When February's bright daylight softens into March's gentler illumination then it triggers in the paddler's mind the sensation that a new cycle of paddling is upon us.
The air temperature is more pleasant for paddling than it has been over summer and the water is at its peak warmth for snorkelling.
Time to get this kayak into the water ...
I severed a finger building a beautiful timber seat for this kayak but ultimately I've decided to install a prefabricated closed cell foam version as I expect that its comfort and support for long distance paddling will be superior to my timber version.
The cockpit interior has been lined in carbon fibre.
4mm thick closed cell foam has been used to form thigh bracing pads and ankle supports.
These little blocks of huon pine were shaped, drilled and then bonded within each of the hatch compartments to form anchor points for the shock cord which will hold the hatches down from inside - leaving the deck's surface flush.
The "eye" holes through which the shock cord is fixed seemed to call out for a hump back whale's smile - so that's what they were given.
A final sand of the hull and deck before varnishing ...
One of the hatches with its internal shock cord fixing system.
A closed cell foam o-ring has been fixed to the carbon fibre rim of the deck. A similar o-ring was fitted to the hatch cover after this photo was taken.
A local drops in for a look.
With the varnish barely cured over night I threw her into the harbour at dawn for a quick trial, only hours before heading off for a trip down the south coast.
It was a great sensation to be in the kayak and paddling it into its seafaring life.
