Building the Sea Wolf and Sea Lion Kayaks - First Trip

As we said on the Introduction page - we arrived in Squam Lake - New Hampshire exactly two months after purchasing the kits at the Wooden Boat Show in Newport, RI in 2004. We stayed with our firends Rae and Cindi in the Squam Lake Inn where we have stayed before.

They have a barn the boats can go in at night and are just a quarter mile from the public boat ramp in Holderness which gave the option of going into Squam Lake or Little Squam Lake if it was too windy in Squam.

This was our first trip and we were going to take it EASY.....

 

So here we are togged up and ready to go. Floppy hats and long sleeves against the sun. Skirts and PFD's.

Paddle Floats on the aft decks with tow/lifeline.

Charts of Squam in map cases on deck and compasses rigged.

Check hatch straps are secure.

Check weather channel for forecast

Leave Float Plan with the Inn.

Pick up our 30 oz Carbon/Glass Lendal Touring Kinetic paddles (from Scotland - like Graeme)........

..........and off into Little Squam.

First to practice some simple sweep strokes....

Let's try up this river......
Round another bend.......
The trees fall lower across the river.......
We just came through that tree behind me - but it was the last one before we had to turn back when we met a tree low with a tree underwater and we couldn't limbo through!.
Wandering down river.
The silent approach really lets you get close to wildlife.

Day 2 at the Headquarters of the Squam Lake Association.

This little inlet leads to the main lake beyond.

The SLA is instrumental in preserving the lake, providing camp sites and the attendant took $5 to let us park. launch and he also took our float plan for the day.

The SLA also sell waterproof charts of the lake and a kayak trail guide.

We paddled north to Potato Island and then turned East for Moon Island.

It was forecast to blow a little harder later.

Here we are in the lee of Moon Island.

Leaf Peeping Season was just starting.

Sitting off the landing platform (on the right) at Moon Island
The passage between Moon Island and Bowman Island - looking east.

In the lee of Bowman Island. That rough water beyond is about a two foot chop with a 15 knot breeze. Which is why there are no photos of the dig back upwind to get back to where we started. We went North about Diamod Ledge with the rudders helping us trim the bows up into wind.

With only essential safety gear aboard the boats were light and positively flew. I looked across and saw the Sea Wolf out the water back to her forward hatch at one point as Alex pushed the boat along. They felt stable and fast.

Back at the entrance to the inlet. Great paddle
Creeping in the entrance - trying not to disturb the rushes and lilies.
End of day 2 - Paddling to the beach.
Getting out is the reverse of getting in. First put your paddle behind you on the shore side.
Brace onto the beach. and start to get out.
Get a foot on the ground and put your weight on it.
Stand up and hang onto your boat.

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I have no affiliation with Roy Folland Kayaks other than I bought and built their kits. Views expressed on this site are mine alone and may not reflect the views of Roy Folland Kayaks. Views expressed on this site follow many "normal" boat building practices but do not constitute the sole safe method of carrying out tasks or subsequent end use of the kayaks. The information is offered in return for the many views and opinions freely offered by so many others who have published on the Internet. Your decision to use ideas from this site must be yours alone - based on balanced judgement and comprehensive research of standards and building practices. I cannot be liable in any way for any accident or injury you suffer through building a kayak or taking part in the sport of kayaking - whether you followed advice from this site or not. Your use of this site constitutes your acceptance of the foregoing.