Last time question............i hope.?

Question

ok, as u all know from my other questions, i am making an inuit kayak. and yes, i know its fragile, and im not going to use whale skin for the skin of the kayak. lol

but, i still need step by step instructions, from you guyes, i have sherched the web and found no step by step instructions.

i am not using fiberglass either, only waterproof fabric. so ineed to know the following...

i need to know how to make the frame of the kayak

i need to know wat to use as waterproof fabric

i need to know how to put the fabric on the frame of the kayak

i have good, strong, flexable, and thin wood where i live, to make the frame.

and i have a place to build the kayak

10 points goes to the most detailed, clear answer. again, i DONT want web sites.

please NO comments, only real answers, thanks a ton!

Answer 1

i honestly have no clue but go on google and it will show you step by step instructions on how to make it

good luck

Answer 2

Your wanting a light but strong frame and of course water proof. I recommend you look at antique airplane sites for the methods they use. I know they used a fabric with a varnish substance.

Answer 3

I can't answer all your questions but here is what I would recommend:

I would use canvas for the fabric, and you coat it with special paint to waterproof it.  It is easy to work with, can be painted, is easy to repair, etc., and I have seen kayaks covered in canvas and they worked very well.  With a real Inuit kayak the cutting of the fabric (sealskin) that covers the frame is very important.  The whole thing is stretched over the frame, and stapled to the frame (for yours - with Inuit kayaks there is no stapling).  Most likely some sewing will be required and you may need a "palm" (sailors use them) and a special awl (also a sailor's tool in the sail repair kit) for that as canvas is tough.  Since canvas will shrink when it gets wet, it is a good fabric for a kayak.  

The frame of the kayak is complicated.  You'll need several inner sort of circular pieces to make the shape as well as pieces for the ribs.  There is a link that shows how to do the frame, but I am sure you have seen that.  A real Inuit kayak would have no wood of course, but using wood certainly makes it easier.

I hope this helps.

Answer 4

I never built a kayak and I'm not sure of the construction. But I did build a little boat just for fun. I used fir for wood and made 1" square sticks which I heated with hot water to make them bend, with out breaking into the shape I wanted. For fabric I would just staple canvas to the framework and coat it in paraffin(wax) or  varnish with several coats - that should make it waterproof.

Have fun.

additional thoughts here:

You could make the forms in cross section out of thin plywood . Sort of like a series of ovals (with the centers cut out for you to climb into) starting with largest midships -on either side of where you will be sitting and diminishing in size as you go forward and towards the stern. Then attach your flexible strips to this, forming a structure - you could notch the plywood for the strips and  use epoxy for glue.

Build it out of cardboard first to get your dimensions good.

Answer 5

When my uncle was in boyscouts (in the 70's) he made a kayak, and we've still got it. I don't have actual step by step directions (he died several years ago, otherwise I'd ask him), but I can look at it and make a guess.

My grandpa says that he used airplane canvas for the fabric. I don't know where you would purchase that, but I'm sure you can find some.

He built the frame with lots of thin pieces of wood, and tied them together at the ends with strips of cord (maybe leather, but its hard to see). For the 'cockpit', he boxed in the frame with wood panels (presumable so his feet wouldn't tear the canvas). There are 'ribs' every 18 inches or so, along the entire length of the boat. They are farther apart on the top... maybe every 2 1/2 feet... The whole kayak is about 14 feet long.

It looks like he then sewed and streched the canvas. I think that somehow the airplane fabric can be shrunk to fit more tightly. You could ask someone who knows more about old airplanes for more details.

The canvas is coated with several layers of paint/varnish/sealant, and it somewhat stiff. I don't know how much of that is for function and how much is for looks, because the airplane canvas was practically waterproof anyway. He used paint designed for aircraft as the base, but the details seem to be in regular spray paint (it might be aircraft paint, but if it is it was airbrushed on).

I hope this helps a little bit. The previous answerer who suggested looking at mainland native american's vessels probably had a good idea. You might be able to find more details about building a frame to start with.

Answer 6

I made a kayak out of plywood and canvas.  I glued the canvas to the wood with contact cement.  two coats of cement.  The wood plywood was a sheet 10 feet long special ordered.  only 1/4  or 3/8 inch thick   cut the sheet in 4 pieces. Place them flat on a table and glue the canvas strips on the side.  Then after the glue dries a spreader board is placed in the bow and stern and you have your boat!   The canvas is waterproof with paint.  The boat is not very fast but very stable so you can relax in it all day.  Great fun for a creek or pond.

Answer 7

I Maybe all wet on this answer But I would also check out the American Indian,s they used Canoe,s and were covered in tree bark but Just may bey you could get some Ideas as to how the construction went.

Sorry I don't know any Kayak builder,s

Good Luck.