MichiganKayaker.com

A good way to start the day...and not to follow all directions!

2011-01-22T03:26:00.000-08:00

Go to Google Maps and click on Get
Directions .
2. Write USA as your start point.
3. Write Japan as your destination.
4. Go to the 31 st point on your route and
.........when you stop laughing , share this so others can laugh.

Ha! Found it!

2010-11-17T16:52:00.000-08:00

I lost the login for this site. I was attacked by a hacker, changed the password, and then lost it.

I am back. Update coming soon....

New Career....

2008-01-07T16:49:00.000-08:00

Finally, life is great and I am looking forward to a new season of paddling. I am a beer and wine salesman and have every weekend off and every evening.

I just got Volume 1 of Rolling With Dubside and it ROCKS! I have watched it three times and highly recommend it. One amazing thing is that he rolls kayaks that seem "unrollable".

Pick it up a Dubside.net

Kayaks have been just hangin around.....

2007-08-02T16:16:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I made a post. A lot has happened since I started this blog. I ran a retail store in the mall called Steve and Barrys. Thats store is gone now. I worked the last year at Kay Jewelers, but found myself pretty miserable working the mall hours. I finally found a job I like. I have worked the last few weeks at a place called Wicksall.....a BEER DISTRIBUTER!!! It is the best job I have ever had! The people are amazing. The work is hard but fun, and I meet the greatest people every day. One of the best parts is that I get to come home every night and spend time with my family.

With the job changes and stress related to them, there has not been much paddling in my life. I am going to make it a point to go paddling this month, no matter what it takes! Lake Michigan, and the Grand Traverse Bay, have been very warm.

These pics are of my boats getting NO use and my unfinished motorcycle overhaul. Time to get to work, and have some fun!

Jeremie's Ranger coming together....

2007-05-02T18:58:00.000-07:00

She is thinking the boat needs a little work.

Hull turned out nice!

Use you teeth, bro.

Were you looking right or left on that one?

A good friend always pays in beer! :)

Yost Sea Ranger Launched

2007-04-24T06:34:00.000-07:00

Ignore the date on the pictures. I don't know how to use my camera!

I launched the Sea Ranger today. The water is dangerously cold right now so I paddled conservatively. I think I will wait for a little warmer weather to roll! The Ranger is fantastic. It is fast and tracks straight. The front deck is low and makes it perfect for Greenland paddles. The cockpit was roomier than I thought and I felt very secure.

I have to say one of the highlights of the paddle this morning was putting the kayak back on the car! Skin on frames are SOOOOOO light. I always dread dragging my boat out of the water after paddling for a while. I am usually tired and then I have to heft it back onto the rack. This boat is a one hand lift with all the gear still attached!

I have found that I think I prefer this type of construction. I am already thinking I will build some more of these. There is mostly assembly time and very little finishing work (sanding sucks).

The two part resin from skinboats.com is fantastic. I highly recommend it!

The finish weight of this boat is 28lbs. If you are currently building one, please feel free to email me at tcqajaq@yahoo.com with any questions.

Thank you Tom Yost for the great design and support while building this. You are a great person who has done wonders for the kayak world. If I am ever out your way I will rent a motorcycle and we can go tear up the twisties!

With that, I am sure Mrs Keller is glad this thing is done!

The Ranger Is Ready For Water!!!!

2007-04-19T18:21:00.000-07:00

I am getting excited. The Sea Ranger is ready for the water! I still need to add some small loops for grab handles/paddle catches at the ends and figure my permanent back rest, but otherwise the Ranger is done! The finish weight is 28 lbs even. This boat, by far, was the easiest boat I have built. There is more assembly and less finish work, and for me that means more fun. I decided not to die the nylon and leave that cool translucent look. If it bugs me later or starts to get ugly, I will just paint it. I can't wait to launch it!

2007-04-16T13:34:00.000-07:00

The resin was still tacky this morning. It was just too cold last night. I stuck the boat in the living room and cranked the heat up to 80 degrees. That seemed to do the trick! On to the deck!

2007-04-15T19:22:00.000-07:00

Sorry about the pic sizes. My phone wouldn't upload correctly. The 2-part resin from skinboats.com was interesting. It has no smell and went on pretty easy. It was a really messy job but resins usually are. It kicked in about 15 minutes so I had to work pretty fast, even though I did it in 40 degree temp. Tonight I finished the three coats on the hull and will finish the deck tomorrow. I hope it is warm out. I expect the deck to be a little more challenging due to the rounded shape.

The kayak became translucent after the poly was applied. I kind of like it that way! One word of warning for any newbies like myself....when you are steaming out he nylon to shrink it, don't let any water run down the sides of the hull. The water made invisible stains that only showed up after the resin was applied. They don't look that bad. I am still real happy with the results. :)

A few more pics before sealed....

2007-04-14T20:53:00.000-07:00

Cockpit is sewn on....ready for the poly!

2007-04-13T15:37:00.000-07:00

My beautiful wife trying out the Ranger in the living room. It's not as low-volume as I thought it was going to be. It feels like the Anas Acuta....probably because I used the same cockpit design.

More shots....

2007-04-07T20:42:00.000-07:00

Looks good so far I think....not perfect but neither am I so I guess it is a reflection of me. :) I can't wait to get it in the water!

Can't handle the bump.....

2007-04-07T20:31:00.000-07:00

So, I can't handle looking at the bump. I have a pretty light heart about my kayak building but the bump on the deck just wasn't gonna fly. It was time for a little surgery. I cut open the deck, installed a support beam, laced her back up, and now I feel much better. I feel more comfortable with the lines and have learned something for the next build (and things that will help my two friends building theirs).

Lookin good!

2007-04-05T08:52:00.000-07:00

I am pretty happy with the outcome so far. Knowing what I know now about how this stuff is gonna lay...I would have extended my deck ridges until they disappeared below the shear. I have this weird bump on the deck but I can live with it. I haven't attached the combing yet. That will be the next challenge.

By the way....I LOVE CURVED NEEDLES! You have to get one. They make sewing on a flat surface easy!

Stitching up the Ranger....

2007-04-05T08:40:00.000-07:00

After almost getting sick working in the garage for hours....I realized I could just stitch it up in the living room! Shhhh....don't tell my wife. She's out of town!

Had a little time last night....

2007-04-01T07:02:00.000-07:00

I sealed up the plywood stations last night with poly. I pulled the aluminum and floorboards out for it. I am going to seal the coaming with epoxy today, which is not attached yet. I am leaning towards sewing it on like a traditional combing. The baseplate is glued to the frame but the rest would just be floating.

I am going to be using nylon and a 2-part poly to seal it. I am nervous about the sewing because I have never done it. I hope to start Weds.

2007-03-19T20:21:00.000-07:00

2007-03-18T07:32:00.000-07:00

I have been having major computer problems so I haven't been able to post until now. The Ranger frame is all done except for the floorboards which I am planning on working out today.

2007-03-08T17:50:00.000-08:00

Jeremie sitting down in Florida....72 degrees....sunny....on the beach....anyone want to kill this guy? Yeah well, it got up to 29 degrees here in Michigan bro! Feels like summer to me.

Progress....

2007-03-04T18:42:00.000-08:00

I have just a couple things to go and the frame is done. I should have built the strongback like Tom Yost's because I had a little trouble with the keel being straight. I am just going buck-wild now....lashing...pinning....glueing....tying..... whatever it takes to get this thing together! I only have a few minutes a day away from the family to get this done!

MY Yost is FINALLY Getting Done!

2007-02-28T19:02:00.000-08:00

The Yost Sea Ranger is FINALLY getting done. The more I work on this boat, the more excited I get! Not only were the plans free, the boat has cost me less than $100 in materials and I am almost done. I barely have ten hours in it. I should have the frame done in a couple days. The only time I have to work on it is in the dead of night after Ava and Robin are asleep. Now, the only part that has me nervous is the skinning of the boat. I have never done it but I don't think it will be too much of a problem.

My friend Hop came by to help me today. He actually was the person who encouraged me and helped complete my first stitch and glue back in 2000. It's funny, back then after I finished my boat, I joined a network marketing company. That mlm business consumed my life for the next five years. All Hop wanted to do was build kayaks. Now years later, all I want to do is build kayaks and Hop has joined a networking company. He doesn't have time to build boats anymore. Things change but somehow stay the same. :)

Great Rolling Video

2007-02-19T07:47:00.000-08:00

Great video of qajaq rolling. You want to know what is going on underneath the water? Here you go.

Jeremie's Yost....Looking Fantastic!

2007-02-18T09:58:00.000-08:00

I stopped by Jeremie's shop today to check out the progress on the Sea Ranger. Wow, that was motivating! I gotta get moving! His boat looks great!

A Good Day For Snowshoeing.....

2007-02-17T12:49:00.000-08:00

I took Deekan out for a run in the powder today. Snowshoeing is fun but I think I like the pace of the x-country skis a little better. I was aching after a half mile! I think I am a little out of shape!

2007-02-14T19:33:00.000-08:00

Check out Torok's kayak! It's almost done. I am so envious because I haven't really had any time to work on mine. I am impressed with how fast this went for him. I'm not really worried though. The winter is long and paddling is a ways away yet. Impressive though, brother.

I can't help myself...new boat started....

2007-01-31T19:13:00.002-08:00

Jeremie and I couldn't handle the winter blues anymore so we have decided to "throw together" a couple Yost Skin-on-frames. We are doing them in his shop.
Robin and Jen are gonna be pissed! You know whats cool....that stack of plywood forms in almost the whole boat!

Finally......SNOW!!!!!

2007-01-22T18:10:00.000-08:00

We finally have some good snow! I got a great cross country ski package from Play It Again Sports in Traverse City. My first day out I put seven miles on them and fell in love with the sport.

I have to do something. It is just way to cold in my garage to be building boats and I work on every day we have pool sessions.

Missing friend....the end of an era...

2007-01-22T17:41:00.000-08:00

My friend Ted Maluchnik started a skateboard club back in 1991 to get kids to come to church. The church became uncomfortable with us skating around the property and asked Ted to disband the group. Instead of sending us away, he left the church, and started a skateboard shop called Streetlevel. Originally it was in an old run down basement in downtown Traverse City. The windows were literally at "street level". As the skate craze grew, died, and grew again, Ted supplied us with high quality equiptment at near wholesale prices.

Fast forward to a new decade. We are all grown up now. I am 30 years old with a two year old. I have a career and can't afford falling on concrete like I could at eighteen(which is why I took up paddling). The loyal skaters that supported Ted have all grown up and moved away. As the years have gown by, more and more big box stores are selling the equiptment. Ted has been fighting a losing battle trying to keep the store going.

A couple weeks ago I drove by Streetlevel, now above ground in a new location, and saw this:

I hate to see stores just close like that. Ted deserved a going away party or something. The guy is amazing. But since I don't have an email for him, and his phones are disconnected, I don't know how he is or what the story was with the shop. He is just gone and I can't seem to find anyone that knows where he went.

Ted, thanks for the years of great service and caring about the kids. I wish I could have kept you in business myself but my days of thrashin' concrete are over. You are great. I hope where ever you are, you are well.

Packing up the last of the boats....

2006-10-13T05:06:00.000-07:00

So, my paddling season has come to an end. I drove to pick up my Acadias from Bear Lake yesterday. It is hard to tell from the pics but there was really high winds and it snowed almost the whole way.

I changed professions recently and have been too busy to get out paddling. I feel good about this year though. I built another boat, discovered Greenland style kayaking, made some paddles, learned to roll a few different ways, and met some great people. I will be looking forward to next spring!

Everything Wooden Kayak Related All In One Place! www.qajaq.be

2006-09-17T06:40:00.000-07:00

I got stuck in that site for hours! There is just so much to see. Thanks for the site Erik! http://www.qajaq.be/

Rolling the Point Bennett....(Part 2)

2006-09-07T03:27:00.000-07:00

This was recorded the same day as the other one. Sorry again about the bad camera work. I had a hard time keeping the boat in the frame.

Blue Heron On Cedar Hedge Lake

2006-09-06T04:32:00.000-07:00

Rolling the Point Bennett....

2006-09-05T17:48:00.000-07:00

This is a video of my new Point Bennett. I wanted to experiment with the movie functions on my camera so I pulled out the old dusty tripod and took some shots from shore. Sorry about the amateur camera work!

My QajaqTC Training Camp Adventure....

2006-08-30T13:29:00.000-07:00

Qajaq Training Camp 06

This was an amazing adventure for me. I am finally coming down from my bliss and need to write about my experience while the event is still fresh in my mind.

It was a year ago this month when I started thinking about building another kayak. My search for the right design led me to discover Greenland paddles and rolling. I have now come full circle. From making my first GP, to the discovery of the $200 Anas Acuta, to meeting my mentor Dave Braun, to hitting my first roll, and finally making it to my first symposium….the Qajaq TC Training Camp.

Camp Lookout is one of the best spots for a symposium that anyone could look for. Having two lake accesses, Lake Michigan and Lower Herring Lake, the site has some of the most beautiful views of northern Michigan I have ever seen. We stayed in rustic cabins and some stayed in tents by choice. There were showers and running water so it’s not like we were really roughing it that much.

The food was incredible. It was prepared by Michael Gray of Uncommon Adventures. Seriously, I haven’t eaten that well in many restaurants! I will be looking forward to his cookbook. I was never hungry the entire trip.

Harvey Golden was there reskinning a skin on frame kayak. I was fascinated by the process and took a lot of notes and pictures. I had a chance to talk to Harvey quite a bit at meals. He is very interesting and his passion for kayaks really shows. He gave a great presentation of the history of Greenland Kayaking. I liked his voice. His tone is always pleasant and positive. And although he is more of an expert in our sport than most, he listens intently to opinions of others, offering his thoughts in a non confrontational way. I found him a very positive addition to the event and hope to meet him again.

The mentorship at this event was invaluable. Turner Wilson gave a fantastic strokes class which has greatly improved my technique. Will Bigelow, besides making me laugh till my sides hurt, helped me with my sculling. Dave Braun and Chris Varner also helped immensely with my sculling and bracing. The list goes on and on. There were some mentors I just didn’t have time to meet on the water. When your there, it is an open group. Much of what goes on is one on one. Much of the time I just paddled up and listened to what someone else was doing and then tried it myself.

What I liked most about this experience were the people I met. Kayakers are great. The vibe was positive and relaxed. I can be a shy guy around new people and I felt very welcome here. I got to meet a number of folks I always wanted to meet. Alex Pak was one of them. His site is Wisconsinpaddlers.org. This guy whitewater paddles in a Tuilik! How cool is that? He also is a rolling master and just a blast to hang out with. Dubside paddled up to me my first time on the water. He introduced himself and gave me some advice on handrolling. He also did some rope demos which were amazing. I wouldn’t go so far as to call this guy a hippie, just minimalistic, if that is a word. I hope I get more time to just talk to him in the future.

Kevin Hill, thanks for the great conversation and the beer. Bruce Stitt, thank you for teaching me my first butterfly roll. You are a great mentor. May Zhang, thank you for your amazing energy. You light up a room and are fun to be around! Keith Wikle, I am glad I finally got to meet you. Bring your pal Matt with you next time and we can talk blogging! Dianne Walker, when you raise your hand we shut up. Sorry you lost your voice trying to speak over us! You have more patience than I. Roy Martin, thanks for letting me paddle your Anas Acuta. I cut out my seat when I got home and it is a much better boat. Margaret Fako and Tanya Stratford, thanks for the good conversation. I was good to meet some locals and I hope to be paddling with you soon. Jeff Bjorgo, your SOF is beautiful. Thank you for your advice and instruction. And Don Goss, it was good to meet another builder to talk to. Your stripper copy of your SOF is beautiful. It was very motivating to me to see something like that up close. You have a wealth of knowledge and now my deepest respect. Nancy Thornton, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!!! That was all a ton of work I am sure. You are a great mentor and leader.

I would especially like to thank Dave Braun for suggesting I attend this event. You are an amazing instructor and I hope the other paddlers at the event were able to learn as much from you as I have. I hope someday my skills and knowledge will progress to your level so I can help them the way you have helped me. Thank you for being patient with me.

So, Training Camp was amazing. It is a great combination of the kayakers and the venue that make it such a great experience. It ranks up there as one of the best experiences of my life. I will be going back.

Seat cut out....masik added...

2006-08-29T16:11:00.000-07:00

I cut out my Anas Acuta seat. I added a foam seat I shaped myself that is 1/4" thicker and I can lay completely flat on the deck now. I also added a removable masik. The masik has made rolling almost too easy. I was testing it by myself so I didn't try hand rolls but I can scull, brace, and roll with little effort now. Amazing. I do have a little trouble wet exiting with it in so I may have to make some adjustments before I make it permanent. Maybe I will always leave it removable so others can paddle my boat easier. We will see. Right now I pop my skirt, knock the masik out of alignment so it sits parallel with my legs, and exit. I tested this once but I don't usually get out of my boat now. I like to just go to my standard roll.

Point Bennett Launch Pics....

2006-08-19T05:42:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Jeremie for posting these of my original launch. He has a nice camera and these are the best so far of the Point Bennett.

2006-08-18T09:32:00.000-07:00

Sorry for anyone this might have bugged. This bugged me a ton. I didn't realize it when I set up michigankayaker.com with Yahoo, but the domain locked on the url bar and masked the blogger address. Say you clicked on a link to another site, the url bar held my site. If you tried to refresh, it always refreshed to MY blog, not the one you were on. That feature sucked. Sorry about that. I fixed it. Life is good. :)

Point Bennett Totally Complete.

2006-08-16T04:56:00.000-07:00

I took a few more photos of the Point Bennett. Ava thinks it is a piece of playground equipment. She crawls around on the deck and rocks it back and forth. I hate to brag but I have a cute kid! I also started a gallery of Point Bennett pics at VillagePhotos.

The boat is finally totally complete.

Weight off my shoulders....

2006-08-15T06:12:00.000-07:00

I was excited to find out last night that my Point Bennett came in at 45 pounds. I was a little worried because I did endpours and my keel fillets are a little thick. I was hoping it would come in under 50. A person with more experience and patience than myself, could easily make this boat around 38-40.

James Earl Jones Local Performance....

2006-08-13T12:55:00.000-07:00

This is from dicksonschool.org:

We are thrilled to announce that acclaimed actor James Earl Jones (1949 graduate of the Dickson Rural Agricultural Consolidated High School) has graciously offered to do two benefit performances for us, on September 15 and 16, 2006, at the Ramsdell Theatre in Manistee. Tickets ($30) will go on sale September 2 & 3 in Brethren, at our booth during the Brethren Days Festival, and also starting September 11th at the Ramsdell Theatre box office in Manistee.

For more info on this, go to the site dicksonschool.org

I think I am going to check this out. I have liked him in every role he has ever played. You just can't top Darth Vader though!

2006-08-13T08:10:00.000-07:00

I didn't realize it when I was taking these but my camera phone ran out of memory and switched to a lower rez. The pictures just come out as thumbnails. Oh well!

Finally Launched!

2006-08-08T04:36:00.000-07:00

The Point Bennett finally hit the water yesterday. It is a medium sized boat, feeling almost like a CLC Chessy from the cockpit, but that is where the similarities end. The boat tracks very well. It gives me confidence to tackle the big waters of Lake Michigan. I does sit a little higher in the water than I am used to, but it does allow me to pack it full of gear without affecting the performance. Also, it allows for a little more foot room and still have flat decks.

Rolling! The Point Bennett rolls as well as my Anas Acuta! I am very happy with my ability to scull, brace, and layback in this boat. I am excited to see what new rolls I will be able to learn in it.

The initial stability is about medium. It seems a hair tippier than some boats I have paddled but the secondary is solid. This proves to be an advantage because my lean turns require less effort and I don't have that scary feeling that I could lean too far and tip.

The Point Bennett is fast! This boat is two feet shorter than my Patuxent but paddles about he same speed. I am not fighting the rocker that I am in my Anas Acuta so it makes for more of a pleasant paddle experience.

I still have to add toggles and hip brace pads but otherwise this project is complete. I want to thank the builders who helped me with this project:

Jeremie Torok
Duane Strosaker
Dave Houser

and my wife for her patience. Robin let me borrow the garage this summer and I think it was a sore spot with her. I told her this was going to be her boat to paddle when we go out and I think that is why she let me do it!

I will miss working on the Bennett at night. At 3am I would sometimes walk out to the garage and just stare at her. I love building kayaks. I need to buy a house with a pole building. A man needs a shop to retreat to. I would like to be able to do some sanding at night. If I could have worked for a couple hours after Robin and Ava went to bed, I could have been done in a couple weeks!

That reminds me. Duane's design is fantastic. The fact he just gives this design away is amazing. If you are not aware, the plans for this boat are free at rollordrown.com and are really easy to follow. It seems like a long time ago since I first heard about Duane on the Kayak Builder's board. I was honored to attempt to build his boat and glad to know him. Also, many thanks again to Dave Houser for the encouraging, and humbling, pictures of your Point Bennett.

I will have more pictures soon but Jeremie took them with his camera so we will wait for him to upload them.

Happy paddling!

Launching tomorrow!

2006-08-06T11:11:00.000-07:00

First coat of paint.....

2006-08-04T19:15:00.000-07:00

I have to wait 16 hours before the next coat. :(

It's getting really close to launch time!

2006-08-03T22:25:00.000-07:00

Cool Birthday Gifts!

2006-07-30T18:01:00.000-07:00

Boys love toys!

I got a cool VHF radio and GPS to assist me on my wilderness adventures!

They helped ease the pain of turning 30!

Point Bennett Deck Is Glassed!

2006-07-27T05:49:00.000-07:00

Perimeter line for deck....

2006-07-24T18:54:00.000-07:00

I found this cool line from a local outfitter. I read about it on the kayak builder's board. I glows bright when it's hit with light. This could come in handy if I am ever caught out in the water after dark.

Deck installed...

2006-07-24T18:52:00.000-07:00

Jeremie's Cirrus Hits The Water!!!!

2006-07-18T15:21:00.000-07:00

Jeremie's first kayak, the One Ocean Cirrus, had it's first float on Sunday. Check out his blog for details. We spent the day paddling around and practicing rolling. Jeremie his his first roll and had three or four good ones after that! Congrats on the build and the roll, my friend!

CLC Footbrace Studs...

2006-07-18T15:17:00.000-07:00

I ordered these cool little mounts for my foot braces. In the past I have had to drill though the hull of my boats to mount foot braces but I thought these were pretty sweet. I looked into making them myself but it wasn't really worth the effort. They were only about $11 dollars.

Duane's Point Bennett Double....

2006-07-18T15:06:00.000-07:00

Here is Duane Strosaker's Point Bennet Double. The plans will soon be available for download at rollordrown.com

Duane is an expert paddler who likes to spend his time chasing blue whales out in the Pacific!

Kayaker Profile: Aaron Stander

2006-07-13T21:01:00.000-07:00

This is taken from the Michwriters.org :

Aaron Stander spent most of his working years in the Detroit area, where he taught writing and trained writing teachers. In 2000 he and his wife, Mary K Monteith, left teaching positions at Oakland Community College and moved permanently to their cottage home in Interlochen. Aaron is author of Summer People, a mystery set in Northern Michigan, and is a regular contributor to the Dunes Review. He is at work on Color Tour, a sequel to Summer People. When not writing or thinking about writing, Aaron spends a lot of time in his kayak, mostly capsized. Aaron has served on the Board of Directors of Michigan Writers since 2002 and took over as president in March 2005.

I was humbled to be invited to the Aaron and Mary Kay's home. They were great people, as most kayakers are :) Aaron reminded me of myself, his hands always doing something. The last time we talked he was building a couple Yost folding kayaks for he and Mary. They are super low volume, designed for rolling.

Aaron will be at Horizon Books, in Traverse City Michigan, to sign copies of Color Tour on July 29 .

Hey, I turn 30 that day! Happy B-day to me!

A Cool Pic From My First Pool Session...

2006-07-13T20:52:00.000-07:00

I can look at boats all day. :)

My Foam Is Here!!!

2006-07-13T09:59:00.000-07:00

Only a kayak builder gets excited about a big block of foam! Look at that thing. It's huge! This will soon be my seat, back rest, hip and thigh braces, and possibly a masik for my Anas Acuta.

2006-07-13T09:49:00.000-07:00

Here is a picture of fellow paddler Dave Houser chasing a blue whale out in the Pacific. If he doesn't quit sending me these I am going to have to pack up and move out there! Thanks for the pic, Dave!

Picture credit goes to Duane Strosaker of Rollordrown.com (designer of the Point Bennett) and you will see more pics like this at his site.

Dave Houser's Point Bennett

2006-07-12T10:56:00.000-07:00

Here is a pic of the same boat I am building, but this one is from a REAL boat builder. There is a lot of attention to detail on this boat. Notice the sucken hatches and beautiful finish on the custom cambered deck. It reminds me of the Bobby Curtis Northbay. Great job Dave. Your pictures are both humbling and inspiring! Thanks for sharing.

Point Bennett Progress....Sanded Hull...Started The Deck

2006-07-05T12:43:00.000-07:00

I am so sick of sanding! I have three hours in but I am not quite done. I'm getting close though. I also cut out and assembled the deck panels. Tonight I will hopefully start laying out the offsets and lines for cutting out the deck.

Point Bennett Hull Glassed....

2006-06-30T07:22:00.000-07:00

I stayed up late last night glassing the hull of the Point Bennett. I was a little bummed this morning to find some bubbles I missed last night. No big deal though. This isn't my first rodeo. It just slows me down. I can't wait to get this thing in the water! I love the design of the hull. It is beautiful to look at. It has been a relatively easy boat to build so far. No major blunders on my part. Just little mistakes.

More Progress....

2006-06-25T10:21:00.000-07:00

I was able to get the wires out today and seal the seams. I still need to make my deck. I was hoping to do that tonight but my wife wants to watch a movie so I can tell the boat may be postponed again :)

Survivors were in the mall today!

2006-06-17T08:16:00.000-07:00

Point Bennet update....

2006-06-17T07:36:00.000-07:00

Side and bottom panels stitched. I need to trim the bottom panels yet. They come out a quarter inch too long.

Commando Kayaking!

2006-06-08T05:12:00.000-07:00

Dubside has his own site. You've got to check it out. He has rolling clips, a dvd, and you have got to read the commando kayaking stuff. Hilarious and very cool!

I have heard great things about this guy and his character. He is not only one of the worlds most famous rollers but MANY people call him a friend. He seems to leave a wake of positivity everywhere he goes. I look forward to meeting him someday. I hope he is at the training camp this year!

Autoloaders Came.....Point Bennet Forms Done.....

2006-06-06T18:40:00.000-07:00

I got my forms cut out for the Point Bennet today.

My Malone Autoloaders showed up today. So far they seem pretty cool. The plastic is a lot heavier than I expected. The brackets are too. The only issue I have, as you can see in one of the pics, is that the bracket on the front dents in the roof a bit. When I pull the boat off it seems to pop back so I don't think it matters much. The bracket is rubber coated so it doesn't scratch but it was a little tricky getting the bolts in so close to my roof. If you were using these on a normal rack system you would have no issues. The factory bars on my Vibe are real low. The Autoloaders even fit my big fat Acadias! I have not done a road test yet but so far it looks as if these are going to work well.

I want to thank the folks at Jay's Sporting Goods for shipping these to me the next day after I bought them. I should have called them first.

Freya made a comment on my blog for one of her posts. It was pretty cool to see her name in my email box. I can't help but be a little star-struck!

Autoloader update....

2006-06-05T12:26:00.000-07:00

CLC dropped the ball on this one. I ordered these last month. Then they said I would have them by the first. Now I here that although orders have been filled , I was going to have to wait until August. Nothing against CLC. Just don't call there expecting to be able to order these. They apparently have a waiting list.

I called Malone and got a list of retailers across the country. Jay's Sporting Goods, in Gaylord, Mi, has got them on the shelves and will ship. So, by next week, I should finally be able to give my promised review of this rack system.

Incidentally, this rack will be put on a Pontiac Vibe. The Vibe is notorious for not having a lot of options available for it. The Autoloaders are supposed to fit directly to the factory bars. We'll see.....:)

Dave Housers' Point Bennet

2006-06-05T05:50:00.000-07:00

I received an ecouraging email from Dave Housers. He built a Point Bennet three months ago and it turned out beautiful, as you can see. He increased the size 3%. I am looking forward to finishing mine.

I have made a decision to leave the skeg out for now. I have a CLC drop skeg in my other boat, and love it, but I want to try this one without it. I can always add it later, as I did with the Patuxent.

I have the day off tomorrow so I hope to make a little more progress. Thanks for the motivation, Dave!

Freya Has A New Website....

2006-06-04T08:56:00.000-07:00

Freya Hoffmeister has a new website. This is a great pic from the site. That is her son in the back hatch. I'm not sure I am confident enough with my skills to ever put Ava in the back. However, I don't think Freya is human! She has god-like rolling skills!

She also has a new blog.

Andrew Elizaga Christens The Shooting Star...

2006-06-04T08:26:00.000-07:00

The Dash Point Pirate can be seen here with his newest creation.....the Shooting Star! Great job, Andrew! I am feeling a little boat envy!

Andrew Elizaga is a fellow blogger who's site is full of great info. I enjoy his articles and thoughts on traditional kayaking.

Inspirational Boat Building

2006-06-03T10:45:00.000-07:00

Check out these boats! A fellow builder posted a link to his site on the Kayak Builders BB. Here is his post:

"I built two SK S&G kayaks for a total cost of around $400. I built them using plans ordered from Sea Kayaker magazine ($6), 1/8" luan (had to fill in voids), fiberglass cloth from ebay (4 oz) and epoxy from Raka. The $400 includes everything else I needed to build them....Sea Dog footbraces, seat foam, rigging cord, work table, sandpaper, brushes, polyurethane, stain, etc. They came in at 41 lbs each. "

You can click on the pic to go straight to his picture gallery of the building process.

I think stuff like this is cool because it shows almost anyone, with very little space, time, and money, can build a boat. It takes a little focus, and sometimes, some creative financing. Ebay is a great place to find inexpensive materials.

US Composites appears to be the best source for resin and fiberglass. Plywood is always the tricky part. This builder bought cheaper wood and filled the voids. You can do this by shining a light behind the panels in a dark room and circling the voids with a pencil. Or, you could save the work and find a source for marine grade and pay the extra $20-30 bucks a sheet.

This builder bought his plans from SeaKayaker Magazine. They are a reprint of an article from years ago. I also ordered these but elected to build a similar boat from rollordrown.com It is called the Point Bennet. I found instructions a little easier to follow and Duane, the designer, has been supportive. The Point Bennet plans are free. Free is good.

You can build a better boat than you can buy. It will come out lighter, sometimes stronger, customized to you, and less expensive. The major factor that should influence your decision to build one is whether you have the time and the patience to build one. Your first one is slow because you have to take the time to learn. Read books and familiarize yourself with the process. Get to know other builders. Learn from our experiences. Just get started, be patient, and have fun.

In the words of Gerald Hopkins, after a stressful afternoon of deck attatchment, "It's not like were building a piano, Dude! Relax. Sh*ts gonna happen. Grab a beer and let's get back to it".

Thats wisdom from one of the world's great woodworkers.

Bottom Panels and Side Panels Stitched.....

2006-06-02T20:13:00.000-07:00

I had some time to work on the Point Bennet today. I need to get the stations cut so I started drawing them out tonight while watching The Parent Trap with my family. It's nice to be able to work on my hobby and be with everyone. One of the catch22's with boat building is that we usually have to be away from everyone else while doing certain steps. It's not like we can crack open a gallon of resin in the living room! :)

Perfect Birthday Gift!

2006-06-02T19:59:00.000-07:00

My boss just turned 47. He's real sensitive about his birthday and doesn't like people buying him gifts or even talking about it. However, he smiled and shook my hand at the sight of a 30 pack of Miller High Life Lite! Yum. And yes I did put the bow on it.

Let this be a lesson for you ladies out there. Here is the list and you will never go wrong. In fact, now that I have given this to you girls....you never need to ask again what we want for a gift.

1) Anything sharp that shines (knives, fish hooks, etc). It's a guy thing.

2) Large amounts of beer. It's not like we are going to drink it all right away. We just like to have it around.

3) Anything loud. Stereos, guns, motorcycles, etc.

4) Tools

5) Gift certificates to buy any of the above.

From now on, don't ever say that we're "hard to shop for". :)

Ava Setting Up A Roll....J/K

2006-05-30T16:08:00.000-07:00

This pic reminds me I have to remove that stupid cleat next to the cockpic. It controls the drop skeg but it keeps taking chunks out of my paddle and knuckles!

It looks like she's setting up a roll, doesn't it?

Cirrus almost there!

2006-05-30T16:05:00.000-07:00

Jeremie's Cirrus is SOOOOO close. He just needs to cut the hatches, install bulk heads, and rig it out. I love first-time-builder's new completions. You always remember your first boat!

A Day At Bear Lake...

2006-05-28T19:01:00.000-07:00

My wife's parents own a lot on Bear Lake. It is located on the west side of Michingan, just south of Frankfort. Its a nice lake to roll in due to the lack of swimmers itch and the abundence of friendly locals. I paddled about 4 miles out there today. It was beautiful and the water is getting warm, but I am still wearing my wet suit. I practiced solo wet exits today and reentry without a paddle float. Robin was able to snap a couple pics using her camera phone.

Ava found my boat today. She got a kick out of sitting in the cockpit and screaming at the top of her lungs. She is 15 months now and developing a cool personality. I am proud of her. She cried when I pulled her out of the boat. That's my girl!

Cottenwood Fuzz Used As Thickener?!?!

2006-05-27T12:53:00.000-07:00

I was running low on thickener for my resin while in the middle of working on the Point Bennet. I actually gathered up a bunch of this fuzz from the Cottenwood trees around my house. It seemed to work alright for what I was doing with it! I wonder if anybody else has done this?

Yostwerks Templates....

2006-05-27T12:49:00.000-07:00

Hey look! They all fit on one 2' by 4' piece of plywood! I am still figuring out exactly how the chines/keel/stringers actually sit in the forms. Do they stick out a little or are they completely inset? Who knows. But, it has been a fun little project so far!

The Cirrus is coming together...

2006-05-25T20:58:00.000-07:00

This is my friend Jeremie's One Ocean Kayak Cirrus. It is a beautiful design, and I think a little difficult for a first timer. But, Jeremie is not the type to back down from challenges. He worked through the learning curve and the boat is looking great! I can't wait to get him out in the lake with it. There is nothing like paddling a boat you built yourself!

This guy is getting married in a few months. How long do you think she'll let him keep that chick on the wall? :)

http://grandtraversekayak.blogspot.com

Greenland Qajaq Demonstration Video

2006-05-25T20:45:00.000-07:00

This is a link to a cool video showing Greenland technique . Thanks to David Adler for putting out there for us. It is inspiring for newbies like me to see stuff like this.

The music during the clip really sets the mood. Very cool.

Free Paddle Carving Video....Feedback On My Paddle...

2006-05-24T09:27:00.000-07:00

As I posted a while back, I made a few Greenland paddles using the free informational video from Matt Johnson. The video is downloadable and runs about thirty minutes (there is a link on the sidebar of this blog).

There is always apprehension when taking my "home-made" equipment in front of fellow paddlers. Whether it is a boat or paddle, I can't help but wonder what other people are thinking. When I made my first Greenland paddle, I had never even seen or held one made by an experienced paddler. I always think everyone must be looking at the flaws. Of course, most of the time, this is not true. People tend to look at the whole package and not the details. My anxiety again proved unnecessary regarding my paddles made from this video. At my first pool session, where I learned to roll, I was given feedback for my paddles from two experienced paddlers. One asked me what my source was for my paddles (which is a great compliment) and another said that my paddles looked like something that would be found right on the deck of a qajaq in Greenland. That made me feel good.

Not everyone has the time to build a boat, but almost everyone has the time to make one of these paddles. I found the experience of taking a raw cedar 2x4 and shaping it to a paddle was rewarding in many ways. I do feel a connection with the water I did not feel paddling with my Werner. Plus, nothing is quite as nice as that Cedar smell driving home from the lake!

Malone Autoloader....

2006-05-22T10:59:00.000-07:00

I finally bit the bullet and ordered a rack system. I hear good things about these from the kayak builder's board. They fit right to the factory racks and run about $100. I'll make sure to give a review on them as soon as I use them.

They can be ordered at clcboats.com.

Patuxent Back On The Water....

2006-05-21T18:41:00.000-07:00

I cleaned up this boat today with the intent to sell it. The Patuxent 19.5 was the first boat I made. In the picture of the cockpit you can see a coin from the year 2000 when the boat was completed. CLC doesn't offer this design anymore. It was going to list it on Ebay today but made the mistake of paddling it. Whoops. It is fast as hell and rolls pretty well too. Shoot. I guess I will keep it a little longer.

Templates for the Yost Sea Rider

2006-05-18T05:45:00.000-07:00

These are for my Yost Sea Rider. I have been sick so I needed something to do. I got a little sick of daytime tv. These are just the templates for stations. I need to make the cutouts for the keel/chines/stringers and transfer these to half inch plywood. I have never made a skin on frame before and I still am looking for info on how to skin this thing. I think I would like it black. I don't know if it will be PVC or nylon or canvas. Inexpensive is the key to this one. I am putting most of my money into the Point Bennet right now. This Yost will just be for rolling and quick day paddles.

Freya Hoffmeister.....:)

2006-05-14T07:15:00.000-07:00

Amazing. I hope she makes it up to the training camp this year!

QajaqTC Training Camp Is Half Full.....

2006-05-13T17:37:00.000-07:00

So I hear the class is filling up! I am PUMPED and can't wait! This is going to be a great event. Three days of nothing but kayaking and hanging with good people! Does it get any better than that?

If you don't know what I am talking about or you made your decision to go just now.....click on the cool pic of Dave Braun relaxing in a balance brace.

I hope to see you there!

The Bennet is coming together...

2006-05-13T08:28:00.000-07:00

I have been pretty busy at work but was able to get my panels cut out. I think I am going to use sheer clamps to attach the deck. Duane does not recommend this and it will add weight, but I like the stiffness it adds to the boat and adds strength to the gunwales.

Rolling On Mud Lake

2006-05-10T06:46:00.000-07:00

The day I after I learned to roll at the Civic Center pool, I had to go out again. There is a lake by my house with pretty warm water, and I have a wet suit, so I decided to go. I called up my friend Matt Durand who is an expert canoeist (correct term?) and EMT, and he agreed to go with me. Once out in the water I became a little apprehensive due to what felt like very cold water. We found a shallow spot in the lake and he encouraged me to go for it. I started with a side scull which got the adrenaline flowing and also got me ready for the water temp. It really wasn't all that bad so I just went for it. I hit my first one on the third try. I could still hear Dave in my head telling me to keep the paddle up to my chin and my head back. Once I had the proper body position I rolled so fast I almost window-shaded. I did it a couple times and feel a lot more confident about rolling now. I can't wait to go out again.

However....the Acuta was damaged during this paddle. I am taking some advice from the message boards on how to fix it, but I am worried about the future of this boat. I can still use it for rolling but I am sure the tracking will be affected. I ran onto a log at high speed and it crushed the keel and dented the two bottom panels. It has gotten me motivated to finish my other two boats.

I didn't get any rolling pics unfortunately. Matt was too busy making sure I came back up. He is a great guy to paddle with.

Thanks To Dave.....

2006-05-10T06:28:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Dave Braun, of QajaqUSA, I am rolling my qajaq! Three days ago Dave invited me to a pool session at the local civic center. The first thing I noticed was how nice everyone was and supportive of a new paddler! I felt very welcome. Dave had me practice a couple wet exits and assisted rescues. Then he slapped a tuilik on me. I HAVE TO GET ONE OF THESE! I know some people don't like them but it made me feel more secure and buoyant. Then he taught me to side scull, balance brace, and then I did a standard roll.

I credit the speed in which I learned this to having a fantastic teacher, a decent boat, and great support from the other paddlers in the pool. Thanks to everyone! I am getting pumped for training camp!

Qajaq USA....

2006-05-04T06:56:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to plug the site that got me motivated to start kayaking/building again. Like many paddlers, I tend to go all-out when I first get into a sport. Back in 2000, I paddled every day until I kinda burned out. After reading this site, my interest in kayaking was recharged and I am excited to be on the water again. The greenland community has been very supportive and seems to be filled with great people. Special thanks goes to Dave Braun of QajaqUsa, who I have yet to meet, even though he lives in my own town. He helped answer some basic questions I had concerning the greenland qajaq and building the paddles.

GO JEFF GO!

2006-05-03T06:46:00.000-07:00

This is olympic kayaker Jeff Smoke. The guy is way fast and a MICHIGAN NATIVE! I love rooting for the home team. Good luck with your training, Jeff!

Skin-on-frame kayaks....Great Site!

2006-05-02T14:48:00.000-07:00

If you have never visted Yostwerks.com, you are missing out. I will be building one of these this winter in a non-folding version, just for rolling. Tom offers lots of different designs and the offsets are free!

2006-05-01T18:43:00.000-07:00

I always wondered why people had these little balls on their decks. It's to help get your paddle back underneath the bungees! I am such a newbie.

There is nothing like being out in the middle of a lake and not being able to get you paddle strapped down. "Hold on guys! I gotta paddle back to shore and strap down my storm paddle"! Dork! I just don't wanna be that guy!

Robin and Ava Lou

2006-04-30T07:46:00.000-07:00

My family minus the dog. This is a pic from last July. My daughter is now 14 months. They are my inspiration to work hard and strive for a better quality of life. I am a very blessed man!

And So It Begins....

2006-04-27T10:22:00.000-07:00

.... and my wife is already getting annoyed! :)

New Toggle Retainers

2006-04-23T19:06:00.000-07:00

I guess I never noticed it before, but it sure does get annoying listening to my toggles banging against my hull. With this bungee loop I can still use the toggles but they stay up on the deck whenever the boat is not being carried. It seems stupid simple, I know, but it cleans up the paddle experience. No more clack, clack, clack......

2006-04-18T18:21:00.000-07:00

I know this has nothing to do with kayaking but I just could not believe this! I went into my local Suncoast Movie Store and a buddy of mine was working. He told me that Suncoast is going out of business and I could have any movie I wanted for ten cents! So, 23 movies later I had spent less than $4 (I did end up buying a few that were still practically free but cost a hair more). Isn't that crazy? I guess I won't have to rent dvd's for a while!

Kids Skin On Frame By Matt Johnson...

2006-04-15T13:44:00.000-07:00

Beautiful kids qajaq by Matthew Johnson. Check out his blog. It's full of great pics and good information. He is the guy who posted the great paddle making video. There is a link to it on the side of this page.

Another Spooky Shark Picture....

2006-04-14T19:49:00.000-07:00

I've Decided On ......

2006-04-14T19:34:00.000-07:00

I have decided on a design for my new kayak. I originally planned to make a lighter, lower volume version of the Anas Acuta, but the ADD kicked in and plans change once again! I was on the Kayak Building Bullitin Board and someone posted a link to a site with free plans for a beautiful stitch-n-glue greenland kayak. I already have templates made to loft the panels for the other boat but I will just keep them and focus on this one. It is called the Point Bennet.

Dimensions:

Point Bennett 17.5

* Length: 17½ feet
* Width: 21 inches
* Cockpit depth: 12 inches in front and 8 inches in back (add 1 inch for coaming height)
* Recommended paddler size: 5 feet, 6 inches to 6 feet tall and 150 to 180 pounds

Point Bennett 18

* 18 feet long
* 21½ inches wide
* Cockpit depth: 12¼ inches in front and 8¼ inches in back (add 1 inch for coaming height)
* Recommended paddler size: 5 feet, 8 inches to 6 feet, 2 inches tall and 180 to 210 pounds

Boat building is an obsession. My poor beautiful wife. She had best learn to use a Japanese hand saw or she's never gonna see me (just kidding )!

Sunset Paddle...This is why I kayak.

2006-04-12T20:28:00.000-07:00

Going for an evening paddle changes my view on the whole day. I am not a very religious man, but there is definitely something spiritual about the whole experience. I can understand how some people can dedicate a lifetime to paddling.

For those of you out there who don't understand us....push a boat out onto a lake and watch the sun go down. Then, try to go home in a bad mood. It's impossible.

New Wood Is Good!

2006-04-11T16:59:00.000-07:00

Don't you get excited when you get new plywood? What you are looking at will hopefully be the start of my next S&G kayak. I need the temp to rise a little. I am going to try to get this project outside, instead of in the garage. I think I am going to do some kind of temporary shelter behind my house. With the motorcycle, wifes Trailblazer, four other boats, and all my tools, I need a little more room.