It FLOATS and Surfs!!!

The frame was almost too pretty to skin but that wasn't the purpose.

So I sewed a ballistic nylon skin on her.


And she floated.


And hasn't broken yet kayaking in our Mendocino rock gardens.


Good thing I skinned it with the 12 ounce cloth.

Skin on Frame Kayak

Progress continues on my skin on frame kayak which I am building on our deck over the Noyo River. It is fun to hear the comments that paddlers make about her as they cruise by on the river.
The chestnut chickadees, downy woodpeckers, wilson's warblers, orange crowned warblers, and violet green swallows flit about feeding in the alder tree by my new kayak. It is fun to hear and watch them. Perhaps they will be inspiration when naming her.

When I cut the ribs, I put them in the mortises for a stegosaurus effect. At the moment when I took this photo, Stan and Jim of the Lost Coast Chapter of the Traditional Small Craft Association rowed by and were intrigued.


Steaming and bending the ribs can be a little nerve-racking. I broke several of my first attempts on the steeply V'd first ribs but then started to get the hang of it - sort of. My ribs definitely aren't perfect. The keel required some shimming and I am hoping that the chines will help pull things into shape a little bit better tomorrow.

My friend John's ribs are very symmetrical and even (the boat closest to the river). But my purpose for building this boat is to do it on my own (with a little insight from my friends) and learn from and enjoy the experience. It will be fun to see how well my imperfect boat paddles.

Lazy Days on the Noyo River

Lazy days on the Noyo River? Well not really but it kind of feels like it - kayaking, bird watching, soaking up the sun. Pinch me . . . it this a dream?

Birds, birds, and more birds . . . I think that spring/early summer is one of the most exciting times for birders. We are enjoying the wilson's warblers buzzing about, the musical songs of the black headed grosbeaks, glimpses of the downy woodpeckers, diving osprey, fuzzy mallard ducklings, and colorful violet green swallows. The Canada geese have been rather entertaining lately. The goslings are growing fast and they seem to have adopted a new member to their flock. I have heard of the odd duck but how about the odd goose?


I have started building my skin on frame kayak which is modeled after Brian Schultz's Cape Falcon F-1. It is magical to be able to work on it on our deck just above the Noyo River where I will launch it (hopefully by the end of the month).


Ahhhh . . . life is good.

Twilight Whitewater Kayaking

Winter and early spring is typically our whitewater kayak season in Mendocino County, California. We feel pretty spoiled when we get late spring rain and boat every chance we get - even if it means an evening twilight run.