Sea Kayak Cockpit Plans
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Only a few of the kayak plans on PaddlingLight include specific cockpit designs, which leaves it open to you to decide which cockpit to use. I like a cockpit that runs around 32 inches by 17 inches. The plans for this cockpit run just slightly over 32 and just under 17. I find this length and width makes it easier for people over 5’10” to get in the kayak vs. 30-inch versions. The Iggy plans include a smaller cockpit
The plans come as a pdf that you can print off at a office supply store, such as Officemax or Staples, or any printing store that can print up to 36 inches. If you don’t have access to a large-format printer, I included dimensions for every 2 inches. Using the dimensions, you can draw the cockpit out yourself. To do it:
- Draw a 32-3/8-inch centerline on a 24 inch wide piece of paper. Tack the paper down to a piece of 3/4-inch plywood.
- Mark intervals on the centerline every 2 inches.
- Run a line perpendicularly to the centerline the specified distance at each 2-inch interval.
- Place a nail at the end of that line.
- Place a nail on each end of the centerline.
- Run a flexible batten around the nails.
- Draw a line around the batten to draw the cockpit outline.
- Mirror the outline for the starboard side.
- Add in the knee braces following the same procedure.
Note: To reduce the cockpit length to 30 inches, remove the sixth line from the left and make the spacing between the fifth and seventh line 2 inches.
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Bryan Hansel
Bryan Hansel is a freelance writer, award-winning photographer and a former American Canoe Association L4 Open Water Coastal Kayaking Instructor. His home port is on Lake Superior in Grand Marais, Minnesota. He also teaches photography workshops.
5 Comments
Jason Bowling
Hi Brian:
I’ve decided to correct the worst mistakes I made on my Siskiwit Bay – I made the cockpit cutout much too large, nonstandard, and too low to the water. I intend to cut off the cockpit deck and rebuild it. It will make it more seaworthy, and if I use a standard size I can make my skirt fit better.
Would this cockpit diagram conform to one of the standard sizes, for buying a skirt?
Thanks,
Jason
Bryan Hansel
Yes, you’ll just have to make sure to get the right size as skirts tend to be sized differently. Any skirt that will fit a Wilderness Systems sea kayak will fit this design.
Jason Bowling
Cool. Thanks Bryan. I’ll send you pics of the new cockpit when completed.
Jason Bowling
Bryan:
I’ve got my new deck around the cockpit built and am laying out the opening. I assume these dimensions are of the opening, so that I’ll need to leave an allowance for the thickness of the vertical coaming strips?
Thanks,
Jason
Bryan Hansel
You can if you like, but you don’t have to. If you use 1/4″ strips, it’ll only be 1/2″ narrower. It’s really up to you. I wouldn’t worry about it.