BoatBanter.com - View Single Post

Hanta-Yo-Yo

wrote:
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

I may have missed it, but by how much are you needing to shorten these
boats?

From what you have written, you are looking to end up with something to
go swamping in, and they don't need to be particularly pretty. Also
does not sound like you are doing any wild water, just need something
highly manueverable to negotiate the backwater?

You might just clip the ends back to the desired length, and then glass
over the opening to be water proof. That way, the load handling central
structure will not be compromised, as well as the rocker that is needed
to turn easily. Also you will not have to mess with the combing if you
plan to use a spray skirt.

The sharp pointy ends are not needed really as demostrated in the newer
generation of playboats and creekers. You are not looking to achive
great speed characteristics, and depending on how good you are at the
glass work, will tell how the finished product will be.

You could always mount some sort of maiden form on the bow to scare off
the swamp gods, or maybe attract a mermaid! HYY