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Step 6Coaming
It is now a usable boat. However there's still a long way to go to make it a nice kayak. Hatches are good and the edges of the cockpit need to be built up so you can grasp it when getting in and out of the boat. Also, most kayaks have a lip around the cockpit to attach a spray skirt. This is called the coaming.
My coaming is made by bending plywood around the inside of the cockpit then layering more on. First I soaked two 5x48 in. plywood strips overnight in water to make it more pliable. Then I was able to push the strips into the cockpit so that they run along the inside on the left and right side. I was able to trim it so that the pieces fit very snug into the cockpit without any clamps. After it dried in position, I removed it and stained it to match the side deck panels. Unfortunately, the plywood shrunk just a little bit when it dried. To make it fit I had to add in a small strip of plywood. Once it fit I glued it in.
Next I sanded and fiberglassed around the outside edge to add some support. To build up the lip I started layering strips of plywood around the cockpit. Bending and gluing each strip one at a time. This is where lots of clamps come in handy. I used clamps made from PVC pipe, and there's even an instructable for it. To add more strength, I put in another layer of plywood to the inside edge of the cockpit and then fiberglassed the inside edge. I then sanded and shaped the coaming.
My coaming is made by bending plywood around the inside of the cockpit then layering more on. First I soaked two 5x48 in. plywood strips overnight in water to make it more pliable. Then I was able to push the strips into the cockpit so that they run along the inside on the left and right side. I was able to trim it so that the pieces fit very snug into the cockpit without any clamps. After it dried in position, I removed it and stained it to match the side deck panels. Unfortunately, the plywood shrunk just a little bit when it dried. To make it fit I had to add in a small strip of plywood. Once it fit I glued it in.
Next I sanded and fiberglassed around the outside edge to add some support. To build up the lip I started layering strips of plywood around the cockpit. Bending and gluing each strip one at a time. This is where lots of clamps come in handy. I used clamps made from PVC pipe, and there's even an instructable for it. To add more strength, I put in another layer of plywood to the inside edge of the cockpit and then fiberglassed the inside edge. I then sanded and shaped the coaming.
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Jun 26, 2011. 7:33 PMMig Welder
says:
I must say, ingenious little PVC clamps!
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