How about posting pics of them, are they sea kayaks...or perhaps old slalom
racing boats? Either way, if they are being trashed anyway, why not
experiment? From a face value POV, I would keep the ends intact as not to
drastically change the handling characteristics (although any alteration
will do this to some degree) and remove the volume from the middle say just
in front of and just behind the cockpit? Keep it symetrical.



wrote in message
ups.com...
Dear All,

I have recently acquired 2 fibreglass kayaks.

Given our lack of storage space, I am considering shortening them.

Has anyone done this before?

I have done some research into glass fibre moulding, and if I was to do
it, was planning on making a male mould that I would leave wedged into
the cut ends and lay the fibre over it. My brother has some experience
of glass fibre moulding and is prepared to advise too.

One is 3900 long, the other 4200 long. The width is around 600mm.

I have calculated the volume of the shorter one as being around 360
litres.

Surely I can afford to lose some volume given that some modern kayaks
are as little as 180 litres and I'm not that heavy?

I read a little somewhere about people shortening plastic kayaks, so I
would have thought this would be more straightforward?

I know it could be quite time consuming and messy but it seems a shame
not to make use of kayaks that would otherwise have been destined for
landfill!

I have had some advice from another couple of forums advising that the
paddling efficiency could be reduced, this is not too much of a problem
as I will only be covering short distances on a placid local river.

I understand that bouyancy and waterline depth will be affected too.

Any thoughts/advice gratefully received!

Regards,

Nick