Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 6:29 am
Great to see Robyn out there Mick, excellent
Cheers Mike
Cheers Mike
And I'll second that it's great to see Robin feeling better.
Mick your building skills just keep getting better.
Page 7 of 13
Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 7:55 am
Superb!
And I'll second that it's great to see Robin feeling better.
Mick your building skills just keep getting better.
And I'll second that it's great to see Robin feeling better.
Mick your building skills just keep getting better.
Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 8:24 am
G'day Mike & Matt,
Thanks guys,
Considering the rubbish ply I was using, We are real pleased with the way it came out.
Robin took off in it, under clear instructions/requests not to go too far in case she got into health difficulties. Mad bloody woman, was having so much fun in this boat, she just kept going! and went out of sight round an island up stream. My heart just stopped when she did that.
I finally got to have my turn in it and all too soon, it was commandeered by Robin for another lap. The boat has no bad habits, is very stable but responsive to lean turns and surprisingly quick and easy to paddle. manouverability is excellent.
Underway, and using a standard high brace, I was able to lean her right over so that the deck to side seam was under water and the coaming was all that was keeping the water out of the cockpit. I was having a ball getting the feel of this little beauty when Robin wanted another go. I was going to lean it till it tipped me but the woman dind't want to get HER seat wet the next time she took MY boat off me.
Matt this is a great boat and is definately a winner. I am that hyped about it, I can't sleep tonight.
Robin is talking about wanting to take MY boat paddling again tomorrow. I am bloody glad I didn't paint it purple.
Trying to write up a review at the moment. I just KNOW everyody who paddles one of these boats will want one.
Thank you Matt for yet another superb design. This one is an absolute beauty!
.
Thanks guys,
Considering the rubbish ply I was using, We are real pleased with the way it came out.
Robin took off in it, under clear instructions/requests not to go too far in case she got into health difficulties. Mad bloody woman, was having so much fun in this boat, she just kept going! and went out of sight round an island up stream. My heart just stopped when she did that.
I finally got to have my turn in it and all too soon, it was commandeered by Robin for another lap. The boat has no bad habits, is very stable but responsive to lean turns and surprisingly quick and easy to paddle. manouverability is excellent.
Underway, and using a standard high brace, I was able to lean her right over so that the deck to side seam was under water and the coaming was all that was keeping the water out of the cockpit. I was having a ball getting the feel of this little beauty when Robin wanted another go. I was going to lean it till it tipped me but the woman dind't want to get HER seat wet the next time she took MY boat off me.
Matt this is a great boat and is definately a winner. I am that hyped about it, I can't sleep tonight.
Robin is talking about wanting to take MY boat paddling again tomorrow. I am bloody glad I didn't paint it purple.
Trying to write up a review at the moment. I just KNOW everyody who paddles one of these boats will want one.Thank you Matt for yet another superb design. This one is an absolute beauty!
.Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 8:29 am
What's hers is hers and what's your is hers!hairymick wrote:I was going to lean it till it tipped me but the woman dind't want to get HER seat wet the next time she took MY boat off me.
Looking forward to the review but get some sleep.
Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 3:23 pm
Simply beautiful, Mick! (Seeing Robin out & about, as well as your handiwork, I mean.)
Reading your build threads, a person could get the idea that this boat-building thing is almost easy. . .
Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL
(Seeing Robin out & about, as well as your handiwork, I mean.)Reading your build threads, a person could get the idea that this boat-building thing is almost easy. . .
Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL
Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 4:43 pm
OK, Here we go,
We put the boat in at a little spot on our Burrum River. Put in here, involves a short carry down a slippery mud bank and then launch from a sand beach. The weight of the boat made it very easy to just shoulder it, grab the paddle in the other hand and head off. - Too easy
Conditions were perfect for a test. The wind was blowing about 15 knots and gusting to a little more. There is also pretty strong tidal flow but this patch of river is very shelterd and is allways calm. Both make for good testing for my purposes.
As I sat the boat on the sand, I noticed Robin had a glint in her eye and only half joking, I asked, "Would you like to go first?" A big, cheese eating grin broke out all over her face and I didn't have to offer twice.
As Robin got in MY boat, my heart was in my mouth. She is very choosy about the kayaks she likes to paddle. She is not a confident paddler and simply cannot tolerate a boat with any bad habits. She will either like a boat or not. Her requirements for a kayak are pretty simple.
1. It needs to be easy to get in and out of.
2. It needs to be very comfortable to sit in
3. It MUST track straight with no weathercocking
4. It needs to be easy and fun to paddle with a good turn of speed.
5. It needs to be easily manouverable
6 It needs very good stability.
7 It needs a roomy cockpit so that she can have her camera and all the other stuff with her and be easy to access.
As she took her first tentative strokes, I couldn't help but notice how quickly and effortlessly the boat moved forward. I didn't have my camera ready and by the time that it was, she was well ot of range to take a useful piccy!. She paddled across the wind and stream and I saw her make no corrective strokes at all. It was allmost like she was using a rudder. She paddled up and down stream, into, with and across the wind and current for about half an hour or so and all the while, the grin never left her face.
When she eventually came back in, One sentence summed her feelings up. "I LOVE IT!"
MY TURN11
I weigh around 200 pounds and am 6 feet tall. I think I may be approaching the upper size suitability for this boat in safety, ( perhaps another 40 or 50 pounds) Having said that, I can get into and out of the cockpit very easily and the boat handles my weight and size very well.
The front bulkhead, if installed may need to be installed a little further forward for a paddler taller than me. My feet would have been resting against it had I put one in.
My thighs tucked up nicely under the side decks and this allowed very good control of the hull and allowed me to wear the boat like a glove. I BLOODY LOVE THAT.
A few sideways rocking motions to get an idea of the boat and I was off!
ACCELLERATION, Laker very quickly gets into motion with minimal effort.
I took a couple of very gentle strokes and was surprised at how far forward the boat moved. A couple more, strokes and she was allready up to a very comfortable cruising pace. Half a dozen power strokes and I was approaching sprint pace.
SPEED This boat is only 13 feet long and by all the rules I understand in boat design, should not be this fast. - but it is! This boat will easily keep pace with any other rec kayak I have paddled and leave most of them behind very quickly.
MANOUVERABILITY One word - excellent Using a stern rudder, I could turn her through 90 degrees easily in moments. A following stroke on the same side and she was off and running in the new direction. At speed, and using a high brace, I could turn her 90 degrees so quickly that she continued to go in the original direction, only side slipping. - beautiful.
GLIDE Again, this boat is only 13 feet long and should not glide as well as it does.
TRACKING I have allways liked the Shallow 'V' in the bottoms of my kayaks. I believe they assist the boat to track straight and true and this boat is no exception. The generous rocker on this boat has not detracted from from this. Again, this is in contradiction to everything I have thought about boat design. This boat tracks beautifully.
WEATHERCOCKING There isn't any.
STABILITY This boat is pretty typical of a 'V' bottomed kayak, in that it initially rocks very easily from side to side and can feel a little tippy at first. This is an illusion! This boat has immense "true" or secondary stability. While under way and using a high brace, I could lean the boat right over so that the deck to side panel seam was under water and the coaming was all that was keeping water out of my cockpit.
SUMMARY
This is a great little boat. I have no hesitation in recommending her to anybody considering a kayak build. She is suitable for a first time builder or for someone who is just looking for a fun project. She displayed no bad habits to me during her initial test and has, in fact, exceeded my wildest hopes for her.
I have said it before in this thread and I say it again here. Everybody who paddles a Laker will want one.
We put the boat in at a little spot on our Burrum River. Put in here, involves a short carry down a slippery mud bank and then launch from a sand beach. The weight of the boat made it very easy to just shoulder it, grab the paddle in the other hand and head off. - Too easy
Conditions were perfect for a test. The wind was blowing about 15 knots and gusting to a little more. There is also pretty strong tidal flow but this patch of river is very shelterd and is allways calm. Both make for good testing for my purposes.
As I sat the boat on the sand, I noticed Robin had a glint in her eye and only half joking, I asked, "Would you like to go first?" A big, cheese eating grin broke out all over her face and I didn't have to offer twice.
As Robin got in MY boat, my heart was in my mouth. She is very choosy about the kayaks she likes to paddle. She is not a confident paddler and simply cannot tolerate a boat with any bad habits. She will either like a boat or not. Her requirements for a kayak are pretty simple.
1. It needs to be easy to get in and out of.
2. It needs to be very comfortable to sit in
3. It MUST track straight with no weathercocking
4. It needs to be easy and fun to paddle with a good turn of speed.
5. It needs to be easily manouverable
6 It needs very good stability.
7 It needs a roomy cockpit so that she can have her camera and all the other stuff with her and be easy to access.
As she took her first tentative strokes, I couldn't help but notice how quickly and effortlessly the boat moved forward. I didn't have my camera ready and by the time that it was, she was well ot of range to take a useful piccy!. She paddled across the wind and stream and I saw her make no corrective strokes at all. It was allmost like she was using a rudder. She paddled up and down stream, into, with and across the wind and current for about half an hour or so and all the while, the grin never left her face.
When she eventually came back in, One sentence summed her feelings up. "I LOVE IT!"
MY TURN11
I weigh around 200 pounds and am 6 feet tall. I think I may be approaching the upper size suitability for this boat in safety, ( perhaps another 40 or 50 pounds) Having said that, I can get into and out of the cockpit very easily and the boat handles my weight and size very well.
The front bulkhead, if installed may need to be installed a little further forward for a paddler taller than me. My feet would have been resting against it had I put one in.
My thighs tucked up nicely under the side decks and this allowed very good control of the hull and allowed me to wear the boat like a glove. I BLOODY LOVE THAT.
A few sideways rocking motions to get an idea of the boat and I was off!
ACCELLERATION, Laker very quickly gets into motion with minimal effort.
I took a couple of very gentle strokes and was surprised at how far forward the boat moved. A couple more, strokes and she was allready up to a very comfortable cruising pace. Half a dozen power strokes and I was approaching sprint pace.
SPEED This boat is only 13 feet long and by all the rules I understand in boat design, should not be this fast. - but it is! This boat will easily keep pace with any other rec kayak I have paddled and leave most of them behind very quickly.
MANOUVERABILITY One word - excellent
Using a stern rudder, I could turn her through 90 degrees easily in moments. A following stroke on the same side and she was off and running in the new direction. At speed, and using a high brace, I could turn her 90 degrees so quickly that she continued to go in the original direction, only side slipping. - beautiful. GLIDE Again, this boat is only 13 feet long and should not glide as well as it does.
TRACKING I have allways liked the Shallow 'V' in the bottoms of my kayaks. I believe they assist the boat to track straight and true and this boat is no exception. The generous rocker on this boat has not detracted from from this. Again, this is in contradiction to everything I have thought about boat design. This boat tracks beautifully.
WEATHERCOCKING There isn't any.
STABILITY This boat is pretty typical of a 'V' bottomed kayak, in that it initially rocks very easily from side to side and can feel a little tippy at first. This is an illusion! This boat has immense "true" or secondary stability. While under way and using a high brace, I could lean the boat right over so that the deck to side panel seam was under water and the coaming was all that was keeping water out of my cockpit.
SUMMARY
This is a great little boat. I have no hesitation in recommending her to anybody considering a kayak build. She is suitable for a first time builder or for someone who is just looking for a fun project. She displayed no bad habits to me during her initial test and has, in fact, exceeded my wildest hopes for her.
I have said it before in this thread and I say it again here. Everybody who paddles a Laker will want one.
Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 6:16 pm
Hi guys,
Mick's other half here. Just like to add my thoughts on the Laker as well.
It really is a beautiful little boat. Like Mick said I'am very particular when it comes to kayaks and I either love 'em or loathe 'em, but I was so impressed with the Laker that Mick has my blessing to build one for me (purple of course)
So to all you boat builders out there and I know there are heaps of you, christmas is rapidly approaching and I couldn't think of a better present for your lovely ladies or your kids, than a home made little beauty such as the Laker, it really is a great little boat.
Matt you are pure genius, the Laker is an absolute pleasure to paddle, very responsive and extremely comfortable with absolutely no effort required to keep it tracking straight and no feeling of it being "tippy"
Well done
Thankyou to everyone for your well wishes it really does help to know that so many people are thinking of you and praying for you, thankyou all.
Happy Paddling everyone,
Robin
Mick's other half here. Just like to add my thoughts on the Laker as well.
It really is a beautiful little boat. Like Mick said I'am very particular when it comes to kayaks and I either love 'em or loathe 'em, but I was so impressed with the Laker that Mick has my blessing to build one for me (purple of course)
So to all you boat builders out there and I know there are heaps of you, christmas is rapidly approaching and I couldn't think of a better present for your lovely ladies or your kids, than a home made little beauty such as the Laker, it really is a great little boat.
Matt you are pure genius, the Laker is an absolute pleasure to paddle, very responsive and extremely comfortable with absolutely no effort required to keep it tracking straight and no feeling of it being "tippy"
Well done
Thankyou to everyone for your well wishes it really does help to know that so many people are thinking of you and praying for you, thankyou all.
Happy Paddling everyone,
Robin
Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 6:23 pm
The class rating just went up 10 point in this joint!
Glad you liked it Robin.
Glad you liked it Robin.
Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 7:39 pm
Mick and your better half (opps other half)
The only thing better than the Laker which sounds like a great boat
is the pic of both ya'll grinning having fun together. I think all the folks here were pulling for ya'll and are nearly as happy as Mick to see u back.
I have a couple more days on the Bumble Bee and I will start me one of the Lakers.
Great report
Ron
The only thing better than the Laker which sounds like a great boat
is the pic of both ya'll grinning having fun together. I think all the folks here were pulling for ya'll and are nearly as happy as Mick to see u back.
I have a couple more days on the Bumble Bee and I will start me one of the Lakers.
Great report
Ron
Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2007 2:31 am
Thanks guys,
This one is surprisingly good. I think it will become my favourite (so far) GP kayak for calm water.
It would make for a brilliant boy scout or similar project and at the end, the kids would have some excellent boats to use.
Robin and I are doing a small trip down south to visit her mum for a couple of days. There are some real nice little lakes near her place. Guess which boat I am taking. Nah, don't bother, of course, it is the laker.
This one is surprisingly good. I think it will become my favourite (so far) GP kayak for calm water.
It would make for a brilliant boy scout or similar project and at the end, the kids would have some excellent boats to use.
Robin and I are doing a small trip down south to visit her mum for a couple of days. There are some real nice little lakes near her place. Guess which boat I am taking. Nah, don't bother, of course, it is the laker.