JEM Watercraft

First thanks to Mat for a good design and set of plans and prompt help on any stump I hit.
It stop raining here for a couple of hours so I headed for the lake. Slide her into the water boy this boat floats shallow not much over an inch when empty. I had no problem getting in her rock solid pushed off and was amazed at how she came up to speed so easy this boat moves after paddling plastic heritage ,she tracked true , the wind was blowing pretty hard as another storm started rolling in and it didn't really seem to affect her blowing from the side are head on. I paddled her for a few minutes stability was good. My seat is set three inches at top of pad I think I need to raise her another inch as I was occasionally bumbing the combing. and could be my paddling technique.
This was only thing I think I need to play with I love the big cockpit easy to get in out of and move around in , the matt in the cockpit worked well even muddy it wasn't slick. Now I need to go back and finish rigging her
for a trip 36 miles on the river in a few weeks.
Love the boat
Thanks all you guys for the help
Ron
PS photobucket isn't working right now but as soon as it is will post pics

Photo bucket is working now

moving right along

I love this next pic gives you ideal of the weather time was 1ocloak


love that open cockpit can move leggs

tx river rat

I am glad you almost liked paddling her But cheer up you will like her even more as you take future trips with her.

Easy paddling , nice and slick on the water , not even saying anything about when she is loaded down for a river /camping trip.

I have one complaint and it has to do with me and not the kayak. The sit backer I have slides back and my back hits the pointy area on the aft deck , I found a cure for that .... I use one of the seats that I made for the pirogues and the extra height does not bother the stability of the boat.

What I will have to do is like you did , make the bottom of the cockpit a little rougher ( a little sand and epoxy should do it ) so the mat I am sitting on does not slide. As I said a minor problem and it has nothing to do with the kayak , just me.

I use a door mat in the cockpit to put the seat on (helps save wear and tear on the boat) and in camp it is under the entrance to the hammock or in front of the tent to keep dirt out of either of them.
Everything I use when camping has a double use or more.

Southernpaddler was down for a while but if you would like to how about posting some of the pictures in the boat Bragging Section.

Chuck.
PS. The beauty of making your own boat is that you will have it your way.

Thank-YOU Ron!
Sweet looking ride. You look to be over 6 foot tall; would you recommend moving the bulkheads further apart to accommodate the length of your legs?
I'm 6'-4" and am still studying the plans/ getting materials together.
Appreciate the time you took to share your build.
Brilliant boat, all the way around.

Lee

Lee
I am 6ft even and have the seat forward a couple inches and still just touch the other bulkhead with toes and if you made bulk heads flush could pick up a couple more inches I extended the decks over into cockpit an inch on front and back so you could gain that.
Thanks for the compliments.
Ron

Well done mate, that looks awesome.

fantastic!

Mat
In a few days I will have her finished hatches tydowns shiny finish and then I will try to get you some first class pics .
Thanks again
Ron

Now how am I going to break to the wife that I'm going to build another boat!? Great job!

Beautiful. Great job.