2 Expedition Wood Kayaks. This is my own kayak, along with an identical unfinished shell. The hulls are 18 feet, 4 inches LOA, and the beam is 25 inches. The design is a fairly standard collection of features that I liked from a number of kayak designs which I built for clients, combined with my own ideas and techniques. This boat was somewhat of a test bed to try out different skegs, decking techniques, seating arrangements, deck layouts, compartmentalization techniques, etc—many of which I used on other boats.

Built with the best materials—BS 1088 mahogany ply and West System epoxy. Full length sheer clamp is spruce, allowing a large radius round on the deck edge, all wrapped with glass tape. The bottom panels on both boats are sheathed with 6 ounce glass cloth. The graphite bottom provides abrasion resistance over the bottom and sunscreen protection. Included is a new rudder assembly as shown, which was never installed as we were experimenting with different skeg designs and locations.

In addition to the 6 foot 6 inch long cockpit compartment, the boat has four additional watertight compartments accessible by screw-in deck plates attached with SS machine screws, and a conventional strap-down hatch on the large aft compartment which is also sheathed on the interior. The 6 foot 6 inch cockpit compartment also has space for a large backpack, or the headroom makes it possible to lay prone in the boat for napping and wildlife photography. Weight of the completed boat is 45 to 50 pounds.

This boat has been to southeastern Alaska a number of times, also 3 Desolation Sound trips and many high mountain lakes in Montana, in both winter and summer. The hull has the usual small scraps and dings from use which need repair, but is otherwise structurally excellent. Needs a re-varnish. The shell was intended as an identical boat for trips with a friend. All bulkheads are installed and the shell has a saturation coating of epoxy. Bottom hull panels are sheathed with glass cloth. Both boats have been in storage for 5 years.

For info contact: paul@butlerprojects.com