I just discovered the "Eskimo 19 CRX 4G Harpoon R" on the Easy Rider site. I had been investigating the properties of ABS plastic for some fixturing at work-- Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene -- when I stumbled upon the laminated ABS material, Royalex, which Easy Rider uses for many of their kayaks and canoes.
Coincidentally, I had just recently been wondering why outrigger canoes seem to be mostly confined to the tropics, Madagascar through Hawaii, and why the heck the Inuit boatmen would want to perform Eskimo rolls.
Anyway, the Harpoon looks like a winner, but I think they should shorten the name.
You can row or skull...
You can sail it like a proa, here with a junk rig...
Or propel it with a double bladed paddle, which is what I do on my proa.
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2 comments:
Are you thinking of building an ABS Proa? I think that would be interesting. I haven't seen a home built one. You could use the same techniques.
I am figuring out how to build a Skin On Frame Proa currently based on Gary Dierking's Waapa design.
Hi Len,
I will likely stick with plywood and epoxy-fiberglass for home built prototypes. It's a material combination that I definitely prefer. However, skin on frame would be very interesting for an ultralight proa (1/4" plywood tends to get heavy).
But I think it's very cool that others are venturing into production proas with ABS.
Right now I'm focusing on sailing rigs and rudder assemblies (future blog posts...).
By coincidence, I am seriously considering skin on frame materials for a wingsail.
Please be sure to keep me posted on your proa building and skin on frame ideas. Do you have a blog? If not, why not start one to chronicle your venture?
Stay in touch, and best regards,
Doug
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