I found a really nice looking West Greenland kayak by Brian Schultz of Capefalconkayak.com described as 1931 Disco Bay. Unfortunately, plans are not offered. Harvey Golden also has made some very nice replicas of many of the historically documented Greenland Kayaks primarily used for seal hunting. I found a similar one with a modern fuselage frame, called “Baffin Bay”, at gentrycustomboats.com; so I ordered the plans for it. It’s design is from a historically documented “seal hunting kayak”.
I must say I was a little surprised when I received the plans and instructions. Fortunately my good experience with the Kudzucraft proved to be a great asset, as “the structural bones” of the Baffin Bay needed some modifications to make it a more usable craft in my view. The plywood stations were made very deep and also few in number, three in front of the coaming and three behind. This contributed to severely limiting the possibility to use the storage space both fore and aft, because the remaining space in the center of the plywood stations is too small to push anything of size thru the stations. Because of the few three stations both fore and aft, the gunnels were 1-½” deep to span the longer distance as compared to the 1-¼” for the Kudzucraft.
I respaced the three stations and added one more plywood station both fore and aft of the cockpit as well as a couple partial stations at the cockpit. I then reduced the size of the gunnels to 1-¼” because they now spanned a shorter distance.
In order to accomplish this, I first did a scale drawing of the craft as designed; and then with the added and respaced stations. I did a full size mock-up of both the existing and proposed stations before I determined the final form. It was quite extensive; however the final frame is very pleasing to the eye and has some usable storage space. The instructions provided had some great tips on pre-bending the gunnels as they really have a significant curve to them. This curvature impacts the keel by causing it to lift, because of all the pressure exerted by the curved gunnels. The next one I build; I can address this, before rather than after.
I also worked on the transition of the bow deck to the coaming by adding two stringers from the midpoint of the fore deck to the coaming. This improved the unfortunate bumps on the deck in front of the coaming.
One of the interesting attributes to the authentic Greenland kayak is the more rounded coaming shape as opposed to the more traditional “elongated egg shape” seen in many plastic versions. By raising the front coaming slightly, it allows “the feet to slip into position” and then drop yourself into the seat. Doing this, I made the coaming 17-½” x 24-½” from ⅛” birch plywood, which allowed me to give it the pleasing “swooping curve” when observed from the side view, as opposed to a straight line seen in the more original designs.
I made the coaming in three parts to accommodate the sewn on skin. First, a flat bottom main structure with a vertical riser section, in which the fabric around the coaming is sewn to the flat bottom. Secondly a “giant washer” which goes over the stitching, and lastly the top of the coaming, glued to the lower part. All made possible by a little fiberglass and epoxy adding to “the new technology” of the modern Greenland kayak.
One of the great attributes of the Capefalcon kayaks was the use of latigo leather bungies with antler sliders and the loop for the “seal harpoon” (or fishing rod) on the front deck. Humm I thought, latigo leather would also make a great keel rub strip and for the painters.
I decided to rename this one “Hunter I” as that is where the roots of this craft came from. “Hunter” has a special meaning for me, as growing up on that Ohio farm, and my father, Adrian Aten, loved to hunt which he passed on to me. One early fall in late 1990’s, I was hunting at my favorite camping spot in the Michigan Huron National Forest. I was sitting on an old logging trail, which had 5” diameter trees growing on it, overlooking a valley of hardwood trees. There was a pile of brush off about ten feet on my right about two feet high. I had on my dark black wireframed prescription sunglasses and I slowly looked to my right. I was startled and surprised to see a fellow hunter — as he was also — he was of the four legged kind, with his front feet on top of the brush pile, ready to leap over it. A bobcat!!
His eyes looked very similar to mine with black sunglasses. His eyes appeared to be the size of quarters. We both stared at each other for about 20-30 seconds, which seemed like a long time. He was 24-27” tall at the shoulders, surprisingly very narrow, extremely athletic looking, a coat that was dark brown to black with 2” diameter long fuzzy legs and feet. His eyes were very intelligent and seem to be ancient, which is a carefully chosen descriptor. I did not feel threatened whatsoever, and I hope he felt the same. After we both sized up each other, he slowly backed off the brush pile and slowly trotted off silently in the dried leaves making barely a sound. Wow, just as my experience with the pair of Eagles, I was similarly awestruck. After experiencing the Eagles and building Sacred Eagle I, and deciding to name the Baffin Bay, “Hunter”; this bobcat story came to my mind, and makes some sense to me, as bobcats are found in Greenland also.
As I am finishing the project, my mind is racing with some improvements to make in it’s design, (Hunter II). Making more dry bag storage space in it for touring would be a great asset. By comparing the project with the well designed Petrel, I believe there is way to improve the transition from the front deck to the rear deck; and by raising the rear deck, as in the Petrel; I could gain additional room behind the coaming for more storage. I can’t wait to start on a full size mockup to make the required patterns for the next build.
