www.smallsailboats.co.uk Bill's Boats Home www.smallsailboats.co.uk Racing Kayak Phillida Hilyard Shyauk Hina Catamaran Small Zeta Pandora Buccaneer Big Zeta Kingfisher Aziz Shipmate Harriott Micro Caleb Scout Kayak           At the age of 13 I built a Shortened Scout Kayak.  The design was obtained from the Boy Scouts organization.  As far as I can recollect the decked canoe was about 11' long and 2' 6" wide.  She was made by using wooden laths on constructed wooden frames which were covered with canvas.  Linseed oil was first brushed into the canvas as a preservative before finishing with three coats of oil paint as a sealant.  External rubbing strips kept the canoe from harm when beaching. My canoe was rigged with three sails - although they are not shown in the photos.  I used her on the River Tone, at Taunton, Somerset and other West Country rivers when camping. She was also used at sea while I camped at Starcross by the Devonian River Exe.  In 1947 the Taunton Canoe Club held a successful cruise there.  We paddled to Teignmouth via Dawlish Warren.  Our canoes were transported by steam train from Taunton to Starcross and from Teignmouth to Taunton.