Quote:
Originally Posted by dyakush
I live on an island in Pacific Northwest, and want to build an aluminum kayak so I can visit my granddaughter who lives on an island next to mine.Thanks Donald
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Welcome to the forum, Donald
Sounds like a neat project. I have my Dad's old aluminum canoe still, its 50 years old, no maintenance, except I did tighten up a few rivets that were seeping, and had to replace the flotation foam as the mice ate it. Plenty of dents and scars, its been a sturdy friend of the family for a long time.
Have you found plans? I don't know your shop capacity, so I don't know what kinds of construction (methods of joining aluminum) you are considering. I had high school students build stitch and glue boats, the advantage is its all from flat sheets, while some have very klunky lines, others quite pleasing. There are some free stitch and glue Kayak plans online, maybe they could be altered for aluminum and riveted? Up North there, you have ample access to aluminum and aluminum working supplies through the airports, a friend who moved up there a while ago said its easier to get parts for his plane in Alaska than it was in Illinois, because there are so many planes up there.
Sounds like a very unique project, please keep us informed.