...in Aleut oral tradition, the kayak is not an object; it is a living
being. . . a hunting partner which attempts to identify itself with its
master and would like to share his married life. Their fates, indeed are
bound up together, and their lives end at the same time: they disappear
at sea together or, on land, they share the same grave. (Robert Lamkin,
1980, THE ALEUT KAYAK).
I learned about kayak construction, the real art of it, from Oliver Cameron, a pioneer settler of Ambler, Alaska, who mastered the Eskimo technique of kayak design and then added a bit of contemporary comfort.
The Eskimo people are smaller than a typical American, so it is hard for us to fit into a traditional kayak. Their kayaks were very subtle, sleek, and fast and varied drastically in design, depending on the type of use and point of origin. The hunting boats needed to be as fast as possible and required a very experienced paddler.
" Skin boats - 'unsurpassed in quietness, speed and tracking ability ... ! "
For a modern pleasure craft, however, enhanced stability is the necessity. This stability, combined with the quietness, speed, and tracking ability that only a skin covered craft can
offer, results in a boat unsurpassed by any other type of kayak.
My boats are custom tailored to fit the size and needs of the individual, which means I start every construction by first measuring, weighing and interviewing my clients.
Next I cut the stringers and ribs. I use steam bending and gluing to shape the cockpit and deckbeams. The deckbeams are then lashed to the gunwales. I use copper rivets to attach the ribs to the stringers and gunwales. This results in a smoother surface line with less wear points.
I then lash the cockpit to the frame with an extra-strong, braided nylon cord. I use a variety of woods, depending on desired strength and lightness. Stringers are of clear fir or sitka spruce. The ribs, cockpit, and deckbeams are oak, ash, or yellow cedar. The lashings and rivets add extra flexibility to the overall frame construction, giving the boat the feeling of being ALIVE.
" this type of construction is many times stronger than fiberglass ! "
For the skin, I use a Lavtak nylon coated with neoprene and/or hypalon. This skin fabric has been researched and discovered by George Dyson, author of the book, BAIDARKA. He has been using it for a number of years with great success. I have tested it on all my early prototypes and the hulls show virtually no sign of wear. I’ve run them aground on rocky, barnacle-covered beaches, hoping to tear them or abrade them, with no significant results.
This type of construction is many times stronger than fiberglass. When demonstrating my boats to customers, I have pounded them with a hammer, unafraid how hard I strike. I have even gone so far as to stand up in the cockpit, (I weigh 200 pounds) with the bow and stern being supported by nothing but two saw-horses. (Could you do that to a fiberglass kayak?).
Recently, one of my kayaks was broached on a rock in the Snake river, at flood level. After an hour of pulling and tugging, the owner was able to free the boat and paddle away. A fiberglass kayak would have broke in half and a plastic boat would have wrapped around the rock.
Skin construction also gives the kayak superior tracking ability. The skin is slightly cupped between each stringer, allowing each stringer to act as a keelson.
A skin boat also feels less claustrophobic compared to a hard shell. Also, the skin can be custom painted with anything from traditional indian designs to whatever strikes the owner’s fancy.
And finally, the boat is an artifact, an example of folk art that is both visually appealing as well as satisfying to use.
I am currently working in 6 styles, with more on the drawing board.
My ADAK ranges from 15 to 18 feet and is a narrow-bodied single with very little rocker and not much deck. It looks like a spear and it moves like a rocket.
My ALEUT is another single, but more of an expedition boat. The cockpit is raked to give substantially more below-deck space, which paddlers with long legs will appreciate. The boat ranges from 15 to 18 feet and has a bifurcated bow.
My QAJAQ is a short single, 8’9", and is light, fast and very maneuverable.
The KODIAK is a two seater with a double cockpit and ranges from 18 to 22 feet.
The KENAI is also a double but with one large cockpit and ranges from 16 to 18 feet.
The KODIAK HUNTER, also a double with one large cockpit, is 18 feet long, with a 40" beam, and has great stability for fishing and hunting.
All Kayaks are Custom built to owners needs and specifications. Prices vary from $1,500 to $3,000. Cost will be established when boats are designed. Orders require a fifty percent deposit.
EDITOR’S NOTE: When Bob Mineo and I were paddling in the
San Juan Islands this past September, we had the opportunity of paddling
both THE ADAK and THE ALEUT. Afterwards, we borrowed THE ALEUT for a double
overnight to Sucia and Patos Island. We found Randy’s boats to be light,
fast, and durable, with incredible stability and an amazing amount of storage
capacity. We concluded that Randy obviously suffers from EXCESSIVE HUMILITY:
the boats are all he claimes them to be and much, much more.
For information, write Randy Monge,
C/O HAND CRAFTED KAYAKS,
P.O. BOX 38, Olga, WA, 98279,
or phone: (206) 376-3677.
'A Salty
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Note: This article was written in the hey day of
seakaying in NYC.
There's a lot of historical information. This newsletter and the organization
- MASK - Metropolitan
Association of Sea Kayakers was fromed by John
Petrocelli and Robert Huszar.
Enjoy it ... from a historical perspective.
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