Hairy's Laker

hairymick · Post by **hairymick** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 7:23 am

OK

Back home again

and finally got some piccies uploaded onto photobucket. This vista pig is dead slow on dial-up

Robin and I just got back from a few days "down the coast" and of course, we had to take some boats down with us.

I have taken the liberty here of posting a pic of Robin in her plastic sea kayak. We used this fine boat as a performance comparison for the Laker.

I might add here, that Robin loves her sea kayak but s is so impressed with the Laker, that she has put in an order for a Laker of her own.

First, some piccies of what is, for us - paddling paradise

and the Laker in her element.

Lake Ewan-Maddock

Obi Obi Creek

This is the boat Robin had.

Laker, compares very favourably - in in line hull speed to Robins Sea kayak. I had no trouble keeping up with her at a moderate cruising pace. We were both a little surprised by this. Where the laker was considerably superior in these skinny water conditions is in the comfort factor and the ease with which I could enter and get out of the boat. Most of the banks in Obi Obi creek are steep to with slippery mud or slimy rocks to stand on. The cockpit in the laker is big enough to allow very easy entry by just straddling the boat and sitting in the seat, washing the feet before easily slipping them under the fore-deck. Try doing that in a sea kayak!

The piccies hint at rock gardens there and shallow water. Lakers amazing manouverability really shone here. I could pick my way through the rocks from water hole to water hole without touching a rock. The plastic job was continually scraping on the same rocks and came out at the other end with several new battle scars

Laker was unmarked

For those who like to sneak around in waters such as these, taking photographs or enjoying the wild life (as we do), I think Laker would be a very hard boat to beat.

We even saw a platypus on this trip! These, very rare and most shy of our marsupials are seldom seen in the wild. I have only ever seen them twice before in my life and Robin had never seen one. I have decided to call my boat Platypus.

We only got a glimpse before he slipped beneath the water and was gone. A very special moment.

Shortly afterwards, we snuck up on this little bloke - much more common, but still very cool - a frilled neck lizard or bearded dragon.

surfman · Post by **surfman** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 7:59 am

Very nice Mick.

Post by **jem** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 8:05 am

You couldn't pay a professional photographer to stage and take better pictures.

hairymick · Post by **hairymick** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 8:27 am

You couldn't pay a professional photographer to stage and take better pictures

Why, thank you Sir!

I only mess around and point & click.

Occasionally I jag a nice one (very occasionally) All credit goes to Robin - She is the shutterbug.

Truly, for those who like to take photographs while on the water, Laker is simply brilliant. Very quiet to paddle, stable and comfortable and a very dry ride and is no fuss to easily turn to get the once in a lifetime shot. We took about a gig of piccies that day

and one or two had to turn out OK

BTW,

I am playing with a camera holder build for just under the foredeck so the cameras are allways ready and a fairly simple idea for a mono-pod camera mount to go on the front of the cockpit.

Matt, if you do nothing else - build yourself one of these boats - the kids will LOVE it.

so will you.

Kayak Jack · Post by **Kayak Jack** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 1:04 pm

Robin & Mick, Good to see you two out on the water together. Again, nice job on the boat, Mick. You do good work.

hairymick · Post by **hairymick** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 5:18 pm

G'day Jack,

Thanks mate. It is amazing, only a couple of weeks ago, I thought this was all over. Robin has made remarkable recovery.

Will post a trip report on Old Sparky soon.

FlaMike · Post by **FlaMike** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 5:21 pm

Just plain beautiful, all the way around!

Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL

Chalk · Post by **Chalk** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 5:59 pm

Awesome boat Mick

hairymick · Post by **hairymick** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 5:18 am

Thanks guys,

This little boat is amazing!

Took her offshore (a little way)

today and blooded her for the first time.

Forecast here was for SE winds 20 to 25 knots And I had to take Robin into Hervey bay for a hairdressers appointment. Put in at a sheltered little beach behind a headland and ventrued out round into the wind for a spot of reef fishing for a couple of hours.

Fishing was pretty quiet but I bagged a PB flathead and a couple of others and then came into shore to play in some little high tide swells. (Biggest was only about 18". Real nice little reef break tucked in behind the headland.

great fun.

I had a ball on these little waves, The boat caught them easily, turned even better and the accelleration along the wave face was as good as any wave ski I have ridden. I will be making a hatch cover for the back and obtaining a skirt to fit my cockpit real soon.

I have never paddled serious white water, but the way this boat behaves in surf would indicate to me that she would do very well.

The more I paddle this boat, the more it is becoming my favourite all round kayak. There is absolutely nothing not to like about it.

FIRST BLOOD!!!

GuinnesDraught · Post by **GuinnesDraught** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 9:04 am

Hi Mick
Newbie here...

I'm in love with the laker after going through your build reports on both your lakers and seeing the end result on this one.
I've been frequenting this site for quite sometime but was too skeptical of starting my own project since i have almost zero wood working skills and even worse fiberglassing knowledge.
In your honest opinion after a few pints

you think an absolute amateur can get a laker built on their own?
I really really want to build one but have to start from scratch even with all the tools etc.
And the only familiarization i have with both plywood and glass material is though this site