JEM Watercraft

Gday Mates

I have been reading most of your info on this site and have pretty much made my mind up to make a Cape Fear but I'm not sure on what length

I want to use it mainly solo for fishing on lake and creeks in my local area when its to ruff out at sea for my fishing boat.

But to get permission from she that must be obeyed I have agreed to take my wife out paddling occasionally in our local river

so I am unsure of length to build as 12" would be much easer in small mangrove lined creeks but will it handle 2 adults comfortably for a leisurely paddle down the river

I would also be interested in and photos of other Cape Fear kayaks that have been built as the study plans don't show a lot of detail

I'd say that a 12' would be pretty tight for 2 people.

I had a group of builders in FL buy several sets of CF plans for a group project. They said to have had a bunch of pictures but I never received any.

Now I will be straight up honest: ("fair dinkem" I think is your term down under ) I did get a report from this group that they had some water come in over the side we they went busting through the surf is some rough stuff.

I don't know how big off surf that was or the extent of the water they took on. I never heard any more reports.

That report of course botherd me so I started sketching something that could take on choppy water and still keep dry. I can post up a couple sample images if you're interested.

Macca,

While I have no experience in Australia (damn it!) and very little fishing, I DO have experience with wives. Two boats may be an answer. Either a 12' solo and a larger double, or two solo boats.

Thanks for your replies


I would be interested in looking at the sketches, our creeks and river are not to bad for chop but the Local Dam does get a bit wind blown at times.

I can see my self using it on the dam to catch a 1.2m 30kg Barra

KJ
As for building 2 solo's there’s no way wife’s idea of a leisurely paddle is she sits there and gives the orders (left, right, faster etc) the only time she would use a paddle is to belt me with it if I don't obey

MM hmm - wife type# 4. Just a little training problem.

G'day Macca,

Welcom to the dark side mate.

I hope to start building a Cape Fear 16 footer as a training exercise for my workers. If I can't get the necessary clearances, I will build it for myself (just for fun)

I lived at Boyne Island a few years ago, and in my humble opinion a 16ft Cape Fear (slightly modified for two) would suit your needs well. A 12 footer is way too small, I think. especially if you plan on catching some of those animal barra from the lake.

I reckon such a boat would be great in the Boyne & Calliope Rivers and Wild Cattle creek and also be fine in Lake Awonga. Would also be fine as a solo boat in the harbour.

A very, very good alternative might be a new tandem SOT Matt is designing or someone else. One of Matts lovely canoes might suit your needs also. - So many beautiful boats to build - and only one lifetime.

If you were just going to stick to the rivers, i would recommend Matts Swampgirl 16 - a beautiful boat, that is very stable and is a delight to paddle and very good to fish skinny water from. I've just finished one and love it to bits.

Here are a couple of piccies of my 'girl, set up to fish two. I have taken two inches off the freeboard to reduce wind signature. it would be more suited to a tandem set up if the sides had been left as in the plans.

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