Great Auk

A simple roomy and stable sea kayak
The Strip Built Sea Kayak Great Auk
Great Auk Strip Built Sea Kayak Plans
Norbert Obenauf Great Auk

The Great Auk is a roomy, fast and stable kayak and tracks very straight. The long water line and clean entry permits it to cut through the water with a barely visible wake. The flared bow gives a very dry ride, lifting over most waves with little effort. This is one of my more stable single sea kayaks. It is one of the easier designs to build, with a fairly simple shape. This is a good all-around boat for someone wanting a stable, efficieint kayak. This boat is designed to accept a rudder but it is not required.

Beginner kayakers will find this design to be comfortable and reliable. While not a stiff tracker, it is well balanced and with a little practice novice kayakers will be able to take this boat a long way. It will not be a design you outgrow immediately. Larger paddlers will find this design roomy and capable. It can easily carry quite a substantial load so heavier paddlers will still find it usable for multi day trips.

Included in the Plans:

  • Seven 24" x 36" [61cm x 91cm] Drawing Pages including: An overall drawing, a full size "stacked" form drawing showing all the forms and then all the forms drawn individually and at full size. Also included is a full size pattern for the cockpit.
  • Kayak Building Notes: These notes provide supplemental information such as bill of materials for each design.

Recommended Manual:

  • The Strip Build Sea Kayak - This book provides step-by-step instructions to build any strip planked kayak. The Great Auk design is featured in the book.

Body Plan Drawing
Great Auk Strip Built Sea Kayak Body Drawing
Profile Drawing
Great Auk Strip Built Sea Kayak Profile
Plan (Top View) Drawing
Great Auk Wood Strip Sea Kayak Plan View

Features

Beginner Small Paddler Average Paddler Large Paddler Extended Tour Fishing Lakes and Rivers Open Water Racing Surf

Measurements

Length Ft Beam In Beam Gunnel (in) Waterline Length Ft Waterline Beam In Design Displacement Lbs Draft In Waterplane Area Sq Ft Wetted Area Sq Ft Surface Area Sq Ft Volume Cu Ft
17.00 24.00 16.60 22.70 222.00 3.50 18.80 21.00 59.00 14.00

Secondary Measurements

Prismatic Coefficient Block Coef Midship Area Coefficient Waterplane Area Coefficient Lateral Plane Coef Sinkage Moments to change trim 1 inch Righting Moment at 1 degree Vertical Center of Gravity above DWL
0.49 0.38 0.77 0.60 0.73 90.00 71.30 1.42 7.00

Stability Curves

Predicted Drag