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Page 10a, a detour
45 years ago I built a plywood kayak with glassed seams. (A friend was building the first stitch and glue boat I had ever seen - a little pram with one-piece copper wire left in place, and clear finish. It was CUTE!)
After working with polyester fiberglas on my kayak, I swore I'd never do it again. The finished boat was nice enough -- a tad heavy -- with a plexiglass window in its bottom, between the paddler's legs. It also had a mast step, centerboard trunk and provision for a thru-hull rudder/trolling motor shaft -- none were ever employed by me. After many years of our use, I donated it to Alton Lake Sailing Assoc. near St. Louis, (next to Valley Sailing Association) on the Mississippi where it served countless kids every weekend for many summers.
My kayak was the third boat I had built -- a Sabot, a Sea Flea "board boat" (not what you'll find on google today) and the 'glas-seamed kayak of my own design. After those, I moved to the "dark side" and owned and sailed a Thistle, an M-20 Scow, two Hobie 14's, a Flying Scot and a Hobie 17. I've crewed on many others, including a Thistle, Highlander and Lightening. Now I own a nice 17' Four Winns I/O; it's great for water-skiing.
I have this web page describing some boating experience in the early 1950's.
In 1954, I was lucky to be involved with an 83 ft. yacht on Lake Geneva, The Doreen. (But that's another story.)
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