RxMarine

Last updated Feb 7th '09 - I'll be adding articles and links to this page over the next few weeks so please check back. Also check the Kayak Sailing Links Page for more how to's for Kayak Sailing!

Outriggers (Amas)

How a professional makes his foam outriggers

How to make simple outriggers - I built my own amas using the excellent article above, here are a few pics of the build process

Making a Sail

How to shape a sail from polytarp (Plastic Tarpaulin)  - Advice on how to make a sail out of Polytarp (Tarpaulin)

Sail making advice - Jim Michalak - More advice on shaping your own sail

More easy low budget sail making tips - I use double sided carpet tape for my sails, thanks to this chap - I still have my original Polytarp sail I made using this technique!

Measurements for making a small Kayak Sprit Sail - Some useful measurements to get you going. As I have a wider SOT my sails tend to be a fair bit bigger than these

Make your own Kayak V Sail - Topkayaker's excellent article on making your own V sail

Making and fitting a Rudder

The WaterTribe Rudder - An excellent article on making your own kayak rudder (Making your own rudder and steering system for a kayak is not an easy undertaking, I recommend purchasing an off the shelf solution)

How To make a Slip on Mast Step

Take One Standard Scupper Pro.....

Build a  mast step from fibreglass.......even if you have no experience in using fibreglass techniques, building one is not too onerous. How I made my mast step:

• The best place to locate a mast step on a Scupper Pro is just forward of the front hatch. The profile of the kayak can be used as the mould to make this mast step. 
• Use play dough to smooth out any sharp angles
• Cover the area with grease proof paper and packing tape to protect the kayak and to act as a release agent so the mould can be easily removed from the kayak
• Build up several layers of fibreglass. As the Scupper Pro has a useful lip round the edge, I layered extra glass on these points as this is what holds the mould to the boat 
• Even if you don't have a lip like on the Scupper Pro, as long as there is a little taper in the hull form, (is this called tumblehome?) I believe you could use this technique to make a mast step for most kayaks.
• Remove the mould. You now have a curved surface that will slot securely onto your boat. You now need to build on top of your mould  a raised flat surface to provide rigidity and also to give a nice surface to add fittings etc. To do this cut some 20mm wood board to build up two sides and a top. To attach the wood to the fibreglass mould, use epoxy fillets and layer fibreglass over the whole piece, thus securing it all together. Now you have a really strong and rigid structure.
• Drill a suitable size hole and insert a plastic plumbing tube for where the mast will sit. Fibreglass this in place.
• Voila! This has proved to be a very robust fixture that requires no drilling to attach.

Slot onto deck, no drilling required to hold in place. The loads generated by the sail are nicely distributed:

Back To Top


























































How to Make Simple Outriggers

I have started construction of the outriggers for my Scupper Pro. By adding outriggers, I shall be able to carry a larger sail (sails) and be able to counter the extra turning moment generated by a lee board. Here are a couple of pics showing the build process, along with a brief description:


I purchased some closed cell styrofoam, it's a fairly high density so for the size of the outriggers it provides quite a bit of inherent stiffness. I cut suitable sized strips and glued them together with No More Nails (American equivalent - Gorilla Grip?)



Next I shaped the amas using a saw and various grades of sand paper



First I put of layer of fibreglass on the bottom of both amas colouring it with a bit of yellow pigment to match the hull - it's not very clear in the picture below, but it shows the underside fibre glassed.


The finished product mounted on my Scupper Pro, click on the image to enlarge



Back To Top