JEM Watercraft

Mick, how do you think it might handle in rough conditions? We don't usually have rough conditions where I plan to use a kayak, but it is along the shore in the ocean with no barrier reefs. If the wind or waves come up do you think it would be a reasonably safe boat to be in?

G'day Ken,

Like any boat, a lot would depend on the person in it.

Laker is only a small, low volume rec kayak and is in no way, a sea kayak. Its intended use is reasonably flat water.
Having said that, fitted with a skirt and a reasonable level of paddler experience/competence it should be OK.

I weigh around 200 pounds, have been using paddlecraft all of my life and considder myself fairly competent. I would be very cautious in taking this boat too far offshore in its present configuration. I have not fitted bulkheads, don't have a skirt that fits it and have not tried to roll it yet.

Have a look at the last photo I posted. There is not much freeboard with me in it. I would expect it to be a wet ride in the conditions you describe. I don't know what your skill or experience level in a kayak is so please understand my caution here. While this boat is very suitable, in my opinion, for a novice paddler in reasonably calm water I could not recommend it for ocean paddling. Matt has several boats that are very suitable in this regard. ie North/Southwind, Okwater, Freedom, Cape Fear SOT, Sabalo and Wadefish.

A little history: I wanted to do a set of free kayak plans for several reasons. Gets folks curious, helps web traffic, and it helps showcase what you get when you purchase JEM Watercraft plans.

I choose the size mostly for youth groups and also for husbands to build a boat for wives. In other words, smaller paddlers.

So I drew up the free version of the Laker. I didn't include all the nicer features because it was the free version and I wanted it to be the most straight-forward, easiest way to build a kayak. Also have to keep things simple because you download and print the free plans yourself. I can't include the full scale patterns for some of the boat features on a set of downloaded plans. No way to ensure the builder will print to the correct size.

But, after discussing the idea with the "insiders" , I came to realize a second version with the extras like the nicer shaped cockpit, full:scale pattersnfor some some parts, JEM Watercraft decals, rounded bow/stern stems (the hull shape and frames are actually a bit different than the free plans to accomodate this feature), and more detailed assembly instructions were in order.

So I have the "upgraded" version of the Laker for sale. I never really intended for there to be a for-sale version. But it turned out nicely and I've sold several sets of plans to builders who know about the free version, but want the extras.

Longer versions (not of the free plans) that will hold more weight will come out eventually. It will be exactly the same style: Symmetrical, easy to build, just longer. But no plans to start those anytime soon unless I get a lot builders chirping for them.

Longer versions (not of the free plans) that will hold more weight will come out eventually. It will be exactly the same style: Symmetrical, easy to build, just longer. But no plans to start those anytime soon unless I get a lot builders chirping for them

chirp chirp chirp

Hi Mick and Matt, thanks for your thoughts and suggestions. I think I may go with the Laker free version first since this will be my first kayak and I'm looking for something cheap and easy to build and lightweight with good handling characteristics.

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Mick, I don't have much kayaking experience so I have a lot to learn. Fortunately I'm a comfortable ocean swimmer so I think this boat will be a good one to start with even if I get dumped out a few times until I learn how to handle it. We have pretty good conditions here most of the time anyways, and when it's bad I will just stay home.

I will never go paddling far from shore since my goal is not fishing but basically to take the boat out for an hour or so and get some exercise every day or two ... and maybe do a bit of coastal exploring on days when I have more play time. I live within walking distance from the sea and I have to carry the boat there and back too, so I really need a lightweight boat. This is another reason why Laker attracts me.

I reviewed the other kayaks you suggested and I like several of them, but before I invest the extra time and money to build one of Matt's more ocean capable kayaks I think I should test myself with a smaller and cheaper one first.

If everything you and Robin said is true I don't think I can go wrong by starting with Laker, do you? I figure I should learn in a simple boat then build a different one later when I know what I really want ...

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Matt, your goal of getting people interested in your plans worked like a charm! I wasn't even in the market for a kayak when I learned about your free plans, but now that I've been thinking about it I believe a small, easy to build, lightweight kayak would be a lot of fun.

I only weigh 150 so this boat may be better for me than a heavier person, especially in "less than calm" water. Laker's v-bottom interests me too. Mick said "This boat is only 13 feet long and should not glide as well as it does." ... and I think this may have something to do with the vee bottom. Jim Michalak has a small row boat with a vee bottom that moves a lot faster than it should too.

What would happen to the boat's handling and rough water performance if a person deepened the vee bottom a bit? Anything good, or would it be more like "let's not go there, it is scary just thinking about it" ... ?

You'd probably help tracking a bit, raise your center of gravity a bit, decrease stability a bit.

Not sure you'd gain much speed because you'll be adding rocker by deepening the V and not changing anything else.

Much will depend on how much you deepen that V. I suspect you'll get diminishing returns if you add more than 1" to the existing V.

If I were in your shoes and had access to a boat shop and cheap supplies, I'd build to spec first, see how you like it, then play with changes on the next one.

They are like potatoe chips... you can't have just one!

like Mick said: Chirp, Chirp, Chirp

I'd build to spec first, see how you like it, then play with changes on the next one.

Or maybe build a completely different one the next time!

I wasn't suggesting that I would change anything about Laker, in fact if I build it I intend to build it exactly to plans. I just cannot help wondering about the possibilities, that's all ...

Matt
The next generation of the laker should be called a cricket JamesH , Mick , Chirp chirp.
Ron

kengrome wrote:

I'd build to spec first, see how you like it, then play with changes on the next one.

Or maybe build a completely different one the next time!

I wasn't suggesting that I would change anything about Laker, in fact if I build it I intend to build it exactly to plans. I just cannot help wondering about the possibilities, that's all ...

He's hooked before he even started!