I have just heard, via ‘In the Boatshed.Net’ (See link
below) that Percy Blandford has reached his 100th birthday!
Congratulations to him.
Between 1955 and 1957 I was a National Service conscript
serving in the Royal Artillery at a unit near Rhyl, North Wales. You can read an
account of the conditions and my reactions to them by going to this link: http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2009/09/national-service.html
For me, it was not a particularly happy time, but I learned
valuable lessons. The best part of being stationed at Rhyl was that I could paddle
my PBK 15* kayak on the sea at weekends. The Commanding Officer gave me
permission to use the woodworking facilities at the camp for building my kayak.
She was built from the very best materials and lasted for over 20 years; most
of that time she was owned by a good friend who paddled her frequently on the
sea at Torquay. He also took her on camping trips exploring English rivers.
The very first kayak I built was a Shortened Scout Kayak.**
*I believe Percy Blandford’s PBK 15 plans are no longer
available, but plans of a similar kayak are available at Clark Craft. This is very similar; in fact it may be
identical:
** ‘Tyrol’, a Shortened Scout
Kayak
Links
National Service
In the Boatshed.Net ‘Percy Blandford is 100 tomorrow!’
The Canvas Kayak Website
Plans for PBK Kayaks
Plans for Kayaks - Clark Craft
Plans for Short Touring 11 (I particularly like this one.)
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