JEM Watercraft

What is the length and width of the cockpit, please???

Hi Phishtech.
Cockpit dimensions at deck level are 25 x 41 inches....which is pretty close to Matts specs for the standard Laker 14. (20 x 40 inches)
The difference in this case is the squared off configuration which results in a more open cockpit.
It provides more space in easy reach for fishing gear and rigging rods etc while on the water. It's just my personal preference in a boat used for fishing.
Also, I'm afflicted with cursed sciatica, which means I need to be able to adjust my sitting and leg position easily if I'm sitting low for much of a time.
Otherwise everything seizes up and its touch and go whether I'd even be able to get back out of the kayak when its time to come ashore!

Your going to like that square cockpit
Ron

G'day Ron.
Yes !!! I just looked back over your old posts and realized you've been building square cockpit kayaks for years!!
I knew I must have ripped off the idea from somewhere
Reading your Freedom build, I see your reason for building them that way is much the same as mine.....A broken down ol' body
Mines from 30 odd years of greens-keeping....Shoveling, wheel barrowing, bending and lifting things the way I shouldn't....
Oh well, you pay the price.

We here in Victoria Oz, have enjoyed both "drought breaking" rain (I'll reserve my judgment on that for a bit longer yet) as well as glorious and equally welcome sunshine
The sunshine and warmer weekends are particularly welcome 'cos it means a bit more progress on such things as building kayaks
This was taken a couple of weekends back as I was preparing to glass the decks.....with a helping hand from one of my dogs, Bug.

The decks are done now and I've even managed to get a couple of coats of varnish on them in the past week.

Glassing and varnishing of the decks has been completed and I've been doing same detail painting.
Changed the trim colour from the original blue to a more fitting (I think) brown. The Dulux colour is called "Pookie Bear"......Now how could you resist a colour with a name like that!
The hull will still be blue....similar to the colour of the masking tape in these photos.
Still to do.....final finishing off of the hull and painting, graphite coat the bottom panels, install deck and cockpit fittings, anchor trolley etc.














Hatch cover

Rod holder will be mounted something like this.
I'm getting a fair run on now the weather's improving so I can't wait to get her on the water!

olsnappa wrote:I'm getting a fair run on now the weather's improving

who are you trying to kid

Tor wrote:

olsnappa wrote:I'm getting a fair run on now the weather's improving

who are you trying to kid

G'day Tor......
Yeah I know, I sound a bit dillusional but I was referring mainly to the little spell of random sunny, above 15C days
we had down our way about a month ago. Just enough to glass the decks!......
Note the sunshine in the photo with my dog!!
It's gone a bit down hill since then but I'm the eternal optimist!

What a day!!! Beautiful weather, so I got a bit more done on the Laker.....
But even better, my footy team, Collingwood just won the AFL premiership!!!!
(insert boos and hisses from non Collingwood supporters)

self adhesive weather strip around hatch opening.

Hatch cover in place. It still needs a couple of coats of varnish

A few more deck fittings to attach and then flip her over and finish off the hull
with a couple more coats of resin, paint and graphite.

Nice!