What the Sea Ranger Stripper is based on:
Tom Yost Has designed and built several SOF (skin-on-frame) kayaks and published the offsets for a strip built version of the Sea Ranger. At the recent builders bash, I had a chance to try to drown myself in the SOF version. Some of you may not realize that you can quite easily swim with the kayak still on your butt. This boat is skinny and pretty tender, at least for my skill level.
Progress on the stripper is 4 strips on each side so far. Waiting for some glue to dry so thought I would make a post to the blog.
Here’s a couple of pictures of the SOF at the bash. Yeah, that’s me in it. Second picture has my Guillemot in the foreground.
Tony Olsen
Matthew Keller
13 May, 2006
I LOVE THAT BOAT! I am building a Point Bennet S&G right now but I want a Yost just to roll! I am going to start it now anyway. I was thinking of just doing it in cedar and covering it with nylon. Non-folder. I love the black too! I’m definetly envious!
Tony
14 May, 2006
The SOF I was paddling is a Yost design made by Steve Ulrich of Houston. Steve thinks that particular Sea Ranger is haunted. Last year at the bash Kurt Maurer got stuck in it upside down. (at that time I thought it was too skinny) This year I was practicing hip snaps using the bow of Guillemot being paddled by an inexperienced friend. I went pretty low a few times and snapped up and it was working great when I gave it a bit extra, I went over on my off side. Put my hand up, but friend in my boat didn’t understand that and I realized that immediately. Decided I couldn’t try a sweep on my on side with him there so found the surface on the off side with my paddle and sculled enough to hit the rental canoes in the area with the paddle and get some air. That’s when I saw the best route was to swim to the dock. I was thinking wet exit too, but figured I’d try to get out of the situation first. Pretty cool over all.
Later..
Tony