The Greenland Bug....

It all started last October at Delmarva Paddlers Retreat. There I think I was officially infected by the Greenland Bug. Even though I had sporadically paddled with my Greenland Paddle(which I had bought off of James S. over a year before) and had determined that this wooden stick was even better to roll with than a Euro-blade, I still did not really understand the concept.

At Delmarva, I met lots of serious paddlers. I mean to say that they are serious about Greenland Style Paddling. I also mean to say that I do not think they are serious about a single thing other than that. But it was still an eye opener. I watched people making boats; I made a paddle in a class; I watched some great paddlers do lots of fancy rolls; I tried out very cool home-made low volume qajaqs; and I even got a taste of Greenland Rope Exercises courtesy of Dubside.

Eight months have passed, and I now have a set of ropes in my backyard. I practice the elusive Qajaasaarneq almost every day (more on that some other time). I can do most of the normal set of Greenland Rolls in my Outer Island, after modifying it as much as possible. Yet, I still can not get those elusive few completed. At least I have reached a point that I have learned enough to know what I am not doing right. Persistence will get one far, but I still think that a cheater boat will get me the rest of the way. There just seems to be some things that I cannot yet (and may never) achieve in my Outer Island. And besides, history shows that some Greenland kayakers actually made special low volume boats just for rolling. I have a task!

Back in November, Len T. told me he had a C.L.C. Arctic Hawk in his garage that he did not think he would build any more. I bought it from him. Ever since then, I was asked by someone at least once a week; "Did you start your boat yet?" As of yesterday, the answer is Yes! Of course, if I actually get it done by next Delmarva (that is almost 4 month away), I will be impressed.

So what will this new boat be? Why, a Greenland-like rolling boat, of course. I have tried and measured many hard shelled and skin boats over the winter, and have a pretty good idea what I want the boat to end up like. I hope that it is reasonable. I intend to simply cut down the sheer edge on the six side hull panels and drop the boat's height as much as I can.

The plan is to have the following dimensions after the cut:

• Depth at fore of 20" cockpit/Height of Masik: 7 5/8" (Arctic Hawk original was 10 3/4")
• Depth at aft of cockpit/Depth to Sheer: 5 1/2" (Arctic Hawk original was 7 3/4")
• Depth of coaming at rear of cockpit: 6 1/2" (Arctic Hawk original was 8 3/4")
• Beam: 19 3/4" (Arctic Hawk original was 22")
• Beam at chine: 17 1/2" (Arctic Hawk original was 17 1/2")
• Depth to sheer at feet: 5 1/2" (Arctic Hawk original 7 1/2")

Although I have yet to make a mock-up of the cockpit with these depths to make sure that I will fit into it, I am pretty sure that I will. The only problem that I have with the new dimensions is the beam. I would like to make it a little narrower, but I am afraid of what will happen to the kit if I start messing with this dimension. I hope that cutting the kit at the sheer will reduce the beam enough to be a satisfying rolling boat.

So it starts, and this is to log my progress and my goal of having a great rolling boat by the end of the season:

The Date on the carton (i.e. when the kit was packaged, and how old the resin is too!)

All the parts laid out on the back porch. June 16th.

After the bow & stern side hull panels and the two bulkheads have had their insides glassed and gelled. June 17th.
I will try to keep postings on my progress. If not for the adventurous that want to see my completed boat, as incentive for me to keep going!