how to build a space kayak
Just lately, many of my dear readers throughout the world–as well as a few readers from other planets–have been writing & asking, “Clay Ball, can you please show us how to build a space kayak?!?”
And today is the perfect day to show you how!
Somehow the Earth’s atmosphere really does a number on our space kayaks…maybe from all the particles in the air, compared to nearly frictionless space travel! (The run-in with the birch tree was probably no help at all!)
As a big surprise last week, my tiny niece Joy & her Dad, Thor, washed my old kayak, until it was sparkling clean & bright!
I was amazed how beautiful my trusty old kayak looked, just like the day it was first built!
I decided that I would build a new kayak, using materials found here on Earth, & from now on, I will only use my old kayak for very special space outings… So, here is how it is done…
First, you will need a piece of thin, smooth, flexible cardboard, similar in thickness to a manila folder or perhaps a yellow hanging file folder, if you happen to have a bunch of them lying around somewhere in a closet…maybe some thin, colorful poster board or a Kleenex or pasta box would work as welll…
You can see a (larger-than) life-sized template in the first picture above…
…but these rulers will help give you an estimate of the size of the kayak in both metric & the English system…
The keel of the kayak measures about 7-1/2 cm in length…after cutting out the kayak, you can just fold the kayak in half lengthwise to form its keel…
…and then you can make two folds, about a centimeter to either side of the keel, so the kayak will have a flatter bottom. It is more comfortable for long-distance space travel that way!
For short trips & a sleeker silhouette, you may just like to omit the extra folds…
Then, there are some super adhesives I found here on Earth…2 small pieces of scotch tape are just used to attach the two halves of the bow & stern together…
To tape, just curve the ends up a bit, & place the tape along the inside edge of the bow, taping the two sides together…& do the same for the stern…
…Finally, something I found here on Earth called decoupage medium is optional, but will add a protective glossy finish to your kayak. This might be a good idea if you are travelling here within the Earth’s atmosphere, what with all the nitrogen, oxygen, argon, birch trees, & so on, floating about everywhere…
(If you are using a pasta box or some material with its own glossy finish, this final touch may not be necessary…or if you plan on travelling mostly in a low-friction, outer space environment!)
And there you have it…your very own beautiful new space kayak!
Enjoy!
love,
Clay Ball
