Rigging and Completion

Mo 'Poxy's Chesapeake 17 Kayak Construction

Rigging and Completion

Install the slide rails and foot pegs for rudder control

I purchased a Feathercraft rudder kit from Chesapeake Light Craft

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I screw the black plastic guides into the nailers. The nailers were installed during hull assembly. The aluminum slide rails insert into the black plastic slides. The foot pegs mount on the aluminum slide rail and are adjustable. All of these items are provided in the rudder kit.

The bulkhead is obvious.

Footpegs are the rudder controls

Install the rudder

The rudder requires a 3/8-inch vertical hole for the rudder pin, then a small hold-down screw. The oak block and plastic-V, for resting the rudder in the up-position, came with the kit. The oak block was installed before coating the deck.

The stainless steel control cables run inside of cable guide conduit. The cables must penetrate the deck. I penetrate the deck through the portals that I installed with the deck.

The conduit and SS cables are routed to the cockpit where the SS cables are attached to the aluminum slide rails of the foot-peg.

Rudder

Rudder

Rudder cables at foot pegs

Install the seat

This Creature Comfort seat was also purchased from Chesapeake Light Craft. It is a very easy installation.

Install the foam to the hatch covers

Prepare webbing

Whenever nylon webbing is cut or penetrated, it tends to unravel. A little heat at each cut will prevent the unraveling.

Screws will penetrate the webbing to secure it to the deck. I use a hot nail to create the screw holes in the webbing. This yields a strong hole that will not unravel.

Melting ends of webbing

Heating the nail

Melting hole in webbing

Install hatch straps

These are simply 1-inch nylon webbing with Fastex buckles. They are secured to the deck, at the sheer clamp, with stainless steel screws and stainless steel trim washers.

Install bungee cords

¼-inch bungee cord is installed to hold down gear on the outside. This is typically for gear that needs to be available while paddling like maps, compass, rain gear, paddle float etc.

The bungees are secured with nylon webbing loops screwed to the deck at the sheer clamp, in the same manner as the hatch straps.

Install rubrails

I prefer rub rails to protect the edge of the deck from damage. I use 3/4 oak. I rip it into ¼ strips and route 2 corners round. I pre-drill countersink holes every foot and paint the rails. After the paint cures, I set the rails outside in the moist air for several weeks. This is so they gain moisture and expand. Otherwise they gain moisture and expand after mounting and make a mess.

The rub rails provide a nice trim to separate the hull paint from the bright deck.

Install grab loops

I install grab loops through the epoxy end pours. This creates a very solid connection, but does not allow water to enter the hull since the hole is drilled through the end pours.