Paddle Boarding - Leisure Activity Or Extreme Sport? | Sassafras 12 Canoe Project

By Mario St-Cyr

Historians would suggest, that stand-up paddle boarding could be traced back to the islands within the Polynesian triangle, with its strong Hawaiian heritage this new sport is rapidly gaining popularity. Indigenous tribes would have been seen paddling in hollowed-out logs and tree trunks. Today, the logs are lightweight, colorful and shiny!

Who are those people you've seen in the middle of lakes and on our shorelines, who appear to be walking on water? They are people just like you, however they are the fortunate pioneers who have discovered this versatile activity. Paddle boarding can be considered a sport if you choose to "ride" the waves or put some muscle into getting some speed or a leisure activity if you choose to stroll through winding canals as if you were taking a walk or a bike ride through a neighborhood with streets of water. This is an activity that can be experienced alone or as a social experience with friends or family.

This is a sport for everyone - not just those radical gen-x'ers. Paddle boarding is for people who never considered "surfing" or for those who have made surfing their way of life.

The first time you stand on a paddleboard "on" the water you feel completely empowered and have the urge to just GO. The designs of the boards make them so stable that they absorb the "wave action". All you need is a 15 minute introduction to the various strokes which will then allow you to move through the water easily and with confidence. Within an hour or so you feel as though you have "mastered" the cruise and are ready for some "waves."

I have been asked on several occasions, "what does it feel like?" The "buzz" resembles the blissful state a child experiences after riding their bicycle for the first time without training wheels and "not falling off." It is at that moment that you realize that you have discovered a way to enjoy exercise while spending time in the beautiful outdoors and having fun....either alone or with others. Many newbie's find themselves daydreaming as if they were chief tribal warriors in the islands of Polynesia centuries ago. It's a trip!

Every time I'm out on a board, curious onlookers shout out..."what is that?" "Is it hard?" "Must be a great workout!" "Where can I get a board like that?" Paddle boarding is versatile, FUN, relaxing and a great workout! Anyone can do it and quite frankly, it's sexy!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Mario_St-Cyr/280998


http://EzineArticles.com/?Paddle-Boarding---Leisure-Activity-Or-Extreme-Sport?&id=1691073

Day 58 – 1 Hours

The decks are epoxied on and the thwart is screwed and epoxied in place. I did have some difficulty getting the decks to lay flat. A couple of bricks did the job nicely. I will invert the hull later and place an adequate fillet to the underside of the decks.

Day 59-60 – 1.5 Hours

This has not been a good week. I was out of the country most of last week and this week I have been fighting the flu. I am at a point where I want to complete the project so I did put a little time into the boat. The areas where I sanded through the epoxy, I have started applied a light coating of epoxy to reseal the surface. I inverted the hull and completed the filets at the decks and patched some of the divots in the surface. Not as fast as I would like to be but still working as much as I can.

Day 61 – 1.5 Hours

So good to be feeling well enough to start the project again. Did a bit for sanding on the divot fills and applied a final coat of epoxy to seal all the wood. Next will be the fine sanding and I can finally get started on the finish. Going to use varnish on the inside, decks and gunwales and Polyurethane on the outside, color to be determined.

Day 62 – 2 Hours

Was able to sand the lower two planks with 150 grit paper almost to the level I want it. This has been a long project to this point. Finally it is starting to look like the end is near.

Days 63-64 – 3 Hours

More sanding.

"The most important things are length, width and weight," Kitt says. "You have to get the right boat for the right job. The main difference is distance. You have to determine how far you want to paddle. A longer boat goes farther with less effort".

How to Read a Tide Chart & Sassafras 12 Canoe Project

By Karen Ellery-Jonesand MD Jones

We live on Cape Cod and often go kayaking in the tidal rivers and marshes that the area is famous for. Having a good understanding of tides and currents makes our kayaking trips safer and more enjoyable.

The simple fact is that some of the creeks and salt marshes we most like to kayak just can't be paddled at low tide. The Mashpee River, for instance, can empty out surprisingly quickly when the tide goes out - sometimes by as much as several feet in the space of an hour or two. You don't want to start your journey at the wrong time and find yourself too far upstream when the tide turns. You may end up having to carry your kayak out for miles because the river has suddenly become too shallow to paddle.

Tides are caused by the gravitational effect of the moon and, to a lesser extent, the sun. They rise when the moon passes overhead, and again when it passes underfoot (on the other side of the earth). That's why there are two high tides and two low tides every day.

Of course, in a perfect world, this entire cycle would take exactly 24 hours. Then there would be no need for tide charts because high tide and low tide would occur at exactly the same time each day. But the moon takes approximately 24 hours and 50 minutes to completely orbit the earth so a tide that peaks at midnight on one day will do so again a little under an hour later the next.

Because kayakers have to paddle under their own steam, the timing of high and low tide is not the only thing they need to worry about. The direction that a tidal current is moving in at any time in between high tide and low tide is also an important consideration. These are called flood currents when the tide is coming in and ebb currents when it going out and they can be surprisingly strong, particularly on Cape Cod.

All but the fittest of kayakers can be left quite weary if they have to paddle too long against a tidal current. Add in even a modest 5-10 mile an hour headwind and you can be left exhausted and frustrated before your journey is over. That's where a tide chart comes in. It can help you time your trip so that you are paddling, as much as possible, with the tide, rather than against it.

Here's how it works. Let's say your tide chart tells you that low tide is a 6:00am. You plan to take a trip that you know will take you inland, and last about three hours. In that case, make sure you leave no later than 9:15am. That will give you the three hours you need to reach your destination paddling with the flood current all the way. That same tide chart should also tell you when the next high tide is (probably at about 12:15pm). Not long after that, the tide will start to go out again and you will have a little over six hours to paddle back with the ebb current helping you along the way.

In coastal communities like Cape Cod, tide charts are printed in all the local newspapers and magazines, and there are also a number of specialized websites that publish them online. It's a good idea to get hold of one before you plan any kayaking trip and make tide information an important consideration when mapping out your journey.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Karen_Ellery-Jones/698818


http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Read-a-Tide-Chart&id=5823953

Sassafras 12 Canoe Project

Days 47-49 – 6 Hours

I don't know about the rest of you but 2 hours of sanding is about all I can do at one time. It has taken me the last three days to almost complete sanding the interior of the hull with the 80 grit paper. I have one more plank to complete on each side. There isn't enough room to allow me to use the orbital sander, so it's all by hand. Hopefully there will be enough room doing the outside.

Days 50-52 – 6 Hours

More sanding each day until the interior of the hull is smooth and the exterior's lower planks are done. The stems are almost completely done but still a lot of exterior to complete. A note on power sanders: They work fine on large flat areas but when the planks start to curve to the stems, you can easily lose control of them and gouge right through the fiberglass. This is by far the longest portion of the build and I don’t know how it can be rushed.

Days 53-56 – 8 Hours

Not a lot to show you this week. Lots of rough sanding and I am still not completely done. The hull should be ready for the fine sanding next week and I expect that will go much quicker. It is really scary how quickly you can find yourself completely through the epoxy and into the wood. The planks are not flat. They are conforming to the sweeping shape of the hull, but my sander is flat. I will make sure that all surfaces are sealed before I go much further. I have a few divots to fill as well. It is starting to look pretty good. The stems are looking very good.

Day 57 – 2 Hours

I finished the rough sanding today. After moving the boat to the large room, I cleaned the small one. What a mess. Epoxy dust everywhere. I have been using dust cartridges in my respirator since I started. I really recommend you do the same. I have some resealing and divots to fix and I will get back to the fine sanding. I set the decks and thwart in place for the photo. I am out of town for most of next week so not much will get done. See you again in two week.



"The most important things are length, width and weight," Kitt says. "You have to get the right boat for the right job. The main difference is distance. You have to determine how far you want to paddle. A longer boat goes farther with less effort".

Stand Up Paddleboarding - A Fun Workout! & SASSAFRAS 12 CANOE PROJECT

By Kimberly Harn

Stand Up PaddleBoarding or SUP is one of the best and most exciting ways to get a great workout. This sport has become very popular over the last 5 years and for a good reason. SUP is a sport anyone can get the hang of easily and it can be done on any body of water such as lakes, rivers, pool and the ocean.

SUP is exactly like it sounds. You stand on a large, wide surfboard and maneuver yourself through the water with a paddle. You can catch waves or you can have a peaceful adventure while feeling close and connected to nature.

SUP workouts are:

• A fantastic cardio workout without the stinky gym


• Low impact


• Works to improve balance and coordination


• Targets problem areas such as arms, thighs, abs and butts


• Builds confidence for surfers and non-surfers

The reason Stand Up PaddleBoarding is such a great workout is that the constant instability of the board allows you to balance and really challenge smaller muscle groups in your body during the workout. Best of all it is fun and really doesn't feel like a workout.

Stand Up PaddleBoarding can be so enjoyable that many people bring their dogs or children with them on a paddle session. SUP is a whole new way to reduce stress and get closer to the water - almost like walking on water. Take a lesson and give it a try. Going to the gym and doing the same old routine can get boring for you - and your body. It's time to try something new - in no time you will have a trim tummy and a sleek physique!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Kimberly_Harn/758063


http://EzineArticles.com/?Stand-Up-Paddleboarding---A-Fun-Workout!&id=4980113

CHESAPEAKE LIGHT CRAFT - SASSAFRAS 12 CANOE PROJECT

Day 40 – 2 Hours

I thought I had better finish the outwales before I do any more epoxy coats. In order to make the end as close as possible I made a template for cutting them. Didn’t work too bad. I will have to fill the ends just a little. Also used my plane to start the rounding over of the inwales. Enough for this week, see you next week.



Day 41 – 2 Hours

I rounded over the outwales and inwales today. The bevels started with the plane prior worked well. I took time to smooth out the transition to the stems. I think they came out nice. I joined the outwales with thickened epoxy at the stems. I like it. One of the decks was placed on for the photos. The areas where the decks and thwart are mounted were not rounded over. This should give these areas more gluing surface.



Day 42 – 1 Hour

I have applied the first fill coat on the outside of the hull. I do wish I had done this sooner. The hull is soft and turning it over on the horses is tough on the surface. I keep noticing new blemishes on the surface and I hope this will toughen it up.



Days 43-44 – 2 Hours

Applied the second fill coat to the outside of the hull and thwart and first coat to the gunwales and decks. The splashguards are shaped and glued to the decks. I hope to start the final sanding soon. I plan to finish the interior of the hull before I install the decks and thwart. That should give me a bit more working room. Getting close and I am getting excited.



"The most important things are length, width and weight," Kitt says. "You have to get the right boat for the right job. The main difference is distance. You have to determine how far you want to paddle. A longer boat goes farther with less effort".

SASSAFRAS 12 CANOE PROJECT

Day 36 – 1.5 Hours

Started smoothing out the outside of the hull. Thickened up some epoxy and filled some of the gaps in the joints. This was really necessary at the stems to smooth them out for the glass tape to be applied. This will probably take a few days to let the epoxy cure and recheck the results.



Day 37 – 1.5 Hours

Sanded the filled areas and found a few more areas needing some work. This is where you have to decide on how nice you want the results to look or get the project done sooner. There is still ice on the water here so I might as well take my time and make it better. More filler and another day to let it cure.



Day 38 – 4 Hours

Finished sanding on the outside of the hull (still have a few divots) and preceded to fiberglass the middle planks. Following instructions it didn’t go too bad. Next to tape the stems and apply the fill coats.



Day 39 – 1 Hour

I did the stem tapes today. I didn’t have any tape left to use so I used some of my straps from the hull. I cut the strips on the diagonal, as described in the manuals, and found they conformed beautifully to the stems without any folds. I used two strips on each end. I will let them cure and then start on the fill coats.



"The most important things are length, width and weight," Kitt says. "You have to get the right boat for the right job. The main difference is distance. You have to determine how far you want to paddle. A longer boat goes farther with less effort".

CHESAPEAKE LIGHT CRAFT - SASSAFRAS 12 CANOE PROJECT

Day 31 – 2 Hours

The first fill coat is applied to the inside of the hull. The stains from the drips are gone! I do have some excess epoxy under some to the glass, but that has never been my strong point. I think it looks great. One more coat and I can start on the outside.

Day 32 – 2 Hours

It has been too darn cold to work in my small room so I moved back into the larger. Applied the second fill coat to the inside of the hull. The temporary brace is gone, the hull is solid. I also cut and drilled the thwart. I was afraid that the screws would split the wood without predrilling and I counter sunk them for a smooth finish. I will coat it with epoxy before I install it under the inwales. Hopefully the replacement outwale will show up soon and I can complete the hull. I am thinking I will drill the 1" holes in the bulkheads for the drain plugs tomorrow rather than later since I will have to seal the edges of the holes with epoxy. That should make sanding a bit easier in those areas.

Day 33 – 1 Hour

Since I am waiting for parts, I decided to install the misc. components to check fit and see how they look. Thanks to the angle adaptor on my Dremel tool, the thwart was installed. I drilled the openings for the drain plugs and installed. Finally, I installed the seat back and set the seat in place. Looks good. Now to remove everything and epoxy the thwart and all the hole edges.

Day 34 – ½ Hour

The replacement outwale arrived and I epoxied it together. Now I must let it cure. All for tonight.

Day 35 – 1.5 Hours

I have shaped, cut and mounted the last outwale and it didn't snap. My faith in wood has returned. Now I can begin on the outside of the hull.



"The most important things are length, width and weight," Kitt says. "You have to get the right boat for the right job. The main difference is distance. You have to determine how far you want to paddle. A longer boat goes farther with less effort".

CHESAPEAKE LIGHT CRAFT - SASSAFRAS 12 CANOE PROJECT

Day 27 – 2 Hours

I have cut the outwales to length and now must round them over. You see my completed jig. It allows me to mark the sides of the outwales so I can accurately plane off the same amount from either edge. After I install them on the hull, it should be a simple matter to sand them smooth.

Day 28 – 2 Hours

I got one of the outwales glued and mounted. That went well. The second, as I was clamping it to the hull split in two. This is the second piece of mahogany that has failed in this kit and I have to believe it was just too dry. I have contacted the manufacturer and am waiting for their reply. I think I will spend some more time working on the drips on the inside of the hull for now.

Post Note: CLC got back to me before the end of the day and replacement parts are coming.

Day 29 – 3 Hours

The first outwale look fine. As I am waiting for the replacement for the snapped one I have been sanding the interior of the hull. Lots of work but it looks good.

Day 30 – 6 Hours

Finished the sanding on the inside of the hull and smoothed out the fillets at the bulkheads. I then taped the edges and applied the fiberglass to this inside of the hull. Looks great. Removed the tape and the surplus glass and touched up the edges. Ready for the fill coats tomorrow.



“The most important things are length, width and weight,” Kitt says. “You have to get the right boat for the right job. The main difference is distance. You have to determine how far you want to paddle. A longer boat goes farther with less effort”

Kitt suggests 12- to 14-foot boats for beginners. For the average woman: a 15- to 17-foot kayak that is about 22-23 inches wide is suggested. An average man would use a 17- to 18-foot boat 22-24 inches wide. But Kitt says an individual’s height and weight should also factor in choosing the correct boat.

“Make sure you sit in the boat before you buy one,” Kitt says. “That’s pretty important. You have to make sure you physically fit in it.”

Camillus Kayak Shop

CHESAPEAKE LIGHT CRAFT - SASSAFRAS 12 CANOE PROJECT

Day 23 – 3.5 Hours

Before I outline today's work, I feel it is time for me to redefine why I am writing these reports. It is not to show how good a boat builder I am or to flaunt the merits of a particular kit but to point out the pleasure of building your own boat and the moments of not so much pleasure. Today is a good example of that. Parts of this build have been very rewarding, today's was not. Learn from my errors, don't repeat them.

Today I sanded. Not the boat, the fillets and I am not done yet. The instructions say to thicken your epoxy with silica to the proper consistency, which I did (I thought). You then fill the fillets so that the normal wetting action of the epoxy, as it dries, pulls the epoxy up the sides of the adjacent plank forming a perfect curve. The problem is the epoxy supplied with the kit is slow cure (which is GREAT to work with). If you do not get the consistency just right, when you come back in 4-5 hours so see how everything is going, you find the wires have formed smart little dams and you have a neat set of terraces parading down the length of your joints. Some have even held back enough epoxy to run down the side of your hull making even more of a mess. I might suggest not filling the areas completely up to the top of the planks. Apply enough epoxy to seal the seams. Remove the wires after it cures and then complete the fillets (thickened a bit more). This would also make removing the wires much easier.

Grinding them back down to size is another problem. This stuff is hard. I ended up using my Dremel tool to reduce the amount of material and I did get some gouges in the surface which will have to be filled and leveled before painting. This has not been a great day but the hull is coming along.

Day 24 – 1.5 Hours

So I didn't miss them, I marked all the low spots on the fillets and imperfection with painter tape before I mixed the epoxy. I then mixed a very thick solution of epoxy and silica and started to fill the areas. It was thick enough that I was able to use one of the stir sticks to spread it out, trying to blend it in with the surface. Tomorrow I find out how it worked.

Day 25 – 2 Hours

Well, it came out pretty good. I did a light sanding with 220 grit paper and there are a few areas that could use a little more work, but not bad. Next step is to shape and install the outwales.

Day 26 – 2 Hours

Started working on the inside of the hull today. I still have more to finish the outside but it can wait until I am ready for the fiberglass. The temporary brace was removed and replaced with a new one that isn’t epoxied in place. Lots of internal runs! If you don’t have one, purchase a cabinet scraper. It reduces the runs down to a workable size quicker than anything I have tried before and is gentle to the wood. I did cut the outwales to length and started to make a jig to help in rounding them over. I will show more of this later. This was a good day.