Hello. I would like to build a light but stable boat for my wife and me to use on the lake. Probably using kayak paddles. Which Airolite boat would be best....
Good Evening All I am considering building a Classic 12 for use on the local rivers and in Christchurch Harbour here on the south coast of England. However,...
Nick: The I believe the heat-n-bond you have there will work. In my experience, it's not that critical. I got the original from GaBoats and got more at a local...
Hi Paul Many thanks for your comments, they're most helpful. Your note about the width of the fabric is especially useful and also the contact for information...
Can you do it? I'm getting my canoe ready for winter and the outside cleaned up very nicely, but I can't get in to all the nooks and crannies and some parts...
Between needing to get all of the heat-n-bond released simultaneously and the possibility of "reverse" (sheer, etc.) elements in whichever design you built...
My canoe is a decked sailing canoe that I designed and built. I leave my boats in the water all season and I'm not very nice to them. The skin looks as good as...
I didn't realize that this was not one of Monfort's designs. In any event, if you think that the aircraft Dacron is too thin (especially if ultra-light weight...
I just leave the boat pulled up on shore during the warm months. The Dacron is perfect. The skin came off pretty easily, except for the fact that when I put...
Ruedi You might be able to make a stiffer, lighter kayak than the standard bairdarka, which are already very light compared to most yaks. But you'll be...
Hi, I've moved into the covering stage of my modified Snowshoe 12. I am using 8.9 oz nylon (over slightly heavier ribs & stringers than in the Monfort plans)...
Hi Pat: I believe it is the nature of the beast with nylon. However, if it will tighten as it dries, heat and sunlight, when the water based poly cures it...
Hi I am similarly placed, being in UK (SE London) and contemplating building a Snowshoe 14. I have found a firm called Skycraft Ltd who offer a material called...
Hi Keith  Thanks for the information on Skycraft, much appreciated. I think either LAS or possibly GA Boats is going to be the way to go for the kevlar...
I built a Classic 10 last year and have taken it out several times on lakes and on the Sound. It moves along well under oars and does well in choppy water....
I dont know about the broad beam of the Classic 10 for stability or the freeboard, but fiberglassing the bottom would be no problem. Why dont you take some...
I just went to the website to view the many photos of the Classic 10 and the bottom appears to be pretty wide which I would have thought would have provided...
Worked really hard over the last few weekends on my Snowshoe Explorer 14 to get from raw frame finished product. Still need to wipe an additional coat or two...
Kurt: The boat looks great. You're right, it's great fun and very satisfying to see these boats come to life. Also great fun to see the reactions of the folks...
I have been reading and thinking about small boat stability and came up with a lot of information on the web. I would recommend doing a web search for "small...
Kurt, You have inspired me to build the Snowshoe 14 Explorer -- really fine job. One concern I have had is what to finish the dacron with. Do you have any...
You are correct that stability is a complex subject. Your example, however, grossly oversimplifies it. I'm no expert on the subject, but I can tell you that...
I tend to think of those parts of boat hulls that seem to act in a way similar to outriggers. That is to say that when the boat tips, a certain area of the...
I found with my classic 10 that lowering the seat and moving it forward about 10 inches made a tremendous difference. I row mine in moderate waves and with my...
After reading about and worrying about building a steam generator for the ribs for my Arrow 14 I decided to try the soaking option. Worked like a dream! Since...
Jeff, Sorry for the delay in answering - I've been on travel this week. I'm sure that there are other's in this group with far more experience than me, but I...
