Jmac58

Member

Registered: 7 May 2020

Posts: 77

Petrel Play Kayak

I have started my second build having finished a Wood Duck 12 hybrid last year.  Have bought a band saw, belt sander and a new veritas block plane!  I have used an aluminium strong back for accuracy and made some L spacers.  The plans provided from Guillemot Kayaks are excellent and I am using Nick Shade's book titled Building Strip-Planked Boats and his You Tube videos as my references.  I hope the pics and comments will be of interest and help those thinking of building this beautiful Kayak.

teejay

Member

Registered: 26 Oct 2020

Posts: 66

Re: Petrel Play Kayak

Great stuff James - that's taking your boat building to a whole new level.  It looks as if you've made a good start - it'll be really interesting to see how the build develops.  All the best - especially as it gets a bit colder - but you'll have  thought of that no doubt.
Tim

Jmac58

Member

Registered: 7 May 2020

Posts: 77

Re: Petrel Play Kayak

Thanks Tim.  I'm in no rush!  Good to see you are nearly there on your build and looking forward to seeing her (does she have a name yet?) in the water.  Best. J

Jmac58

Member

Registered: 7 May 2020

Posts: 77

Re: Petrel Play Kayak

Jmac58

Member

Registered: 7 May 2020

Posts: 77

Re: Petrel Play Kayak

Finally making some progress.  Inner stems and the first strips now on.  The robo bevel working well.  Best. J

Jmac58

Member

Registered: 7 May 2020

Posts: 77

Re: Petrel Play Kayak

teejay

Member

Registered: 26 Oct 2020

Posts: 66

Re: Petrel Play Kayak

I can see lots that looks familiar from your previous build but lots that's at a different and more complex level - looks like good progress and another lovely boat emerging.  Looking forward to future posts.

Jmac58

Member

Registered: 7 May 2020

Posts: 77

Re: Petrel Play Kayak

Thanks Tim.  Great to see the post of your wood duck on the water.  I like the contrast of the white hull and stripped deck.  Best. J

Jmac58

Member

Registered: 7 May 2020

Posts: 77

Re: Petrel Play Kayak

Heating up the strips with a heat gun and using straps where the twist is greatest has worked well

Jmac58

Member

Registered: 7 May 2020

Posts: 77

Re: Petrel Play Kayak

Jmac58

Member

Registered: 7 May 2020

Posts: 77

Re: Petrel Play Kayak

Last edited by Jmac58 (2 May 2022 4:10 pm)

teejay

Member

Registered: 26 Oct 2020

Posts: 66

Re: Petrel Play Kayak

Well done James - those last few strips to the bottom of the hull look very intricate and precise. 

It's really good to see the boat coming on - you're going to have a very eye-catching result with the choice of strips you've made.

Tim

sailingfree

Member

From: Wareham, Dorset

Registered: 15 Feb 2022

Posts: 33

Website

Re: Petrel Play Kayak

James, that looks really good. Although its obviously more work beveling each strip, the end result looks really tight. I guess one of the positive tradeoffs here is that you don't need to mess round with sanding coves/beads where the strips meet at an angle.
Looking forward to watching your progress on this.
Pete

Jmac58

Member

Registered: 7 May 2020

Posts: 77

Re: Petrel Play Kayak

Thanks both for your kind words.  I found it almost impossible to avoid gaps at the stern where the strips are at maximum bend/twist.  I used straps to try and meet the forms as staples not strong enough to hold everything in place.  I will fill the gaps with some very fine wood strips and I dont think they will be too visible.  Once you get the hang of using the robobevel, its fairly quick to instal each strip.  I also bought a Stanley 79 plane from ebay and it has been very useful.  I have enjoyed using the block plane to bevel each strip to fit - rather satisfying when you get a tight fit!  Nick Schade's video series invaluable!  Best. James

Jmac58

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Registered: 7 May 2020

Posts: 77

Re: Petrel Play Kayak

sailingfree

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From: Wareham, Dorset

Registered: 15 Feb 2022

Posts: 33

Website

Re: Petrel Play Kayak

Hi James looks like you have been making steady progress and the boat is starting to show its lines nicely, I like the accent around the coaming too. I got the impression you are building this from plans, is that right? I must admit I’m getting itchy fingers again and the petrel play looks like a nice little sea kayak style boat more suited to open water than the wood duck.

Jmac58

Member

Registered: 7 May 2020

Posts: 77

Re: Petrel Play Kayak

Yes, building from plans and Nick Schade's book.  I really like the design of the petrel play and the videos on you tube are brilliant!  Have glassed the hull and will post some pics in due course.  Thanks and best. J

Jmac58

Member

Registered: 7 May 2020

Posts: 77

Re: Petrel Play Kayak

Bills Boy

Member

From: Egremont

Registered: 3 Jan 2023

Posts: 6

Re: Petrel Play Kayak

Great to see, I started my Petrel play build a couple of months back and have just posted a few pics. Out of interest what weight cloth are you using? Are you planning on doubling the cloth on the underside? Thanks P

Jmac58

Member

Registered: 7 May 2020

Posts: 77

Re: Petrel Play Kayak

Hi P.  Thanks for your message and great to see your pics.  I like the pattern.  I'm using 163g twill weave glass cloth 1m wide and West System epoxy.  The fill coat did not go too well, went a bit cloudy in places so have had to rub down a bit more aggresively than I would have liked.  Have stopped work for the time being as my garage is too cold!  Yes, I intend to use double cloth on the underside.  I'm basicall following Nick's video blog as best I can.  Best. J