Finishing the Deck

Here is the finished deck taken from the bow. I'm very pleased with how the final strips went in. I ended up cutting long miters but the Japanese saw worked well. Can't wait to see the color contrasts with the dark walnut cockpit on top that will match the stems.

Here is a view from the cockpit to the stern.

Last pieces clamped in place.

Template for the Cockpit recess. This is a contrast transition piece that levels the deck to the cockpit.

Top view of the cockpit recess cut out. Now I need to refill it beginning from the front and back. I don't have to fill it completely but around the edges enough to where the cockpit will meet it.

I'm going to use the medium brown cedar that you see on the bottom edge of the recess for the filling. Thats all for awhile. It's off to the East Branch of the Delaware for some swimming, kayaking, canoeing and lots of fishing for smallmouth, walleye and trout in the West Branch. We're excited that Ben, Emily, Sara and David will be coming up for the week to join us.

New York Mayor's Cup Tune Up

Halfway point and turnaround under the Bear Mountain Bridge.

Today my friend Dave and I stretched our experience and kayaking skills by paddling in the Tune Up race of the New York Mayor's Cup Kayak Championship that will be held in August.

This was a 14 mile race on the upper Hudson from Cold Spring south to the Bear Mountain Bridge and back. As you can see from some of the other surfski and racing kayaks we were way out of our class but did our best and finished. I finished in 3 hours and 45 minutes but considering the rain and wind we were battling I was happy. This was one step of our preparation for for the 100 mile North Carolina Watertribe challenge we plan to do in September. As we thought about multiplying the 14 miles x 3 to do 45 in a day we both groaned. We've thought we were getting in shape but have a ways to go.

As you can see, my 14 ft. Pungo was no match for the fast surfski's. It was actually the only "recreational" kayak in the race. Next year I hope to do it in the Spring Run.

Creating a deck

Before I get to the kayak let me brag on my grandkids a moment. This is David on a riding tractor that belonged to me when I was his age and restored for him and Sara last year. Dave just turned 2 and I got to be with him a few days after his birthday. Below is Sara with her first fish. We tried fishing last year twice but this time the Sunny's cooperated. Since I named my first fish Charlie, (a brook trout caught in Stokes State Forest), I asked Sara what she wanted to name her fish. She said "Sara", so we called it Sara the Sunny! What a blessing.

Below is the kingplank of the stern. Origionally I was going to run it to the end further but liked how the miters were coming out. Now I will run all white cedar in the center with the miters on the edges as I go. The little measureing tool below - forget its name - works very well to measure the distance of the angle that needs to be cut. Measure, mark and cut with the razor saw. A little sanding or trimming and it fits well.

Here is the bow coming to completion. I installed a 1/2 strip of dark cedar before the white to create a contrast line. I like how it looks and the epoxy will bring out the colors even more.
I did create a few nailholes to secure the kingplank to the forms with a tempory piece of wood on top so as not to mar them.

Here is the bow from the opposite direction before I removed the clamps and tape. It has been going well without staples.

Here is a closeup of how I have been holding the strips in place while the glue dries. Masking tape, clamps, shims screwed to the staion. Basically, whatever works.