Najad
Latest updated Sunday, December 04, 2011, 7 comments
Images | Particulars
Plans, Najad - 100 EUR
Purchase
Najad is basically the same kayak as Nomad, despite the obvious differences in looks. The reasons for drawing Najad, was a number of requests with a similar content –the hull and performance of Nomad but a slightly higher foredeck and a lower aft deck (to make it easier to get in and out when built with a small cockpit opening and to improve control and fit when rolling), a higher stem (to break the waves on and off the wind) and a stern designed to fit standard rudder systems.
The configuration of the stems reduces luffing in a beam wind but it will also make it harder to turn into the wind at speed. A rudder is recommended. Packing through the cockpit is not a very good proposition with a low aft deck – I recommend that Najad is built with bulkheads and hatches. With a high stem Najad is a dry kayak in a seaway but looses some speed on the wind compared to the noticeably wetter Nomad.
A comment from a Norwegian builder:
"Hei Bjørn! Min Najad er ferdig! Oj, oj, oj for en båt. Den har presis de egenskapene jeg var ute etter. Hurtig ekspedisjonsbåt – konseptet fungerer perfekt. Rask, god lastekapasitet, veldig stabil, optimalisert for ror, gunstig for konkuransepadling og vingåre. Dette er en havkrysser, jeg er meget fornøyd."
(my translation:) Hello Bjørn! My Najad is finished, and whoa, what a Kayak! It has exactly the qualities I was hoping for. Fast expedition kayak – the concept works as advertised. Quick, roomy, stable, designed for rudder, excellent for competition paddling with wing paddle. Thia is an open sea cruiser, I am very happy.
...and one from Nya Zeeland:
The design more then lived up to expectations. The first thing I noticed was the speed of the kayak, my normal touring speed has now gone from an average of 7km per hour to 8.5km. The Najad carves a turn better then any other kayak I've paddled and despite it being a calm day it breezed through the occasional 20knt gusts with out any noticeable weather cocking even with the rudder up. The kayak also rolls well and I could do my all my GP rolls without a problem. Unfortunately I could only find boat wakes to surf today but it handled them well."
Particulars
A narrower version – 52/50 cm – is available for those who want even more exciting perfomance. Specify when ordering.
| Length¹ |
580/541 cm (total/lwl) |
| Beam |
55/53 cm (total/lwl) |
| Draft |
11 cm |
| Cockpit¹ |
80x40 cm |
| Height¹ |
28.5/20 cm (in front of/behind the cockpit) |
| Weight² |
17-23 kg |
| Load capacity |
150 kg/150 litre |
| Speed³ |
7.8/11.1 km/h |
| Prismatic coefficient |
0.57 |
| Wetted surface |
2.31 m² |
| Drag⁴ |
1.7/3.08 kp |
| Stability⁵ |
4/5 (no load/max load) |
| Intended use |
Expedition and touring, coastal and deep sea. Day tours and exercise. |
* These dimensions can be adapted to suit personal needs or wishes.
** Depending on type of wood, equipment, care with epoxy usage, sanding etc. etc.
*** The speed numbers are based on mathematical standard formulas (175 lb paddler + 30 lb carco weight) and corrected from the kayaks actual performance om trials, on tours and in races.
⁴ Calculated resistance in 4 and 5 knots (at nominal load capacity).
⁵ Initial stability and secondary stability on a subjective scale, where 1 is very tippy and 5 is very stable.
Stability
The curve shows the calculated stability with a static load, and therefore of limited use for a real paddler. The part of the curve near zero degrees indicates the initial (primary) stability – the steeper the curve, the more stable. The part of the curve left of the peak indicates end (secondary) stability – the higher and wider, the safer you feel edging the kayak. The position of the peak shows also how much the kayak can be leaned without tipping over. The part of the curve to the right of the peak with rapidly decreasing righting moment is almost impossible to take advantage of.
Plans
The plan sheets contain the information needed to build the kayak/canoe. Station molds, stems and construction details are in full scale. For kayaks the recommended cockpit size is shown half scale with offsets for a full scale drawing and advice on altering the size. On the plans you will also find advice on how to shorten or lengthen the craft. Lines and construction drawings are in metric scale 1:10.
The illustrated step-by-step building manual is in Swedish only, but it is available online in english: it covers all steps in detail and will guide first-time builders through the project.
Plans, Najad - 100 EUR
Purchase
