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.
By far the best DIY design I've seen on UA-cam. 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 UA-cam 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).
I know it's been a long time, but can you give us an update on how it's going. Does it track well? As a sailor I'm wondering how it goes without a centre board
The lee board is just enough to allow decent tracking and tacking. I can sail this on a tack, reach or run. So, I can get anywhere I need to on a lake. It's not limited to just down wind sailing - that wouldn't be real sailing. I'll grant you, it's not ideal sailing but it works and it's fun in light to medium winds. I would avoid 20+ mph winds with this rig. The point from the beginning was to make a sail-craft that was transportable on a car top with one person, a "sit in" design, setup and launch by one person, and inexpensive. I hope this design inspires others to try sailing their kayaks or improve on my design. Happy sailing!
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.
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.
Wow. I can't think of any place better to enjoy a beer.
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
By far the best DIY design I've seen on UA-cam. 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 UA-cam 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 know it's been a long time, but can you give us an update on how it's going. Does it track well? As a sailor I'm wondering how it goes without a centre board
The lee board is just enough to allow decent tracking and tacking. I can sail this on a tack, reach or run. So, I can get anywhere I need to on a lake. It's not limited to just down wind sailing - that wouldn't be real sailing. I'll grant you, it's not ideal sailing but it works and it's fun in light to medium winds. I would avoid 20+ mph winds with this rig. The point from the beginning was to make a sail-craft that was transportable on a car top with one person, a "sit in" design, setup and launch by one person, and inexpensive. I hope this design inspires others to try sailing their kayaks or improve on my design. Happy sailing!
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.