This is a great sailing kayak video. I have been thinking about buying a similar kayak and adding chine runners to it instead of leeboards to see what it would do. I just need a place to store it. Thumbs up on the video.
Awesome video. I've been working on taking my identical twin kayaks and turning them into an easily transported catamaran. Like you, I don't like or desire to permanently alter my kayaks and, so, I'm building a removable skeleton on which to eventually add a mast and sail. The goal for this weekend or next is to get the boat out for a paddle and then I'll start working on either a transom for a little outboard or a sail system. There's so little out there that looks professional or is completely DIY, I'm so glad I came across your uploads. I'm hoping you could answer a few questions for me... Were you able to acquire all your hardware from the hardware store or did you need to go to a boat supply for blocks and such? How tall is your mast? Does your boom have a downhaul to add or reduce tension at the tack to change the luff? Do you have any detailed info for how you created the sails?
Hello, Sorry for the late reply on the sailing kayak. To answer your questions, all parts were from a hardware store (but a marine block might be better - but more expensive), the mast is 9ft, and the tack is secured to the mast mount so there can be some adjustment to the downhaul but not much (I don't want to rip it). With regard to the sails, I work for a CAD/CAM supplier to the textile industry so I have the advantage of the availability of professional CAD for the patterns and automated cutting (CAM) for the fabric. I took a side view picture of the kayak, imported it into CAD, scaled it to 1:1, traced locations for the mast, boom, mainsail and jib and used the tracings to make the sail patterns. That being said, I could have mounted the mast and made triangular measurements for the sails manually. The fabric is rip stop nylon and I used a standard sewing machine with a standard stitch for the seams. I think I used a 1/2 inch seam allowance on all the seams but a 1 inch for the hems where I placed the grommets for attachment to the mast and forestay. Happy sailing!
By far the best DIY design I've seen on CZcams. I'm working on building my own sailing kayak. A quick question. You only need a Lee board off on one side?
Hello Orrin. Good question. Actually, I'm quite surprised the lee board works at all. It's short but apparently the lee board and the rudder are just enough foil in the water to manage navigation - even tacking upwind at 45 degrees. I think I get a little side-slipping when the kayak heels a little bit and the lee board is on the windward side but it seems to work. Perhaps having a lee board on two sides would be better but I seem to survive with just one. I've had this boat out on the water over 20 times now and the sail rig seems to hold together. I hope this helps you and good luck on your design.
Doctor CAD I have actually built my sailing kayak now and have taken it out 4 times, though only the last 2 times did I have enough wind to actually sail. I based it nearly 100% off of your design, though due to the design of my kayak I had to drill holes for mounting. I read through your comments on both videos to get all the demensions. I have noticed the same when I'm tacking with the wind on my starboard side I get a little bit of sidewards movement, but other than that it works great! I plan on posting videos soon to CZcams and will be sure to credit your design (I'm not sure I'm saying that right, but I mean let everyone know that it is based on your design).
This is an awesome video!! (I started with the description video first) I have a kayak that i did something similar with. I have a cup holder forward of the cockpit where i installed a galvanized pipe flange, then i got a threaded pvc pipe and built out from there for the mast. My leeboards were wood that i cut and planed. Your plexiglass idea seems much better suited and i may add look much more sleek and Professional!! Also the idea to use shower curtain rings for the mainsail is really smart, i just used bits of string and tied them loose, but i really like how OEM your setup is. If i saw you sailing by i would think your setup was something over the counter, it just looks so good. Where do you sail at if you dont mind me asking?
Glad you liked the video and also glad you have made your own sailing rig. The plexiglass for the lee boards and rudder have held up for two sailing seasons so far. If they break, I will probably replace them with polycarbonate since it is much stronger and available at the hardware store. I sail on various lakes in west Michigan. Happy sailing.
Wow. I can't think of any place better to enjoy a beer.
Absolutely brilliant & well thought out design! I especially appreciate that you didn't permanently alter the kayak. Thank you for sharing this!!
Thanks. The main goal was not to have any cuts or drills.
This is a great sailing kayak video. I have been thinking about buying a similar kayak and adding chine runners to it instead of leeboards to see what it would do. I just need a place to store it.
Thumbs up on the video.
Awesome video. I've been working on taking my identical twin kayaks and turning them into an easily transported catamaran. Like you, I don't like or desire to permanently alter my kayaks and, so, I'm building a removable skeleton on which to eventually add a mast and sail. The goal for this weekend or next is to get the boat out for a paddle and then I'll start working on either a transom for a little outboard or a sail system. There's so little out there that looks professional or is completely DIY, I'm so glad I came across your uploads. I'm hoping you could answer a few questions for me...
Were you able to acquire all your hardware from the hardware store or did you need to go to a boat supply for blocks and such?
How tall is your mast?
Does your boom have a downhaul to add or reduce tension at the tack to change the luff?
Do you have any detailed info for how you created the sails?
Hello,
Sorry for the late reply on the sailing kayak. To answer your questions, all parts were from a hardware store (but a marine block might be better - but more expensive), the mast is 9ft, and the tack is secured to the mast mount so there can be some adjustment to the downhaul but not much (I don't want to rip it). With regard to the sails, I work for a CAD/CAM supplier to the textile industry so I have the advantage of the availability of professional CAD for the patterns and automated cutting (CAM) for the fabric. I took a side view picture of the kayak, imported it into CAD, scaled it to 1:1, traced locations for the mast, boom, mainsail and jib and used the tracings to make the sail patterns. That being said, I could have mounted the mast and made triangular measurements for the sails manually. The fabric is rip stop nylon and I used a standard sewing machine with a standard stitch for the seams. I think I used a 1/2 inch seam allowance on all the seams but a 1 inch for the hems where I placed the grommets for attachment to the mast and forestay. Happy sailing!
By far the best DIY design I've seen on CZcams. I'm working on building my own sailing kayak. A quick question. You only need a Lee board off on one side?
Hello Orrin. Good question. Actually, I'm quite surprised the lee board works at all. It's short but apparently the lee board and the rudder are just enough foil in the water to manage navigation - even tacking upwind at 45 degrees. I think I get a little side-slipping when the kayak heels a little bit and the lee board is on the windward side but it seems to work. Perhaps having a lee board on two sides would be better but I seem to survive with just one. I've had this boat out on the water over 20 times now and the sail rig seems to hold together. I hope this helps you and good luck on your design.
Doctor CAD I have actually built my sailing kayak now and have taken it out 4 times, though only the last 2 times did I have enough wind to actually sail. I based it nearly 100% off of your design, though due to the design of my kayak I had to drill holes for mounting. I read through your comments on both videos to get all the demensions. I have noticed the same when I'm tacking with the wind on my starboard side I get a little bit of sidewards movement, but other than that it works great! I plan on posting videos soon to CZcams and will be sure to credit your design (I'm not sure I'm saying that right, but I mean let everyone know that it is based on your design).
Hello Orrin. I'm so glad this helped you. Good luck and sail on!
I do not know if it's regatta fast, but it's gorgeously beautiful. Now, a Pungo 140 (with it's lateral stability) and a falucca rig...
Thanks
This is an awesome video!! (I started with the description video first) I have a kayak that i did something similar with. I have a cup holder forward of the cockpit where i installed a galvanized pipe flange, then i got a threaded pvc pipe and built out from there for the mast. My leeboards were wood that i cut and planed. Your plexiglass idea seems much better suited and i may add look much more sleek and Professional!! Also the idea to use shower curtain rings for the mainsail is really smart, i just used bits of string and tied them loose, but i really like how OEM your setup is. If i saw you sailing by i would think your setup was something over the counter, it just looks so good. Where do you sail at if you dont mind me asking?
Glad you liked the video and also glad you have made your own sailing rig. The plexiglass for the lee boards and rudder have held up for two sailing seasons so far. If they break, I will probably replace them with polycarbonate since it is much stronger and available at the hardware store. I sail on various lakes in west Michigan. Happy sailing.
How much trouble is it if you capsize?
I haven't capsized it yet but it would be a problem. I keep a bailer and a sponge with me at all times and I have everything tied to the kayak.
do you publish any cad files for this type build?
Sorry. Most of this was done by hand.