Project Nordkapp Part 8...

Just a very quick update with this post.

I thought I'd better get my finger out & do some more work on the Nordy!

Last time I patched some gel on the top coat where I'd gone too deep with the sander & those patches needed sanding now. Inevitably I went to deep again & created a few more patches too whilst finishing the sanding on the top deck!

Soooooo, the new plan is to spray paint here & get here finished as quick as possible as I'm itching to paddle her.

So I finished sanding the top deck & patched some gel coat repairs on the lower deck ready for sanding next time.

 Then I got really carried away & finally glassed in a rear bulkhead as the boat didn't have any originally.

I had previously prepared a template for the bulkhead a couple of years ago but I didn't like it now! I scrapped the template & made a new one, taped it & smothered it in releasing agent & wedged it in place ready for glassing. When the glass is cured & maybe a couple more layers added I remove the template through the rear hatch.

So there you have it, feels like I'm finally making progress!

Next time I'm gonna sand the gel coat repairs that I've done today & cover her in filler-primer ready for final prep & top coats.

Then all that'll be left to complete will be the deck seams, seat & footpegs :)

Born Again Kayaker...

Chris Kitch was putting the feelers out a few days ago looking for people to paddle Barry to Penarth on the weekend. Sounded good to me so we made the arrangements & met up at Penarth to leave a couple of cars there for our return.

The start point was Barry old harbour again :)

 I'd brought my newest lady for a play!

 My shipmates consisted of Chris Kitch, John Petty & Steve Pearce who hasn't paddled for the past year!

Nice to see him back on the water :)

 I think the unnatural angle of Chris' skirt indicates he's excited about something???

 Steve prepares to enter the choppy waters after a years abstinence.

He does well & we soon reach Nells Point with a good force 4 on our backs.

 Passing Barry Dock/Harbour.

 Sully Island was awesome in the West Side race with chaotic waves just over head height! I was the only one to go that way though, the other opted for a portage across the causeway which was a good idea.

Before long we were all back at Penarth in the now calm waters on this East facing shore :)

Nell's Point Tide Race Video...

A bit of fun on the Nells Point tide race with Jules & Stuart. 

We finished the day with a surf at Barry Island, backwards :)