Built from plans in 2013. Picture here:
https://plus.google.com/photos/107518319113711997842/albums/6105520435170571025?authkey=CMrhi8TnmcKG0wE
Installed thruster fin set (3 fins) and been having a blast carving turns. With fins, the kayak does not broach and even starts surfing from the broken whitewater waves.
Here is a video of the boat surfing. The rider (me) is just an intermediate surfer, no fancy bottom turns, top turns or cutbacks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdOd9G_n5d0
Just finished 10 days of kayak surfing on the Outer Banks with my boat, now augmented with fins. I followed the plans for location and put longboard fin boxes in, and then put in 2.5" fins into the boxes. Made a huge difference - the boat no longer tends to broach on waves and carves much better.
Sweet!
Mike
Morris,
congratulations on your build....beautifully executed.....and nicely paddled
watching your video with envy here from the cold mid-atlantic where me and a bunch of folks hope to get a winter paddle in as we will hit the mid-40's next week.
thanks for sharing. have never really seen one of these in actions....your youtube seemed to really capture the essence of the sport.
howard
Mike,
Great report about your boat. For all Matunuck owners, fins increase the fun factor! I agree that broaching is rare with fins.
Morris
Morris,
Beautiful craft. Mine is covered with multi-colored house paint that wears off in the sand and gets repainted by my kids. :)
Curious as to your thoughts on fore-aft balance and bouyancy. I weigh 220, and mine floats with the aft part just about submerged and the nose high. I see yours seems to do similar. I've even thought about retrofitting/extending the stern aft a little with some foam and carbon fibre cloth to balance it out. I guess my query is for all Matunuck owners out there.
Again, beautiful craft!
Mike,
Thanks for the comments. Here is a construction picture album that shows the type of paint I used, Interlux Perfection. It is very tough, easy to apply, but you must wear a respirator while applying. It does not wear off easily.
Also, in picture #1, note how the boat sits in the water. I am 145 lbs and the rear deck is nearly submerged. I have moved the seat forward, but with little improvement. The boat surfs very well, so I don't think it matters how it floats while paddling out. I notice that 200 lb board surfers sink deep sitting on their tiny 6 ft boards while waiting for a wave, but when they are surfing, the board planes nicely on top of the wave.
Morris