In Part 1 of "A Strip-Built Baidarka" (see WB No. 242), we stripped, sanded, and 'glassed the hull and deck of the baidarka. Now, these major parts of the kayak are ready to be joined into something resembling a kayak, and yet, something strange and unfamiliar too. For this is a kayak unlike any you have seen before. A kayak built for waves, from a design evolved by ancient people who held intimate knowledge of the sea. It is with honor and respect that I stand on the strong shoulders of the Aleut peoples, borrowing their kayak design. In this part we'll join the deck and hull, a process that is not as difficult as it might seem, because the cockpit and hatch openings allow access for reinforcing the seams on the interior using fiberglass tape. Then, we'll make the cockpit coaming and watertight hatches and finish the construction.
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