg system that is a pig to operate.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">Many thanks to Jeff and Ann for organising the event.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;color:#333333;">Some more pics:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEUDhjPdAHEvEZmTDF5IRL3iJ2R0INjT7M-EBm7jBU49cI_GjPwXWs1YR_xTtp13TNFvmudyfNNdKNG_KzK74TO_JXsxnw7y7TiDQp22TacPv1XuzgHXP98kTPZsjFyOfTixJnJBn1V3U/s400/P1000880.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480123019569580418" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbunytr4BTkaVn3jkwXuCJs5wHTuYd-WdvS2GUQr6jTNIMnLtCs_KgrKZj3-QITeOaIJ-tnEetDQ5mHaC1KGCDcNb6cbo1QqDPHTKfrsZFNrpBRF40zru3_pvllZYXox6MEXGoZcHHC7Y/s400/P1000874.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480123011211137794" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 204px; height: 400px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">Crinan Canal</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwjECSTvzaQ1V_YP6nWPCjZ6M_cPpX1yu-g6PmJdbLX_GoQUR1VOKtoI9M_7dAU7vVYEnMe4NCksGUZnJDXxfUY43sXI3UoZSA81zwDairRkOMfZF1ka-PMjrttZPi39H7DzZ1K085fOI/s400/P1000928.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480126660221456834" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keills_Chapel"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3366FF;">Keills Chapel</span></span></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/TA1HtG-K3fI/AAAAAAAAAyw/TE8rCV5V2X8/s1600/IMGP0180.JPG"></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/TA1SJ7NAdqI/AAAAAAAAAz0/sCkZSCycOlg/s400/P1000903.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480126652044310178" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 305px; height: 400px; " /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">This horse is used to transport the ammo to the cannon...</span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/TA1HtG-K3fI/AAAAAAAAAyw/TE8rCV5V2X8/s1600/IMGP0180.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;color:#333333;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/TA1HtG-K3fI/AAAAAAAAAyw/TE8rCV5V2X8/s1600/IMGP0180.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/TA1HtG-K3fI/AAAAAAAAAyw/TE8rCV5V2X8/s400/IMGP0180.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480115161870818802" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Sedna beached on one of the small islands in Loch Fyn</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">e.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;color:#333333;"><br /></span></div><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/TA1VF9tYx2I/AAAAAAAAA0Q/ZMrxa5hJ8Ic/s400/P1000810.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480129882532398946" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 211px; " /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">And finally a picture of me in the new boat at last. It paddles well, and seems faster than Tootega and is certainly a lot easier to get on and off the car as it's a lot lighter. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">As it's quite a low volume it wouldn't be suitable for say a weeks camping trip, but as a day boat its fine. The low slung bow tends to go through waves rather than riding over them and consequently a slightly wetter ride, but the Kajaksport hatches are fine. However it doesn't feel as manouverable as Tootega which I would prefer as my boat for open sea paddling.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;color:#333333;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><br /></span></span></div></span></div></div>Dr Blughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08095927472442080554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7068398507837730114.post-50022080882881197202010-04-03T17:20:00.007+01:002010-04-13T20:17:21.693+01:00Sedna coming together....Update 13th April<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/S8TC1V4nHQI/AAAAAAAAAwU/ilpWFyHVdfI/s1600/P1000653.JPG"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/S7uztSCGmkI/AAAAAAAAAwI/m76e2iFYwAQ/s1600/P1000620.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/S7uztSCGmkI/AAAAAAAAAwI/m76e2iFYwAQ/s400/P1000620.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457152964005632578" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/S7dsQANRF3I/AAAAAAAAAvk/H07rhdT9kUE/s1600/P1000621.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/S7dsQANRF3I/AAAAAAAAAvk/H07rhdT9kUE/s400/P1000621.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455948495771998066" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:arial;">All the hatch surrounds are finished as well as the carbon fibre coaming.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:arial;"> A friend who is a carbon fibre wizard is moulding me a skeg box, and I am ordering bits and bobs from <a href="http://www.karitek.co.uk/">Karitek</a> to complete the skeg system.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:arial;"> The deck and hull have been joined, and the bulkheads [one WRC one made from the cutout for the rear hatch! and 2 x Fomex ones] fitted too.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;color:#333333;">The hatch rims were glued on using Sikaflex 291..horribly sticky stuff!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;color:#333333;">I have built up a seat and cheek-plates from carbon fibre and glass mat, and have sanded down the seam and applied 3 coats of Goldspar varnish over the last few days.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;color:#333333;">On the scales the boat weighs 18.2 kg.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;color:#333333;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;color:#333333;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-family: Georgia, serif; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/S8TC1V4nHQI/AAAAAAAAAwU/ilpWFyHVdfI/s400/P1000653.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459702869943328002" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;color:#333333;">I have to admit to taking the boat to North Wales this weekend to try it out at Abersoch. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;color:#333333;">Initial impressions are that it paddles well; pictures of the finished boat to appear in the next few days....! [ 225 hrs]</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Dr Blughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08095927472442080554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7068398507837730114.post-15706406237103875032010-04-01T20:04:00.005+01:002010-04-02T17:28:24.518+01:00Sedna Update April 1st...Hatches and coaming build.<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Building the coaming is one of the more difficult bits to make on a kayak. There are several methods, some use strips of cedar or ash, others use plywood; I'm trying out a new method.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Using spacers cut from 3mm Foamex [pvc sheet] I tacked them around the riser with spots of hot glue.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/S7TvGlGXkqI/AAAAAAAAAvI/mucPat-sO2o/s1600/sedna25.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/S7TvGlGXkqI/AAAAAAAAAvI/mucPat-sO2o/s400/sedna25.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455247944969589410" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">... superglue was used to stick on another sheet of Foamex from which the inner was removed so it fitted neatly onto the spacers and was level with the top of the riser. It was covered with duct tape to act as a release from the epoxy. </span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Previously I used polystyrene foam to build up the shape but the foamex is a harder surface and easier to use the squeegee on without getting bumps in the layers of glass.</span></span></div><div><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/S7Tvhzo9VJI/AAAAAAAAAvY/qZXrR2jOt6Y/s400/sedna26.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455248412729234578" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> The spraydeck lip was then built up from layers of 200g cloth. I added some black epoxy tint to the later coats, which will prevent light spots under the final layers of carbon fibre. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></span></div></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/S7Tuv1AdAhI/AAAAAAAAAuw/WvJOTuqAEZc/s400/sedna29.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455247554102755858" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">Finally the coaming is positioned onto the riser and taped down while the epoxy sets.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"> I fabricated the hatch surrounds from foamex too, then covered with duct tape again..</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;color:#333333;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/S7TvG6ae3eI/AAAAAAAAAvQ/Vo0bnWUm5J0/s400/sedna24.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455247950691098082" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">It's a very big hole to cut out of the rear deck, there are only 1.5" left on either side</span>!</div></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/S7TuwhnUy8I/AAAAAAAAAvA/s0Fm0skIsJA/s1600/sedna27.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/S7TuwhnUy8I/AAAAAAAAAvA/s0Fm0skIsJA/s1600/sedna27.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/S7TuwhnUy8I/AAAAAAAAAvA/s0Fm0skIsJA/s400/sedna27.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455247566076955586" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">The surrounds are made from about 8 layers of 200g cloth. They have to be strong; a 1m wave crashing onto the deck has some weight in it, so lightweight construction goes out the window in this instance</span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/S7Tuwcw1RtI/AAAAAAAAAu4/OK385XB4bjI/s1600/sedna28.jpg"></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/S7Tuv1AdAhI/AAAAAAAAAuw/WvJOTuqAEZc/s1600/sedna29.jpg"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/S7Tuvb8g5xI/AAAAAAAAAuo/YpEvFRgsMXo/s1600/sedna30.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/S7Tuvb8g5xI/AAAAAAAAAuo/YpEvFRgsMXo/s400/sedna30.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455247547375347474" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">Plenty of thickened epoxy and lots of clamps hold it in place whilst setting. After some filling, filing and sanding, a layer of carbon fibre [reassuringly expensive] is applied over the surround. Here's the front hatch so far.</span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/S7Tuwcw1RtI/AAAAAAAAAu4/OK385XB4bjI/s400/sedna28.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455247564774655698" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">This method is explained in more detail by Ross Leidy in his Whiptail build on his excellent </span></span><a href="http://www.blueheronkayaks.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Blueheronkayaks</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"> website.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;color:#333333;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;color:#333333;">[171hrs so far]</span></div><div><br /></div></span></span></div></div></div>Dr Blughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08095927472442080554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7068398507837730114.post-6663287318750980042010-01-31T18:16:00.033+00:002010-03-25T00:03:20.357+00:00New kayak Sedna in progress..updated 24th March<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's the stage by stage progress of my new strip-build design, <a href="http://www.goddessgift.com/goddess-myths/goddess-Sedna.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Sedna</span></a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I started off by purchasing 21m of clear Western Red Cedar Decking from the <a href="http://decksupply.co.uk/">Deck Supply Company</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/S2XJd4yeywI/AAAAAAAAApk/y8hUZ6LrgX0/s320/Sedna1.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432970040789879554" /><div style="text-align: center;">I won't go into the construction method in great depth as that has been covered in earlier posts on the blog, but here's the forms on the old strongback....I won't be using it again, it's well past its sell by date now. I am hoping to build this kayak economically and recycling as much old material as possible.</div><div><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/S2XJdluGkMI/AAAAAAAAApc/KjLeTnVx0xg/s320/Sedna2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432970035671240898" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/S2XJdE9HGHI/AAAAAAAAApU/jaNI3sNMq08/s320/Sedna3.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432970026875820146" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">...and the first couple of strips along the sheerline are on.</div><div style="text-align: center;">This time I'm using much wider strips, 24mm and 20mm x 5mm thick and should get it stripped far quicker than last time.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The strips are shaped using a block plane to produce a <a href="http://www.kayakforum.com/cgi-bin/Building/index.cgi/md/read/id/165829">rolling bevel</a> rather than using bead and cove strip, so glue weight should be less. I'm aiming for a very light boat this time round.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/S3HR4dWMbuI/AAAAAAAAAqc/ZGOoGWHXArY/s320/Sedna4.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436356993093496546" /><div style="text-align: center;">...9th Feb: finished stripping the hull...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/S3xCmHdkogI/AAAAAAAAAqw/RVaatUwlPyU/s320/Sedna6.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439295672562262530" /><div style="text-align: center;">17th Feb...the deck is well on the way...the wider strips are making it a much faster build, 42hrs so far. I'm not doing a pointy end this time, a shaped block of maple will be epoxied on later.</div><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/S3xClukI1WI/AAAAAAAAAqo/perOEKSseck/s320/Sedna5.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439295665878914402" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Stern view. There isn't enough clearance to fit a Karitek skeg box this time; I'm going to have to manufacture my own design. So far I have used 1/3 of the glue and staples used on the last boat.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/S37CQi6UPDI/AAAAAAAAArE/q6Vcgt59-nY/s320/sedna8.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439998989415234610" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/S37CQRu_hOI/AAAAAAAAAq8/fgFgjnknQVo/s320/sedna7.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439998984804336866" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Finally finished stripping the deck today, and after a preliminary sanding slapped some filler into the staple holes. The area around the cockpit was a pig to strip. [52.5 hrs]</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:georgia, serif;">I cut the hole for the layback today and planed most of the hull and deck to fair the strips, and then a quick blast with the orbital sander. It's a lot different from my other boat, less rocker, narrower, and definitely leaner all round. The cockpit is quite high at the front as I like to have plenty of room to wiggle my legs around; I also have a cunning plan.....[57hrs]</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/S4qyBBPOg6I/AAAAAAAAAr4/9407670WqdM/s400/sedna13.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443358830212580258" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 151px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">I started fitting the strips to form the layback. For every 3 strips I fit a full length one to keep them aligned and provide support. I'm using cyanoacrylate and wood glue to do it quickly.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/S4Vyf6cjN1I/AAAAAAAAArk/7vs9cvbnKgs/s400/sedna11.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441881617337628498" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/S4VygAbtfhI/AAAAAAAAArs/lu4p-2s63C8/s1600-h/sedna12.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/S4VygAbtfhI/AAAAAAAAArs/lu4p-2s63C8/s400/sedna12.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441881618944720402" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">I've ordered a set of KajakSport hatch covers and rims. They will add a little extra weight [1.5kg] to the boat compared to the way I did the <a href="http://bluggery.blogspot.com/2009/03/run-in.html">hatches on Tootega</a>, but I want ones that are easily replaceable and more watertight. Unfortunately they are a lot harder to fit as the rims have to be glued to a flat surface, so some extra creative fibreglass work will be taking place.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/S4qyoo59HEI/AAAAAAAAAsI/AmC0g98VIkk/s400/IMG_0102.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443359510875675714" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">28th Feb: layback finished. [76hrs]</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">1st March: Sanding and filling then removed the deck and hull from the strongback and forms. Out of curiosity I weighed them on a spring scale: 9.5kg!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Allowing for say 6kg max of resin, 2kg max for glass cloth, then fittings, seat and bulkheads, I should be on course for a 20kg boat as planned. [81hrs]</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">5th March: spent most of the day filling and final sanding of the hull. I gave it a wipe down with a wet sponge to remove the dust and raise the grain. This gives a good idea of the colouring of the wood when resin goes on.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/S5Fl-eA4rDI/AAAAAAAAAsc/YvTGOhNB7II/s1600-h/sedna15.JPG"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/S5Fl-eA4rDI/AAAAAAAAAsc/YvTGOhNB7II/s400/sedna15.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445245548350712882" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/S5Fl-B03ebI/AAAAAAAAAsU/FjK5ob2A9UU/s1600-h/sedna14.JPG"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/S5Fl-B03ebI/AAAAAAAAAsU/FjK5ob2A9UU/s1600-h/sedna14.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/S5Fl-B03ebI/AAAAAAAAAsU/FjK5ob2A9UU/s400/sedna14.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445245540784110002" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a>On the way back to the workshop I bashed the stern against the door frame and cracked it. Grrrr!! [88hrs]</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">9th March: The resin arrived yesterday and having been in a warming cabinet overnight is lovely and thin. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Last night I gave the hull a sealer coat of resin onto the bare wood, and this afternoon I heated the workshop up whilst I draped the 100gm fibreglass cloth over it, and trimmed it to shape.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It's half the weight of the cloth on Tootega and using a varnish roller, I covered it in less than an hour, and used a squeegee to remove the excess resin.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The experience gained from the last boat is really helping; it's easier to estimate how much resin to work with before it starts to thicken, and I'm pleased to say this layup went really well, only one or two tiny bubbles, and only 300ml approx of resin used, which is good!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/S5asx3tktnI/AAAAAAAAAtM/cCo62aBs_n0/s1600-h/sedna17.jpg"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/S5asx3tktnI/AAAAAAAAAtM/cCo62aBs_n0/s400/sedna17.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446730772119860850" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a>It wetted out beautifully...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/S5asxhhzrxI/AAAAAAAAAtE/bXd77_bo1kk/s1600-h/sedna16.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/S5asxhhzrxI/AAAAAAAAAtE/bXd77_bo1kk/s400/sedna16.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446730766164930322" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">3/4 done. I hardly had a drip. Thin resin is sooo much easier to work with! [90.5hrs]</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">11th March: Got the glass on the deck today; its quite a stiff weave, and I had to cut a few darts by the cockpit to get it to drape well, but a double thickness will be fine in this area. [92.5hrs]</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/S5lcEAnv-BI/AAAAAAAAAtY/Cvd2mHuJPow/s400/sedna18.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447486448237279250" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/S5lcEnwk6mI/AAAAAAAAAtg/H1fxN4TLWk8/s400/sedna19.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447486458743286370" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " />Been busy recently, here's some pictures of recent work to the end of the hull, softwood blocks are epoxied in which will spread the load for the toggle ropes. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Some people do an end pour with resin but that's heavy ...man.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/S6qGs9S44aI/AAAAAAAAAt8/j-krdBOBL5c/s400/sedna21.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452318405811560866" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">The interior of the hull and deck have been glassed, the cockpit area with a central piece of 200gm cloth [never again, 2 x 100gm much easier to do] and some extra reinforcement to the ends too. I gave them a swipe of fill coat to make it easier to slide stuff inside the boat. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">The interior is a lot neater than my previous boat.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/S6qGsqmPWuI/AAAAAAAAAt0/nC88F1tSezk/s400/sedna20.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452318400792451810" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">I have also laid the keel strip and a couple of filler coats of epoxy to deck and hull.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/S6qGtYwvQ1I/AAAAAAAAAuE/aDBycXZmhGE/s400/sedna22.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452318413184516946" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span>Next up: sanding...more filling and sanding, building the coaming and the surrounds for the Kajaksport hatches.</div><div style="text-align: center;">[133 hrs / boat weight....12.8kg... materials cost so far: £475]</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div></div>Dr Blughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08095927472442080554noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7068398507837730114.post-83403940494492078862010-01-30T21:28:00.002+00:002010-01-30T21:47:52.320+00:00All pumped up!<div style="text-align: center;"> Being at a loss for things to do boat wise, I decided after some thought and and advice from fellow paddlers on the UKRG to fit an electric pump to my kayak. </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/S2SlEwGUbGI/AAAAAAAAApI/2_kf_W9vx7s/s1600-h/P1000441.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/S2SlEwGUbGI/AAAAAAAAApI/2_kf_W9vx7s/s320/P1000441.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432648551565126754" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">I fitted a Rule 5oo gallons per hour bilge pump which is connected to a 12v 1.3Ah sealed lead acid battery located in a housing in the day hatch. The water squirts up the hose and out of the white skin housing at the rear of the cockpit.</div></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/S2SlEfo7RoI/AAAAAAAAApA/EnMofGnKQzs/s1600-h/P1000440.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/S2SlEfo7RoI/AAAAAAAAApA/EnMofGnKQzs/s320/P1000440.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432648547146876546" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The small black box thingy is a <a href="http://www.waterwitchinc.com/new/SiteElements/Pages/ProductPages/101product.html">Water Witch</a> electronic switch which senses water between 2 stainless steel contacts, turns the pump on, and off 20 secs after no contact is made. </div></div><div style="text-align: center;">The battery should provide 38 minutes of pumping time, which will do me. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Total cost £48. In tests the system works very well.</div>Dr Blughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08095927472442080554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7068398507837730114.post-72379693134550757012009-10-31T13:53:00.013+00:002009-11-07T15:04:50.475+00:00Rubber me up!<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">After my recent dunking at Walney, I decided to replace the adjustable [ie not watertight] neoprene neck seal on my Gul Fugitive cag with a latex one from </span></span><a href="http://www.ewetsuits.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Lomo</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I've never been keen on latex neck seals, but thought I could do with one fully sealed dry top to complement the others I have with open necks, neoprene seals etc.. and was prepared to take a punt on some DIY. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">With a scalpel blade I unpicked and removed the neoprene collar and the front neck gusset, removed the velcro strips, and carefully sewed the seams shut again and swiped some Aquaseal over the seams to waterproof them.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/SuxDJKAeEzI/AAAAAAAAAkA/CGwMkBZcIG4/s320/cag5.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398763877894591282" /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I stretched the cag over a plastic cutting board, and opened the neck hole to 8"</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/SuxDI9DllOI/AAAAAAAAAjw/UqqAiv0OBG8/s320/cag3.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398763874418005218" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A stainless steel dish exactly the right size came in handy to hold the latex seal in place with some duct tape...</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/Suxo6xDnbPI/AAAAAAAAAlA/sUOKwZswDH4/s320/cag2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398805412120587506" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">..which held it nicely in place and centred too...</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/SuxDI5UCVyI/AAAAAAAAAj4/ER8UAsxr1z4/s320/cag4.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398763873413256994" /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">it's important to sand the surface of the rubber so the adhesive bonds well...</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/SuxDJXp5BoI/AAAAAAAAAkI/VY2ed5dD4_c/s320/cag6.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398763881557984898" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A digital scale was used to measure out 24gms of Bostik 2402 adhesive and 1gm of hardener. It's important to get this ratio correct, and thoroughly mixed for 2 mins. </span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> I spread 2 thin coats onto the seal and the inside of the material...</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/SuxfCtz6TbI/AAAAAAAAAkU/BlfyXhww3RI/s320/cag7.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398794553572085170" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/SuxfC8SW1UI/AAAAAAAAAkk/ubXV-tHNbI0/s320/cag9.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398794557457880386" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/SuxfC5dmi-I/AAAAAAAAAkc/EfjAbyZXuWc/s320/cag8.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398794556699741154" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Leaving the glue to set until just tacky, I carefully placed it bang on centre with no wrinkles, and gave it a good rolling with a small wallpaper roller to squeeze them together. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">McNett's Aquaseal could also be used as adhesive too.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/SuxfDFEx97I/AAAAAAAAAks/MY2sVQEm9I8/s320/cag10.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398794559816857522" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Aquatape over the seams and where I removed the velcro flaps and gusset...ooh er!</span></span></div><div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/SuxfDOz1NzI/AAAAAAAAAk0/l8pENZLKac8/s320/cag11.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398794562430121778" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Finished neck seal. I will report on whether it is a success later!</span></span></div></div></div></div>Dr Blughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08095927472442080554noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7068398507837730114.post-37886279572793134502009-09-22T00:37:00.004+01:002009-10-07T22:44:48.193+01:00A trip up the Mersey Part 2<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Along with my good friends Brian and Christian, we took advantage of the fine weekend weather and a 9.8m tide to go up the Mighty Mersey this weekend...</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/SrgP4QOe4MI/AAAAAAAAAew/km1FV-MY2BE/s1600-h/IMGP1836.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/SrgP4QOe4MI/AAAAAAAAAew/km1FV-MY2BE/s320/IMGP1836.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384070813624230082" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">At one point we were whizzing along at 14.5 kph!</span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/SrgP385NX-I/AAAAAAAAAeo/-M6yXV9RZU4/s1600-h/IMGP1856.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/SrgP385NX-I/AAAAAAAAAeo/-M6yXV9RZU4/s320/IMGP1856.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384070808434728930" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWJzqE57s6cRgiJLQLthtgZjpVSGSrhbdgNnYOAXe1itvvJtWDB8DOlG0-SVwUXsmhqyZVTK4dcFrC6MD9dQSB-JQkr40Jd8YAEuwxFCGmzcKcleVw9iEBF_SA2vdme7HGJ9Be-3GNP-Q/s1600-h/IMGP1868.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 234px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWJzqE57s6cRgiJLQLthtgZjpVSGSrhbdgNnYOAXe1itvvJtWDB8DOlG0-SVwUXsmhqyZVTK4dcFrC6MD9dQSB-JQkr40Jd8YAEuwxFCGmzcKcleVw9iEBF_SA2vdme7HGJ9Be-3GNP-Q/s320/IMGP1868.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384070801756690194" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Sometimes you feel a bit inferior...</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/SrgP3BSP_kI/AAAAAAAAAeY/Wulo7G91xbM/s1600-h/IMGP1832.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/SrgP3BSP_kI/AAAAAAAAAeY/Wulo7G91xbM/s320/IMGP1832.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384070792433630786" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">33.5 km in a mere 4hrs 23mins. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">A grand day out!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Update on 'Tootega': The kayak has worked out very well. I had to lower the stern keel by 1.5" to help with the tracking as it was out of the water most of the time unless the boat was well laden. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I had a wee problem with the hatches which was solved with some extra silicone sealant.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I also replaced the minicell foam seat I made with a fibreglass copy of the seat from my Valley Aquanaut. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I am very pleased with the performance of the Karitek skeg unit, and the Immersion Research 'Reggie' backband too. [IR even featured it on their website]</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">All said, 'Tootega' has been the subject of many flattering comments on all of the trips I have made this year in Scotland, Wales and the Lake District.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I have designed a new boat, Sedna, a lightweight 17' Greenland style, which should start to take shape in October. Here we go again!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div>Dr Blughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08095927472442080554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7068398507837730114.post-37007227455129207692009-04-17T22:14:00.006+01:002009-10-07T22:46:10.877+01:00On the sea at last..<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/Sejz894iCQI/AAAAAAAAAV4/le5vhBCs6qs/s1600-h/Mersey.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 275px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/Sejz894iCQI/AAAAAAAAAV4/le5vhBCs6qs/s400/Mersey.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325774788094986498" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Five of us launched at Crosby beach on Bank Holiday Monday for a wee trip on the Mighty Mersey.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/SejyJn7TqGI/AAAAAAAAAVo/fEgh9Pkv2yY/s400/IMG_4097.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325772806516090978" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Nicky kindly carried the paddles....the new boat is so light it is self-supporting...</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">The trip got off to an auspicious start when I tucked my VHF radio under my deck elastics, and my water bottle plopped into the murky river. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">5 minutes of 'follow the bottle' passed before I gave up. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">We went over to New Brighton for lunch, back over to the Liverpool side alongside the Arena, Albert Dock , Pier Head and Liver Buildings and back to Crosby and the Iron Men. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> 23.5k/14.5m in 4.45 hrs, a very pleasant day out with excellent company. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/SejyJ3j8JgI/AAAAAAAAAVw/NCDlRs_mNnM/s1600-h/P4130869.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/SejyJ3j8JgI/AAAAAAAAAVw/NCDlRs_mNnM/s400/P4130869.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325772810713048578" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">My nephew Stan provided admirable backup bringing paddles and using great imagination by sending my watch over the beach by the simple means of attaching it to my incredibly intelligent Labrador, Freddy, who ran 200m to bring it to me!</span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/SejyJk49c5I/AAAAAAAAAVg/_GSFkfNUqd0/s1600-h/IMG_4108.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/SejyJk49c5I/AAAAAAAAAVg/_GSFkfNUqd0/s400/IMG_4108.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325772805700940690" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Crosby 'Danger' sign aka the Sh*t Outflow..</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/SejyJfSsaqI/AAAAAAAAAVY/HrK3sC8ESwI/s1600-h/IMG_4106.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/SejyJfSsaqI/AAAAAAAAAVY/HrK3sC8ESwI/s400/IMG_4106.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325772804198263458" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Where's me bottle?...</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">My new kayak has now been christened 'Tootega' following a suggestion by my brother in law Clifford following my 'Pimp my Kayak' post!</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">In </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inuit_mythology" title="Inuit mythology" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 43, 184); background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: initial initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Inuit mythology</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">, </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Tootega</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> is a wizened old goddess, who lives in a stone hut and has the ability to walk on water.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I like the water bit .</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span></span></div><br /></div>Dr Blughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08095927472442080554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7068398507837730114.post-30075216995863441962009-04-04T19:42:00.014+01:002009-10-07T22:58:29.827+01:00Launched!<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">We went up to Coniston this morning to launch Boat. It was a beautiful sunny day in Liverpool when we left, and a cold windy one in Cumbria.</span></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Here's me on the bank wishing I had worn more thermals</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">....</span></span></span></div></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6LrLk5PGyqrOt3cObMFB1k7KxPTKAHSVRoVkwxIdZSNKjCp8d-eAjYDgl9TNXB2VyXN_ZIR_vUPRPPXAy6TV9jBqBAS7WcGdoy_0WQAocX14OoaQLuvZxgQIC5BOiJE-ErJ95ygD0-08/s1600-h/coniston3.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 368px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6LrLk5PGyqrOt3cObMFB1k7KxPTKAHSVRoVkwxIdZSNKjCp8d-eAjYDgl9TNXB2VyXN_ZIR_vUPRPPXAy6TV9jBqBAS7WcGdoy_0WQAocX14OoaQLuvZxgQIC5BOiJE-ErJ95ygD0-08/s400/coniston3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320908679265449858" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The boat handled very well, it seems to be faster than my Aquanaut, and certainly turns more quickly. I only went out for half an hour, as my right shoulder is playing up again, but that was enough to satisfy me that the project has been a success!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><br /></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJAv9h4khMr60CxVRoBWGRk9jcQrrkHGXdHJVRo3Iy7VrrqA9HBuRhOrpWc6JqN8X2d88WYWjDpBedafGWjScGSoeyXOISImuSbpQgrYba1G03icBxwGgEXWcrfBOtG7qcJ5wyzkZH3Bs/s1600-h/coniston2.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJAv9h4khMr60CxVRoBWGRk9jcQrrkHGXdHJVRo3Iy7VrrqA9HBuRhOrpWc6JqN8X2d88WYWjDpBedafGWjScGSoeyXOISImuSbpQgrYba1G03icBxwGgEXWcrfBOtG7qcJ5wyzkZH3Bs/s400/coniston2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320908674071753234" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The only niggly problems were the spraydeck lip is a touch lower than my other boat, and it was fiddly to get my deck on, [however it wasn't my usual one and is a bit tighter], and a small amount of water got into the hatches. I've traced this to the finger indents on the lids being a little deep, so I'll fill 'em with epoxy and file shallower ones.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/SdeqPFeELrI/AAAAAAAAAUo/4a0ob6Mhiks/s1600-h/coniston1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 252px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/SdeqPFeELrI/AAAAAAAAAUo/4a0ob6Mhiks/s400/coniston1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320908660904570546" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Even with the wind trying to weathercock the boat it was so much easier to turn than my Aquanaut!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzuyk6iG3VGCyxX-8H1QjFsdZ3z4Ra4Ax9ZHQHMLAi8qs7xSY4OQdvGTVR2ER7zUUed573nWjJ5wKHs26J8lg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">We weighed the boat and it came in at just under 24kg, which isn't bad as its got a heavy layup on the hull, and the marine ply bulkheads are 1.5kg, where weight could have been saved with foam.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Thanks are due to my bro-in-law Dan Kenyon for taking the pictures and editing the video.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"> <a href="http://dankenyon.com/">www.dankenyon.com</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><br /></span></div></div>Dr Blughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08095927472442080554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7068398507837730114.post-64045453554798244042009-03-31T19:50:00.005+01:002009-04-03T21:33:16.203+01:00Stand by for Action!<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Well thats the hard part done!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div> 3 months and 13 days have gone by and from 21 metres of western red cedar decking I now have a brand new sea kayak, all varnished, fitted out , and ready to go on the water.<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhff8bn-Obja-GBEnN7GHbQwnSi-I37Cva_sHyZpSvZbS2hKR3RlPi26CaNl2-o8GT8-2Zc0_5CQgqlfKV0F7TGhPTIw6QQcJdhCpmIW9Wd1jDdC_TKfhznvTUDVk3aaIqSPiV7-707jYE/s1600-h/kayfinish4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 177px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhff8bn-Obja-GBEnN7GHbQwnSi-I37Cva_sHyZpSvZbS2hKR3RlPi26CaNl2-o8GT8-2Zc0_5CQgqlfKV0F7TGhPTIw6QQcJdhCpmIW9Wd1jDdC_TKfhznvTUDVk3aaIqSPiV7-707jYE/s400/kayfinish4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319448342906354850" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div>I got the Karitek skeg all plumbed in, and went for a natty blue and white choice for deck-line and shock cord. Hopefully sea / lake trials will take place this weekend, to get the seat and footrests in their correct places.</div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Wyq0nTb7xC1mJZ4yOQm9kd02Xa-LRer3PCR1dFvCbtWC61TWGe7onXUQsZFAu-JpksAn9tAWQJvmhveHmaa_zyQGHDJE-68vtJ2QCJYBPTmTvcXLbPP_uiTUi0DFL99CBwW9fLRQJjA/s1600-h/kakfinish2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 105px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Wyq0nTb7xC1mJZ4yOQm9kd02Xa-LRer3PCR1dFvCbtWC61TWGe7onXUQsZFAu-JpksAn9tAWQJvmhveHmaa_zyQGHDJE-68vtJ2QCJYBPTmTvcXLbPP_uiTUi0DFL99CBwW9fLRQJjA/s400/kakfinish2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319448336576631090" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">All loaded up and ready to go to Coniston Water in England's Lake District!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">[That's where Donald Campbell died in 1967 when his craft Bluebird flipped attempting the world waterspeed record. I don't think I'll have the same problem..]</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/SdZxJ8QKdKI/AAAAAAAAAUg/Xd5ahplbN9E/s320/IMGP1416.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320564425391502498" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Now, what shall I make next.......</div><div><br /></div></div></div>Dr Blughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08095927472442080554noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7068398507837730114.post-28136979558126866042009-03-23T20:18:00.008+00:002009-03-27T23:10:19.213+00:00The final run in..<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/ScfwGdfreHI/AAAAAAAAASA/wIQ0PyT-PRI/s1600-h/Clamps.JPG"><br /></a><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I've been fairly busy recently, but have managed to complete the last major step in building a cedar strip kayak; joining the deck and the hull. It's good to see the boat in one piece at last.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I've also made the seat from Minicell foam, and finished the carbon fibre coaming, and fitted the Karitek skeg box.</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/Scf3xfeONkI/AAAAAAAAASQ/JcDrG3BlF0s/s320/skegbox2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316490314768070210" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;">Internal view of skeg box</span><br /></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/ScfwGYXrDII/AAAAAAAAAR4/I-f4wecCdL0/s320/Hatchdetail.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316481877545782402" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Carbon fibre hatch rim detail. The hatches are the same size as on my Valley Aquanaut.</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/ScfwGOe7jWI/AAAAAAAAARw/14u3HahIuXU/s320/inhull2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316481874891869538" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">View of the inside of the hull to the bow... the black circles are carbon fibre patches to reinforce the bottom of the deck fittings</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/ScfwFbUdEaI/AAAAAAAAARo/fUm1iWdxSB8/s320/inhull1.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316481861157720482" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">And along to the stern. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The pieces of wood were necessary to force the hull outwards to meet the deck whilst the epoxy set. You can see the double layer to reinforce under the seat and the internal keel strip.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The inside of the hull is a bit scabby, so I'll probably paint it.</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/ScfvQn-Fm4I/AAAAAAAAARI/OQBhR99Qpnk/s320/tape3.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316480954020502402" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;">The boat needed a roll and a half of nylon reinforced tape to keep the two halves together...</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">[and it's a pig to get off too]</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/ScfvRNUPh_I/AAAAAAAAARY/XEfu4y0jNkA/s320/Tape1.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316480964045539314" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;">I attached the fibreglass tape with wee dots of hot melt glue to keep it in place.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div></div><div><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7rm0ltZbPrw/ScfvQ8tUx_I/AAAAAAAAARQ/khMay9YAQ90/s320/Tape2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316480959587338226" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;">I used 2" tape on the outside. By trimming along the line of the masking tape when the resin has just gone 'green', a very neat seam is created, without the woven edge of the tape showing.</span><br /></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The hardest and most unpleasant bit was getting the resin along the tape on the inside, but didn't take as long as I thought it would. I rolled a length of pre soaked 1" tape on top of it for extra strength.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7kRLe19xG8cErUSRceN9KPJcqehVq-0TGMDsrIIuWKvQVOxMpG0rLXaTcg9XCpy4-LSPl3dkL3drn-kzTAF2Go5hCwUeNwwN2PEVt8hGYz4Rzgj-Trl77Xy_Ra_jdYC9P2V-174GS-NA/s320/joined.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318008404576767538" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;">Joined at last !</span><br /></div></div>Dr Blughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08095927472442080554noreply@blogger.com4