# West River 180 finished ( almost )

**URL:** <https://forum.clcboats.com/t/west-river-180-finished-almost/41272>\
**Category:** Builder's Forum\
**Created:** [August 14, 2013, 1:28pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/west-river-180-finished-almost/41272 "2013-08-14T13:28:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![James\_Harper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b19c9b/32.png) [@James\_Harper](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/James_Harper)\
**Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 1:28pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/west-river-180-finished-almost/41272/1 "2013-08-14T13:28:58Z")

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Finally finishing up my West River 180 ( the original 180) that I started building back in 2002!

I had it CLOSE to being complete within a few months of starting it way back then, but we moved to a new house, and I hung the unfinished project in the new garage to be completed once we were settled in the new place.&nbsp; Well, 11 years later I guess we're finally settled in!&nbsp; I got the WR180 down a few weeks ago, got the coaming on it, another coat of epoxy and rigged it out.&nbsp; Going to paddle it a couple weeks, before removing the rigging and doing the final varnish.

![WR180 Riggin](http://www.daveharper.com/Webpics/WestRiver180_Rigging.jpg)

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![First time in water - it floats!](http://www.daveharper.com/Webpics/WestRiver180_FirstFloat.jpg)

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![It floats - Even with me in it!](http://www.daveharper.com/Webpics/WestRiver180_FirstFloat_2.jpg)

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Dave H

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**Author:** ![George\_Krewson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9d8465/32.png) [@George\_Krewson](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/George_Krewson)\
**Post date:** [August 15, 2013, 6:42am UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/west-river-180-finished-almost/41272/2 "2013-08-15T06:42:01Z")

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Nice looking boat even after all those years! Pool paddles are okay but just wait till you get that thing out in the open! I have a WR18 and love paddling it.&nbsp;

George K

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**Author:** ![Pete\_Walter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9dc877/32.png) [@Pete\_Walter](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Pete_Walter)\
**Post date:** [August 18, 2013, 6:25pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/west-river-180-finished-almost/41272/3 "2013-08-18T18:25:16Z")

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Ok it's tippy. Ill gather you got that from the pool session. If you tried sweep strokes you'll see its not easy to persuade this kayak away from a straight line. Its doable but it can be distracting in following seas. It IS a very fast hull. &nbsp;Wether I paddle or sail mine its always got a nice easily attainable higher end cruise speed than typical hard chines. Again, more tippy with less bilge but its a slick quick ride. &nbsp;With the sailrig it'll go anywhere . With paddle alone I prefer &nbsp;protected waters.

Congrats - u will put on the miles.&nbsp;

Pete

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