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I was at REI yesterday, and saw an interesting idea for a kayak. It was powered by a bicycle crank turning a propeller. Seemed like it had higher freeboard, hatches front and rear, and an open cockpit, sculpted to pedal recumbent style. very large gear on the pedal crank, very small gear on the propeller shaft.
Steering was by a essentially vertical handle sticking up on both sides of the cockpit, tilt either handle side to side moved a rudder.
The stern and transom was flat across the rear, and the bottom of the hull extended out past the transom to provide a shelf over the rudder and propeller.
At $2800 US dollars and all fiber glass, not for me, but if it could be adapted to stitch and glue, it might be interesting. The sales clerk claimed that it was a very fast boat, which sort of makes sense, since you are using leg muscles rather than arm muscles to power it.
dave
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Guillemot Kayak - High
Performance Wooden Sea Kayak Designs
