Fontana Lake NC Maiden Voyage

This last Friday Curt and I stopped at Nottely Lake in the N. Georgia mountains and had a sea trial for approximately an hour and a half.  We then continued to Murphy, NC where we use for a base, from there we paddled Fontana Lake in the Nantahala National Forest. This is truly a beautiful location. We paddled approx. 12 miles round trip while hurricane Irene was pounding the NC shore. We had a beautiful day. We stopped and hiked a trail to an old abandoned logging community and had lunch then returned.
What a treat to paddle in water where looking down into 10' or so and bottom or fish, saw lots of schools of Trout 10" t0 12", next morning we saw a small black bear scurrying across the road on our way to the put in at Cheoah Lake, another crystal clear lake that looks more like a river. Water temp there was 52 degrees!
Here's some pictures.

Sea Trial on Lake Nottely

Lake Cheoah, just below Fontana Lake Dam, water temp is 52 degrees!

Hazel Creek on way to abandoned Proctor City, an old logging community.

Trees have taken over the home!

John, just uprighted from roll practice, Fontana Lake water was 82 degrees!

Rolls to quick for the camera, I guess I need to figure out the video.

We had 8 of us, and picked up others along the way, Sam has his sail deployed to assist.

Heading out!, Susie, Curt, John

Look closely at the rocks and gravel, this is where I said "Oh well" first scratches!

Beautiful lake

Water down a bit.

Lake Cheoah, crystal clear water!  :-)

Lake Cheoah looking towards Fontana Dam.

Paddling in the mist!

Smile Curt!

Sam, John, Curt

Park Rangers "somewhere"

Chesapeake 17 Hybrid Day 23, Done !

Friday, August 19, 2011, 4:00pm  Except for some foam padding and grab handles for the bow and stern I'm waiting on to be delivered, the kayak is done.  Next step is to see if it floats?

I wasn't sure if the cockpit cover would fit after making the cockpit bigger!

A little perspective on the size.

Let's see if he fits in it?

Actually quite roomy!

Add caption

Yup! good fit.

Much easier to get in and out of compared to the old one!!

Chesapeake 17 Hybrid Day 18

No work today, getting "sander elbow", no more pictures until the boat is finished!  But here's some pictures of the trail I'll be using to walk to Lake Arrowhead and to the put in!

Chesapeake 17 Hybrid Day 17

Cockpit coming is on, reinforced with fiberglass, the hatches are done when the drip edge dries.  I got some sanding done on the hull, tomorrow the deck gets sanded if the epoxy is dry, (I may need to put another coat on the coming and hatch edges.)  Early, early monday morning may see the first coat of Interlux, Schooner, marine varnish, I anticipate 7 coats with a wet sanding of 320 grit sand paper between each coat, so that step will be a week long!

Front hatch, this edge will be inside a minicell foam strip that's attached to the hatch cover making it waterproof.

Cockpit coming drying after a coat of epoxy, masking tape makes for easy cleanup in case of drips, there's always drips! :)

Same for the rear hatch.

Some sanding done on the hull, next will be 150 grit followed by 220 grit.

Done for the day!  :)

Chesapeake 17 Hybrid Day 16

Hatches and cockpit coming, getting closer, this is the part where you want to do more each day but can't until something else has dried, cured, hardened or whatever.