Category Archives: Under the Keel….

This is the last chance to get the hull smooth.  I kill off an afternoon sanding the canoe.  (Again!)  When we brought the canoe out into the sunlight, you could see a few runs….We are trying for a good finish… … Continue reading →

We are going to work outside to keep the dust down in the shop.  There is varnishing in our future. A perfect afternoon for working on the Canoe.  Warm, sunny with a little breeze to take the dust away. We … Continue reading →

Paul and I have tapered the outside gunnels and now we are going to epoxy them on.  The first step is to cut off the excess gunnel. Having cut off the excess, we dry fit the gunnels and use a … Continue reading →

Paul has decided to weave a “Babiche” pattern on his canoe seats, using paracord instead of rawhide lacing.  He picks a “Blue Camo” paracord colour pattern. I do some research on the internet and find a diagram on Mike Elliott’s … Continue reading →

Paul has decided to “Scupper” the inside gunnels.  We cut up the 8′ oak plank to get 16′ lengths for the gunnels.  We will use a “half-clothespin” splice to get the length. With this jig, I will be able to … Continue reading →

I have had a lot of experience with launching dollies.  Aluminum tubing seems to work the best.  No rust problems.  Plastic axles for the wheels for the same reason.  Stainless Steel bolts/washers/nuts.  I have gotten more than ten years out … Continue reading →

The seat frames and carrying yoke have been given a coat of epoxy resin.  We let them cure for several days.  I then give them a light sanding and begin varnishing. I put eye-hooks in one end and hang them … Continue reading →

While the epoxy cures, between applications, I make up the canoe seats and carrying yoke.   With the price of wood these days (and yesterdays too) I always make up a cutting plan before I start to cut.  Helps me … Continue reading →

The initial epoxy & cloth coat is “cured”.  No longer sticky to the touch.  This is a “green” cure, the epoxy is still soft.  We will get a chemical and mechanical bond to the first coat.  I trim off all … Continue reading →

We have sanded the canoe to death.  All the curves look smooth and we are getting to the point where sanding the canoe any more will just put dips in the wood between the mould stations and between the harder … Continue reading →