View Full Version : building my canoe
Ive been building it for about 2 or 3 weeks now but im finally getting somewhere now that its the christmas holiday! :D
http://ridgeonnet.com/other/jon_bowdrills/canoe1.jpg
http://ridgeonnet.com/other/jon_bowdrills/canoe2.jpg
http://ridgeonnet.com/other/jon_bowdrills/canoe3.jpg
Oh nice one :D :approve:
Will you post step by step?
How did you bend the ribs?
Sorry to be a pain, but I really, really like seeing and reading about things folks make for themselves :cool:
Cheers,
Toddy
Yep, im going to try and show each step of the way!
Did you know that i have never even been in a canoe before and now im making one! So the first canoe i set foot in will be one i have made! :lmao: :)
No preconceptions then :D
Parallel development throws up some interesting things too :cool:
What are you thinking of using to cover the hull?
atb,
Mary
Cotton Canvas 15oz
http://www.whaleys-bradford.ltd.uk/products.cfm?catID=3#446
Do you think that will work well?
Should do, but if it's the stuff I'm thinking of, it shrinks. It might be worth while contacting Whalleys and asking for the spec on the fabric.
The shrinking can be a good thing since it makes everything tight, but it can be a real pita if it pulls things apart :rolleyes:
Cheers,
Toddy
Very nice, Jerv :) Keep posting the photos, I am looking forward to see your canoe progress and ultimately on the water.
I think you'll find the 15oz canvas is more like cardboard, and much more difficult to strech by hand, I'd go for the 9.5oz, particularly since your boat is 3metres long, much easier to work and would absorb less paint as well, making it lighter. You really have to strech the canvas a lot to ensure it won't sag when in the water.I would not worry about the shrinkage, it would not be enough to crush your frame. Before you paint it, spray some water on the canvas, it helps tightening things up.
Looks good, I cant wait yo see it finished. :)
Can you swim? :rolleyes:
before i paint the canvas do i spray it with water and then let it dry or paint it while its wet?
Thanks for the advice jojo! :You_Rock_
I can't wait till its on the water! Is it likely that i will fall out at some point? I can swim but im gonna wear a life jacket just in case.
just coat the fabric in bitchamen! tar!
You lightly spray just enough to damp the skin and let it dry. You can use Thompson's water seal as a first coat, it also help prevent mildew. That takes several days to dry before you can paint over it, with oil based primer . When the primer has dried but is still fairly soft you can rub it with your hand to smooth the coat and fill the weave of the canvas. You get a smoother surface that way and you don't need so many coats to get a smooth surface,less weight to carry :D.
I made a filler once called by my daughter: troll snot :eek: : talcum powder mixed with boiled linseed oil, a sicky looking paste but it did work quite well to fill the weave! It dried fairly quickly if I remember correctly then painted straight on it with one coat of primer and then gloss, in fact tha'ts on the kayak on the photos. You can sand between coats, but only very lightly so as not to damage the canvas.
how did you bend the ribs jon ?
leon
Could i manage without the Thompson's water seal and the troll snot? Could i just get away with using oil based paint? :confused:
And how much does the canvas need to be stretched over the frame?
how did you bend the ribs jon ?
leon
first i thought about boiling the ribs to make them bend and i even had a go. However that turned out to be too much of a faf :rolleyes:
So instead i cut the hazel fresh, made the ribs and managed to bend them without the majority snapping :) I just very gently trained them to take a bend.
Then i tied both ends of the ribs together so that they kept their shape. Finally i dried the ribs up against my radiator (amazingly they didnt crack!) When they were totaly dry after a day or 2 later i took the strings off and they kept their shape! :)
And there you have it, a rib!
However i think now im going to use boiling water and a towel to bend the rest to get them just the right shape.
Any questions please ask because it helps me too!
how far are you with it now ?
is hazel the best wood to use ?
leon
Im not much further than on the pics.
I chose hazel because i have plenty of it and it bends easy. Howeber i dont know if it is the best wood. I hear willow is supposed to be quite good. And if you have any Cedar then you're laughing :)
Yes of course you can. It just mean you probably need more paint and the surface may be a bit rougher than if you use a filler. Just use some primer and straight on the gloss. Stretch the canvas as much as you can so that it is as tight as possible, wetting it afterwards will also help to tighen up a bit further.
Made some really good progerss today! Had to force my self to stop because my hands started to get a little saw :rolleyes:
http://ridgeonnet.com/other/jon_bowdrills/canoe5.jpg
As you can see i have put 5 longitudinals in and i've made about 6 more ribs. Im just waiting for the new ribs to dry and then im going to fit them propperly. The whole thing is getting more solid rib by rib :)
http://ridgeonnet.com/other/jon_bowdrills/canoe4.jpg
I will keep you up to date on any changes! :)
Looks very good!
Has a little bit of an currach look to it. :You_Rock_
Should work a treat! I look forward to more pictures as you progress and hope you have a good paddle when it is finished. Don't forget to name it, be careful when you smash the bottle over it!!
thats looking great mate, well done and happy christmas lol
leon
Fantastic :You_Rock_
take lots of photos, we're looking forward to your tutorial!
tutorial!! lol :lmao:
Thats a big tutorial :rolleyes:
Im Very impressed! I wish I had the time and the dedication to do something like this! One day im sure!
How do you know the ribs will fit? do you sort their shape before you go to dry them or do you just hope for the best? :confused:
Regards, Bunn
for the first few ribs it was a bit of a guessing game, but then when i had them correct and fitted the longitudinals, the rest of the ribs just take the right shape when i pressed them in.
But i do roughly measure the rib wood before hand. And if they snap i just make a smaller rib for the ends which taper. If you get what i mean ;)
That looks really good JonR :) You probably won't need to put the ribs so close together toward the ends because they wont need to support your weight. are you also using hazel for the longitudinals?
Thanks! Everything is hazel, is that good or bad?
Considering this is the first i have ever made i think im doing pretty well :)
Jon R, you are doing extremely well :) ! Hazel is not a boat building wood, but that matters not at all :D when native people made their canoes they would have used the best most appropriate wood, but I am sure that they would also use whatever was available. After all your canoe will not spend all its time on the water, and if you don't let her get full of rain water it will probably last a very long time!. When I build mine, I use a mix of linseel oil and a bit of red oil paint to protect the frame, but you can also use varnish, that would last longer than the oil. :You_Rock_
Thanks! Everything is hazel, is that good or bad?
Considering this is the first i have ever made i think im doing pretty well :)
The currachs were usually made of hazel wands. They were stuck in the ground and bent over instead of drilling through though.
Great work Jon. Puts our little scout jobby in the shade :lmao:
Keep at it.....
Great work Jon. Puts our little scout jobby in the shade :lmao:
Keep at it.....
have you had yours on the water yet? cant wait to see a pic! :)
Are you all drawing straws to see whose going to test it out!
Hope you dont fall out at this time of year, it would be a bit nippy! You will have to try it out in the bath!! :lmao:
I need some advice on putting in a seat! :)
how am i going to fit a seat inside?
What should the seat rest on? I dont want loads of pressure put on only a few ribs!
Should i attatch it to the gunnels?
How far down inside the boat should it go?
:confused:
I need some advice on putting in a seat! :)
how am i going to fit a seat inside?
What should the seat rest on? I dont want loads of pressure put on only a few ribs!
Should i attatch it to the gunnels?
How far down inside the boat should it go?
:confused:
That looks ace and well done you for avin a go, "avin a go" is missing from life a lot these days !
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k270/mollygypsy/tempcanoe1.jpg
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k270/mollygypsy/tempcanoe2.gif
JonR Here are the couple of drawings. Easier to understand as a drawing than the long explanation! :D
Jojo
What book is this scanned from? It looks like the same thing as I have made, but far more refined. :D
Thank you
Hi Torjusg. I scanned these drawings from "The Bark Canoes and Skin Boats of North America". There are dozens of drawings from Native American canoes from various tribe, ans weel as skin boats from the arctic. It s a real useful resource book. That's the book I used when I built my canoes. :) can scan more pages if you are after something specific and it's in there.
Hi Torjusg. I scanned these drawings from "The Bark Canoes and Skin Boats of North America". There are dozens of drawings from Native American canoes from various tribe, ans weel as skin boats from the arctic. It s a real useful resource book. That's the book I used when I built my canoes. :) can scan more pages if you are after something specific and it's in there.
I think I want to get the book if it is still in sale. But I have heard something about the Iroquis making permanent canoes of spruce bark, if you find that and scan it for me I would be most grateful!
thats fantastic jojo! Will i be able to bend hazel like that for the thwarts without it breaking?
Woke up this morning with a bad wrist! :( doesnt look like im going to be doing much to my canoe today! Must have over done it yestersay :(
I think I want to get the book if it is still in sale. But I have heard something about the Iroquis making permanent canoes of spruce bark, if you find that and scan it for me I would be most grateful!
__________________
The only mention I have read about spruce canoes are in this book. I have quite a few on Native Americans way of life and artifacts and I can't remember seeing any mention of this. there was also an article on birchbark canoes in the Wooden Boat magazine, i think I have got it somewhere, if you want some photos. I can fish it out and scan.
From the book: There is ample evidence to support the belief that many of the tribes also used temporary canoes of other bark such as elm and spruce. Invariably the quality of these other barks, particularly spruce were such that their use was often more laborious and the results less satisfactory than with birch..... but with care spruce bark could be used to build a canoe almost as good as one of birch bark.
So it must be possible to build a good spruce bark canoe but it may well take more time and effort to get a good result. It seems it was a fairly common occurence than in need people did use whatever was available.
I had a quick look on amazon.com and the book is available .
I should think so Jon R, if you use green wood it shoud do the bend easily, or using hot water to soften drier wood, worth trying with a spare bit first! :D Post some pics when you have tried ;) I think I may give it a go sometimes! I like the whole idea of how you are doing it.
regarding those cross members, Jon, you can go quite thin on them, because the gunnels work in compression, they are trying to straighten up in other words so not putting much strain on the thin part of the wood :D
WhichDoctor
20-12-2006, 10:14
Considering this is the first i have ever made i think im doing pretty well :)
Bloody hell man, that is incredible! :You_Rock_ :notworthy . I cant wait to see it finished, I've no doubt it will work grate.
Its got a good shape so far, having a flatish bottom and curved sides will make it quite stable.
You've gone and set me off now, got to have a go at that coracle I've been wonting to make for years :rolleyes: .
I think I want to get the book if it is still in sale. But I have heard something about the Iroquis making permanent canoes of spruce bark, if you find that and scan it for me I would be most grateful!
__________________
The only mention I have read about spruce canoes are in this book. I have quite a few on Native Americans way of life and artifacts and I can't remember seeing any mention of this. there was also an article on birchbark canoes in the Wooden Boat magazine, i think I have got it somewhere, if you want some photos. I can fish it out and scan.
From the book: There is ample evidence to support the belief that many of the tribes also used temporary canoes of other bark such as elm and spruce. Invariably the quality of these other barks, particularly spruce were such that their use was often more laborious and the results less satisfactory than with birch..... but with care spruce bark could be used to build a canoe almost as good as one of birch bark.
So it must be possible to build a good spruce bark canoe but it may well take more time and effort to get a good result. It seems it was a fairly common occurence than in need people did use whatever was available.
I had a quick look on amazon.com and the book is available .
Yeah, I found it. Thanks, I would be very interested in seing those photos.
I really need to experiment with different types of boats, because the birch bark is however not as poor as in the UK, very much of borderline quality when it comes to make canoes.
So my primitive alternatives pretty much are:
- Skin currach (which probably was what was most frequently used in this part of Europe).
- Spruce or elm bark canoe.
My dilemma is that I would rather use those skins for something else than wasting them on a boat.
A solution could be to make one season lasting spruce or elm bark canoes. Not particulary ecological, but in the old days (with fewer people) they could do that without having a too bad conscience. I will test both once again, but for now I have to settle with my small coracle. But I wouldn't dare crossing a lake in it.
Dugouts don't fit into the semi nomadic lifestyle that you would expect in my area.
I'll hunt for that magazine! I have seen photos of birch bark canoes, both made of single large pieces of bark, but equally, I think it is possible to build a canoe using small pieces, a sort of patchwork! using good bits of bark. Obviously I am not likely to be able to put this to the test, birch bark here is as rare as a hen's teeth :D . Have a look at this two sites.
http://www.jumaka.com/birchbarkcanoe/materialspage/materials.htm
http://www.birchbarkcanoe.net/default.htm
Also in the book, there are drawing for Umiaks, alaskan whaling boats, sort of fairly similar to Curraghs. There is no reason why a smaller version of these could not be built.
I'll hunt for that magazine! I have seen photos of birch bark canoes, both made of single large pieces of bark, but equally, I think it is possible to build a canoe using small pieces, a sort of patchwork! using good bits of bark. Obviously I am not likely to be able to put this to the test, birch bark here is as rare as a hen's teeth :D . Have a look at this two sites.
http://www.jumaka.com/birchbarkcanoe/materialspage/materials.htm
http://www.birchbarkcanoe.net/default.htm
Also in the book, there are drawing for Umiaks, alaskan whaling boats, sort of fairly similar to Curraghs. There is no reason why a smaller version of these could not be built.
Thank you very much! Excellent links. But I still think these people have a lot better material on their hands than I can ever hope to find. The thickest bark I have found is about 0,5cm and theirs look like it's at least double of that. But it may be worth a go. I have heard of canoes built of up to 9 sheets of bark, but I think I may need more.
You are right, they get really the best materials. I gather the bark Henri Vaillancourt uses is something like up to1/4", 6mm thick, he is one of the very best builder of bark canoes. But if you can get 5mm bark, that's pretty good too! you should not have much problem using it to make a canoe.
my hand is much better today! :D
Should have some more pics by the end of the day!
looking forward to seeing the pics
leon
i didnt manage to take any pics but i can tell you that i only have 6 more ribs to make. Then i just have to fit them all :)
are you planning to use this canoe alot or every now and then
leon
well im guessing that im really going to like paddling across my local lakes! so proberbly quite often especially in the summer! :D
pierre girard
21-12-2006, 21:54
first i thought about boiling the ribs to make them bend and i even had a go. However that turned out to be too much of a faf :rolleyes:
So instead i cut the hazel fresh, made the ribs and managed to bend them without the majority snapping :) I just very gently trained them to take a bend.
Then i tied both ends of the ribs together so that they kept their shape. Finally i dried the ribs up against my radiator (amazingly they didnt crack!) When they were totaly dry after a day or 2 later i took the strings off and they kept their shape! :)
And there you have it, a rib!
However i think now im going to use boiling water and a towel to bend the rest to get them just the right shape.
Any questions please ask because it helps me too!
Not sure it would work the same with hazel, but when I bend ribs for birchbark canoes, I split them green, from cedar, and bend them, two at a time, over my knee. Bending two together seems to keep them from cracking. For the birchbark canoes, it is best to have two (roughly) 90 degree bends giving you a flat bottom to your canoe.
JoJo said: "I scanned these drawings from "The Bark Canoes and Skin Boats of North America". There are dozens of drawings from Native American canoes from various tribe, ans weel as skin boats from the arctic. It s a real useful resource book. That's the book I used when I built my canoes. can scan more pages if you are after something specific and it's in there."
An excellent book. The last birchbark canoe I built was off lines from one of the Ojibwe canoes in the Chapelle book.
As to bark: The best bark is about 1/8 inch and pliable. 1/4 inch bark is easy to come by here, but it does not make good canoe covering, as it is too stiff and likely to crack. The best bark is usually about four to six feet off the ground and is seldom more than four feet in length. Making a canoe from multiple pieces is not the hard to do and often produces a superior canoe - in spite of what Gidmark says. Finding a long enough piece of good bark to build a whole canoe out of one piece of bark is almost impossible today. I usually cut three foot by four foot pieces, flatten them between a couple of pallets, and place stones on top of the upper pallet until they dry flat. It usually takes seven of these pieces, plus six half pieces on either side of the "belly" of the canoe, to complete the canoe covering for a 15 or 16 foot canoe.
I was talking to a man the other day and i showed him my canoe. he thinks ive done a great job on it but he thinks i could do with a keel on the ends. what do you think? :confused:
I asume what he meant was to add stem pieces as in the drawings I posted the other day? Yes you could do that and it would lenghten the waterline length of your canoe and make it more directionally stable and add to the stability, simply because it would give more volume in the end of the boat. Depending on how far you have got now, it may be worth it and would mean cutting tne middle line stringer you already have and add a more sharply curved piece, just like in the drawing and fitting the ribs accordingly. Or you can keep it as it is, slighly less volume, but makes the canoe more manoeuverable. Have a look here: http://www.arctickayaks.com/Lines/LinesNorthAlaskaRetrievalUMN-N.pdf
That's the lines I used to build my daughter's little kayak, it is about the same size as yours and it has got fairly similar forward hull lines to your canoe, its very manoeuverable and turns on a sixpence. I am thinking of building a longer 12ft version, that's when I get time! Iam going to sell the little one, my daughter is no longer interested in boats and it's too small for me, although I have used it!
Not sure it would work the same with hazel, but when I bend ribs for birchbark canoes, I split them green, from cedar, and bend them, two at a time, over my knee. Bending two together seems to keep them from cracking. For the birchbark canoes, it is best to have two (roughly) 90 degree bends giving you a flat bottom to your canoe.
JoJo said: "I scanned these drawings from "The Bark Canoes and Skin Boats of North America". There are dozens of drawings from Native American canoes from various tribe, ans weel as skin boats from the arctic. It s a real useful resource book. That's the book I used when I built my canoes. can scan more pages if you are after something specific and it's in there."
An excellent book. The last birchbark canoe I built was off lines from one of the Ojibwe canoes in the Chapelle book.
As to bark: The best bark is about 1/8 inch and pliable. 1/4 inch bark is easy to come by here, but it does not make good canoe covering, as it is too stiff and likely to crack. The best bark is usually about four to six feet off the ground and is seldom more than four feet in length. Making a canoe from multiple pieces is not the hard to do and often produces a superior canoe - in spite of what Gidmark says. Finding a long enough piece of good bark to build a whole canoe out of one piece of bark is almost impossible today. I usually cut three foot by four foot pieces, flatten them between a couple of pallets, and place stones on top of the upper pallet until they dry flat. It usually takes seven of these pieces, plus six half pieces on either side of the "belly" of the canoe, to complete the canoe covering for a 15 or 16 foot canoe.
Excellent info there Pierre!
Found one of the Woodenboat mag. That's some of the photos in the article.
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k270/mollygypsy/birchbarkcanoewoodenboat.jpg
That shows those bark canoes are quite strong.
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k270/mollygypsy/birchbarkwoodenboat.jpg
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k270/mollygypsy/birchbarkwoodenboat2.jpg
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k270/mollygypsy/peelingbirchbark.jpg
That bark is 23feet long by 54" wide
thats a nice birch bark canoe! :notworthy :eek:
Great info there jojo! thanks!
This is how far i am now!
http://ridgeonnet.com/other/jon_bowdrills/canoe6.jpg
Just got to fill that gap with 4 more ribs! The only problem is that i need to wait for the ribs to dry before i fit them propperly, and all this fog in the air isnt helping! I took it in the house but i could only manage to get it into the coldest room in the house! Typical!
http://ridgeonnet.com/other/jon_bowdrills/canoe7.jpg
Im hoping to finish making the ribs today! :)
You've picked a funny time of year to make it if you want it to dry out! :rolleyes:
:D
It's looking good, I really can't wait to see the finished article. This has inspired me to have a go aswell, I may have to wait till next year though when I get back to UK, but it would be a great project for the summer months with all that daylight!
It's really taking shape now! :D All ribs are made and just need fitting propperly! :D
http://ridgeonnet.com/other/jon_bowdrills/canoe8.jpg
http://ridgeonnet.com/other/jon_bowdrills/canoe9.jpg
http://ridgeonnet.com/other/jon_bowdrills/canoe10.jpg
very nice, how are you going to keep the ribs in place ?
leon
There are 3/8 inch wholes drilled into the gunnels. So i have got to carve the ends of the ribs to fit tightly into these wholes.
Does anyone recomend using wood glue and little nails to secure them better?
don't use glue, Jon r, you want the frame to remain flexible. You can put small wood pins through or tie the frames to the gunnell with something like artificial sinew, otherwise know as dental floss! you can buy artificial sinew but it the same stuff, except waxed and thicker. The frame looks quite beautiful. :You_Rock_
pierre girard
28-12-2006, 18:53
There are 3/8 inch wholes drilled into the gunnels. So i have got to carve the ends of the ribs to fit tightly into these wholes.
Does anyone recomend using wood glue and little nails to secure them better?
Not recommended. The canoe "skin," fastened to the gunwales, should hold the ribs in place.
have you got any further yet ?
leon
yea a bit further! sorry i havnt updated the thread in a while! :)
I have shaped all the ends of the ribs and have very nearly finished fitting the. Will have to take some photos and show you the progress
The next job it to fit a seat and thwarts.
Hav'nt ordered the canvas yet either! Still got to pay my mum and dad back for my new camera! :)
Progerss on the boat will slow right down now though because i go back to college tomorrow! :) Oh well atleast it's not like going back to school!
iM HAVING A BIT OF TROUBBLE WITH THE SEAT IN MY CANOE!
The plan was to fix the seat planks to 2 long batons of wood at either end and then tie these battons of wood to the ribs so that the weight of my body is distributed across about 6 ribs (if you get what i mean :rolleyes: ).
But how can i fit the seat planks so that they dont stick out the sides of the canoe?
Jojo, you might know this one! :)
Seats aren't really neccesary, the indians never used them.
woodwalker
03-01-2007, 18:59
how have I managed to miss this thread??? :eek:
I am pretty much doing exactly as you are jon (building a canoe) since starting last November. The only difference is mine is less rustic in that I am building in a workshop with bought timber etc. Its also my first time, but I'm building along with the guidance of an old hand at this sort of thing. Your canoe though looks absolutely fantastic and is coming along a bit quicker than mine too. Keep up the brilliant standard and you are sure to have a fine vessel. :)
cheers woodwalker
Torjusg is quite right, seats aren't something native American used. I have tried to do without them on a couple of canoes. The problem I had is that I wasn't born in that culture and my knees were really not used to kneeling for long periods I suppose :D and it was getting quite painful! (and don't mention my age please!! :rolleyes:
So if you still want to do without, good for you! The way I would do it is to fit the batten on the inside side of the ribs on both sides, cut the seat battens to fit on the inside of the ribs, drill a couple of holes in the battens and put pins that would lean again the inside of the battens, then to tie the seat quite tightly to the battens. does this make sense :confused: If it does not, i'll do a drawing and post it in the next couple of days.
In fact, you could also put the pins through both the seats planks and side battens use some hardwood such as oak and they should not break :rolleyes: ; if the battens are fixed flexibly to the ribs
Torjusg is quite right, seats aren't something native American used. I have tried to do without them on a couple of canoes. The problem I had is that I wasn't born in that culture and my knees were really not used to kneeling for long periods I suppose :D and it was getting quite painful! (and don't mention my age please!! :rolleyes:
So if you still want to do without, good for you! The way I would do it is to fit the batten on the inside side of the ribs on both sides, cut the seat battens to fit on the inside of the ribs, drill a couple of holes in the battens and put pins that would lean again the inside of the battens, then to tie the seat quite tightly to the battens. does this make sense :confused: If it does not, i'll do a drawing and post it in the next couple of days.
In fact, you could also put the pins through both the seats planks and side battens use some hardwood such as oak and they should not break :rolleyes: ; if the battens are fixed flexibly to the ribs
Sorry Jojo, I dont get that :confused: Pretty hard to explain this stuff i know. If you could post some pics or have another go at explaining that would be fantastic!
I think i would get pains in my knees too if i tried kneeling for too long! :(
Thanks again!
Jon
I am working today, I'll do a drawing and post it either tonight or tomorrow. It will be a lot easier than to try to explaint it!
Here is the drawing, Jon r. Not Michaelangelo, but hopefully clear enough. The seat battens sit on top of the long battens attached to the 6 ribs on each side, put some hardwood pins through both the seat and the support battens and then you tie them together. Don't put the seat too high in the boat, the higher it is the higher your centre of balance is and the easier it becomes to fall in!
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k270/mollygypsy/ribbattensdrawing.gif
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k270/mollygypsy/rinbattensdrawing2.gif
Thats great thanks for all your troubble! Will be trying that out at the weekend!
DISASTER. :( I have dropped my skin on frame kayak from the ceiling and punctured a hole :banghead: in it on the corner of a bench :( I am going to have to repair this! damn!! No other damage though.
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k270/mollygypsy/DSCN0203.jpg
Close up view of the nailed canvas edge, it's about 1/2" and no fraying, nails about 2" apart. They are cut nails, not square riveting nails.
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k270/mollygypsy/DSCN0201.jpg
A view of the inside of the kayak
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k270/mollygypsy/DSCN0207.jpg
CheeseMonster
06-01-2007, 11:12
Been following this with a lot of interest, keep up the good work :D
dam! did it rip because of me!!?
Thanks for sacraficing your boat to show me about the nails! :)
Haaaa. A scapegoat :rolleyes: :D I suppose indirectly yes!! I should have been a bit more careful.Never mind, one learns from one's mistake, or should :D
thats a really good canoe jojo! what do you use to tie it all together?
The whole thing is tied together with articial sinew, (not a bit of metal in it) including sewing the canvas.
Ribs are willow, the rest a mix of Red Cedar and Alaskan Yellow Cedar :)
will i need to cut the canvas to make it fit round the boat or will it just stretch to shape?
Looking at the shape of the end of your canoe, i'd say you won't need to cut the canvas, it should fit the shape nicely.
On the kayak, I had to cut it because it would not follow the hull and the deck curves at the same time. it was either the deck or the hull.
On this canoe, it follow the shape of the hull, no problem.
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k270/mollygypsy/DSCN0202.jpg
cool, im glad to hear i wont be needing to sew and stuff :)
I see you didnt get theat canoe down from the ceiling!! :lmao:
Started the seat today! :D I have carved the seat planks out of a length of Ash and its looking pretty dam good! :D Its all comming together now!
http://ridgeonnet.com/other/jon_bowdrills/canoe11.jpg
http://ridgeonnet.com/other/jon_bowdrills/canoe12.jpg
None of the seat parts are fitted propperly yet, they are just temporarily tied for now and im going to do the rest tomorrow because i have the day off college! :)
Hope you like it!
She looks really, really good Jon, a proper canoe :) . Can't wait to see her on the water :You_Rock_ She just shows what can be achieved with simple materials, skill and ingenuity.
you're right, my canoe stayed firmly attached to the ceiling :D T'was one of them days yesterday: 1st, I dropped the kayak, 2nd, I cut myself sharpening a knife :( and 3rd, I broke a glass!!!! I should have stayed in bed :D
rapidboy
07-01-2007, 17:13
Great work, this is one of the best threads on BCUK in ages.
Can I suggest you round up the ends of the support battens? Just that you don't want too many bits that can catch clothing. :D
Good idea! will do that before i fit them propperly! Im gonna fit them with wooden pins like you said. Should be good! will post more pics when i can! :D
Much more important in a kayak than in a canoe, but better not take the risk!
do you mean that if i fell out i could get caught up!? :(
That's something that is more likely in a kayak, because you are in an enclosed space and if you turn upside down, you don't want anything that can contibute to trap you. Less likely with an open canoe, you are more likely to fall in the water. But it is better to be aware of the possibilities and take precautions. Treat the water with respect, take canoeing lessons perhaps if you have not done so already, wear a PDF. The waters in this country are quite cold so it is wise to take precautions.!! I suppose I am preaching. to the converted anyway. Enjoy safely :You_Rock_
There is a very good website concerning open canoeing, I have seen the link in these pages but can't think of the name at this minute, no doubt someone will know and tell us soon
I think I talk too much :o
Seat is finished :D
http://ridgeonnet.com/other/jon_bowdrills/canoe13.jpg
I fixesd the seat to the battens with wooden pegs like in Jojo's diagrams. :You_Rock_
http://ridgeonnet.com/other/jon_bowdrills/canoe14.jpg
However i have made the seat removable so that you can detatch it if tou wanted to kneel down in this area.
http://ridgeonnet.com/other/jon_bowdrills/canoe15.jpg
Looks good, Jon r. It's a good idea making it removable :) What wood did you use? it looks like it's split rather than sawn. :You_Rock_
gregorach
09-01-2007, 11:21
There is a very good website concerning open canoeing, I have seen the link in these pages but can't think of the name at this minute, no doubt someone will know and tell us soon
That would doubtless be Song of the Paddle (http://www.songofthepaddle.co.uk/). ;)
It's looking good jon - be very interested to see how you get on on the water with it! :)
The wood used for the seat is Ash, even the pins! I went down into the woods the other day, chose a log of ash and got to work. The wood is really strong and doesnt even bend the tiniest bit! Really pleased with that!
Ive done loads more today! :D Ive fitted another thwart and replaced one of the teporary ones! But now im out of wood so it looks like im going to be taking another walk and struggling back with my arms full! :rolleyes:
I have also tied all the ribs securely to the gunnels because they kept popping out when i was working on other parts of the boat and carrying it about! That was a big job and took about 2 hours i think!! I had to drill a tiny little whole in each rib (thats 44 drills!! With a hand drill) then i had to thread each whole with a length of string (44 lengths of string!!) and then i tied overall 132 knotts!!!! And now my hands are saw! but atleast thats done and dusted!
Will post some more pics when i can. Its too dark now! :(
Jon :)
http://ridgeonnet.com/other/jon_bowdrills/canoe16.jpg
I think the three thwarts is enough. What do you think? :)
That looks great Jon r :) For the length, 3 thwarts look fine to me. Are U using the middle one as a back rest? when are U starting the skin??? :D Ho, and I forgot to look up those paddles drawings, I'll do that at the W/E.
Need to get my canvas soon!!! I dont have much money at the moment because i just paid my parents back for the digital SLR i bought!! :rolleyes:
I got a £100 bonus comming in though from college! So that should do the trick!! :D
Do you recomend the 9.5oz then?
I would, yes. any heavier and you'll have a job fitting the skin on. It will be lighter, easier on the hands and will take enough paint, without getting too heavy. I'd buy an extra metre of the stuff, useful for repairs and so on :D , you could even put a extra bit along the keel area, say 2 or 3" wide to protect the skin from the ground, mainly on the stem area.. won't be long now to get her on the water! :D
I have got to ask you a question about canoeing..
Is it like riding a bike? am i going to fall out? You see i dont know a thing about canoeing!! :lmao: and i just biult a canoe!!! :lmao: I cant beleive it!
Can you think of a name? Maybe the "Arbury Voyager"? "Arbury" because thats the country estate i live on. or should i give it a womans name! :lmao:
Hopefully it wont be too tippy!! But i cant wait to find out!! :D
Well, Jon, that's only my opinion, but if you never been in a canoe, I would seriously consider taking some lessons. It will give you more confidence to learn the basics in a controlled environment. And you probably will need some equipment, at a minimum a lifejacket. and the water can be perishingly cold in England, so better be prepared!
or take your canoe to some nice hot place with nice warm water :D
Other people may have other ideas!
Well, i dont want lessons, but i do have a life jacket ready and waiting. Im just going to practice in some shallows first! :o And not too far from home!
Have you got any do's and dont's for when im padling? any thing i should look oit for which could be a potential danger? :eek:
I've never taken any lessons, and I have survived to this day. Although I doubt I would have with such a rocker on the canoe though. :D
Well, Jon, I can't critisize you for that, I did just the same :D But I would wait a bit before your try, when the wheather has got a bit warmer! Also read a few good books on canoeing and paddling techniques and safety on the water.
gregorach
12-01-2007, 13:04
You don't necessarily need lessons, but a few hours on the water with an experienced paddler will do wonders for your strokes. For a basic introduction, there's some good stuff over on Song of the Paddle.
Like Torjus says, your boat has a lot of "rocker", which will make it more difficult to handle than a regular canoe. Getting it to go in a straight line will be challenging, even for an experienced paddler.
As for whether you'll fall out... Most people do, sooner or later. ;) It's not particularly dangerous, provided you're within swimming distance of the shore, the water isn't too cold, and you have spare dry clothing. Oh, and provided you don't hit your head on a rock on the way...
Should i make a canoe padle or would a kayak padle be better for keeping my boat on course being as it has so much rocker?
Makbe i had better fit a stern/ keel, whatever you call it! :rolleyes:
Thoughts please :)
gregorach
12-01-2007, 13:35
Ooh, now there's a question.... Personally I hate double paddles, and can't get them to work properly at all. That's probably because I haven't tried hard enough, because I don't like 'em... Kind of a self-fulfilling prophecy. One of the things I like most about canoing is the paddle action - it's so smooth and natural once you get to grips with it.
The best thing you could do would be to find someone locally who has both, and try 'em.
The Native Americans usually had quite a bit of a rocker on their canoes. Much more than the modern Canadian canoes, which are generally flat. Flat bottoms make for great stability, but are slower and less manouverable.
Long contact surface make for great directional stability and speed, but less manouverability.
Your canoe is from the photos: Very manouverable, but not very stable neither sideways or in the direction of the boat. I suspect it will handle like a coracle with some direction. :lmao:
I don't think using seats is any option on this canoe, you really need to sit on the bottom to be able to control it at all. Keep your weight as low as possible. Good Luck! You'll need it! :lmao:
:( Are you telling me i've been waisting my time? :(
could i have a float on one side if its too tippy? :confused:
:( Are you telling me i've been waisting my time? :(
No, just that you may be in for a steep learning curve. (As in lying upside down in the water....) :)
oh dam! :confused: Are you serious!!
could i have a float on one side if its too tippy? :confused:
Yes, or both.
Eric_Methven
12-01-2007, 15:59
Excellent canoe mate. You haven't been wasting your time at all. It's just that your centre of gravity will be much higher if you use the seat. Imagine if you will, one of those clowns you used to see with a big round ball for a base. You give it a whack and it rolls right over then comes back again, rolling back and forth until it stops. Now imagine the same clown with a flat bottom instead of a ball. Whack that and it isn't going to roll anywhere.
It's a bit like that with your canoe. Because of the amount of rocker, your canoe could very easily tip right over. It isn't going to need much of a whack - probably a gust of wind from the side will do it. Sitting on the seat will just make it happen more frequently. I'd say, get your centre of gravity as low as possible like balast in the bottom of the boat. Kneeling, knees as wide apart as possible and sitting on your heels will probably be the most stable position you can achieve.
If you want to make it more stable (flat bottomed) you could remove all the ribs between the front and back thwart and steam bend them so they have flat bottoms and more acute bends up to the gunwales. You'd need to do that now though before you fit the canvas. If you decide to go down this route, make the transition from round bottom to flat bottom over three or four ribs at each end so it is gradual. That way it won't look lumpy changing from one shape to the other.
The pointy ends can still be rounder as you already have them, but the bit where you will be sitting will be flatter and give you greater stability.
Hope this helps,
Eric
oh dam! :confused: Are you serious!!
Not totally, but follow the other people's advice and practise in shallow waters. ;)
thanks for the advice Eric! Thats a lot of work though and i dont have a steam box for a start! I will go and take a photo to show you exactly how round the bottom is!
gregorach
12-01-2007, 16:32
Look on it all as a learning experience. ;) :)
http://ridgeonnet.com/other/jon_bowdrills/canoe17.jpg
http://ridgeonnet.com/other/jon_bowdrills/canoe18.jpg
as you can see i have a few ribs which stick out a little but that doesnt bother me too much :)
So whats the final verdict? is it too round?
I would leave it like it is and do as gregorach suggests. :)
right. im gonna just carry on with covering it then i think :rolleyes:
panopticon
12-01-2007, 17:45
Damn John R, that is a nice piece of work. I'm new to the forums but how long has it taken from start to where it is now?
Damn Jojo, that is a nice piece of work. I'm new to the forums but how long has it taken from start to where it is now?
It's jon r's work though... :)
panopticon
12-01-2007, 18:10
It's jon r's work though... :)
Of course, post edited - scrolled down and must have misread!
its taken about 2 and a half months now. Ive had the weekends and christmas holiday time to build it.
Im not worried about the rocker problem anymore! :) I can always add floats on either side like they do in the Caribian. I imagine they would help to keep it on track better too! :) Pluss there wouldnt be any risk of falling out! :D
All i want is some kind of boat which is home made by me, so that i can get out on the lakes where i live! :D
The River Seven has burst it's banks! You should all build a canoe quick! :umbrella:
You have done well Jon r. It may not be perfect, but you built her yourself, from the idea to collecting the wood to putting it all together. It has a round bottom and it may not be the most suitable shape for a first canoe. But very few people can say they built a canoe themeselves. so , no you have not wasted you time at all :) After you finished this one, you can build another one with a flatter bottom, and from your hard won experience it will be an even better one. :You_Rock_
w00dsmoke
12-01-2007, 20:53
Hazel is very good as it is flexible as well as strong (look at shepherds crooks...), it is also relativley long lasting when damp. You could have used Ash as an alternative, but hey man it all looks good well done!
I am finding this thread fascinating, would love to build a canoe. I came across an intriguing design concept for a canoe and have detailed it on my site:
http://mungobah.blogspot.com/2007/01/canoe-of-three-planks.html.
Wondering if anyone has heard of this style - could be made either with a set of thin planks or with bark...
Mungo
I have built about 1/2 douzains of these little canoes, seem fairly similar to your drawings , made of the bottom panel and two sides. when I get my main computer back, If the photos are still there :( i'll post some photos.
They are nice little canoes to use. I think I still have the drawings, i'll post as soon as I found them if you are interested :) I built them of plywood, glass tape and epoxy.
Hello - yes, I am quite interested, would love to see photos of what you've built!
Darn! I thought I had some photos of one of these canoes on Photobucket, but I haven't. I'll to wait until my main computer comes back from the mender, hopefully still with photos inside :( should be a couple of days, they said....... :eek:
the canvas is on its way! i got the 9.5oz. Should be here after ten days! Ive also got some tacks to fit it with aswell! I couldnt find those copper tacks that you recomended Jojo so i got a pack of blue tacks, should do the trick! :)
Got half term comming up toon so i will be able to get on with things then! :D
The canvas is here and ive got to work on it already! Ive managed to get it pretty tight although there are a few creases i need to get rid of. When its done i will post some more pics. :D Its really starting to look like a propper boat now!
The next stage is to paint it. Should i use primer, and what sort of paint should i use?
Sorry its been a while since my last post!
Many thanks
Jon
Eric_Methven
01-02-2007, 12:49
Once the canvas is fitted, spray it with water. The water will make it shrink a little, and close up the weave, so it'll fit the frame nice and tight. Then let it dry fully before you paint it.
Eric
nice cant wait for the pics
leon
Use oil based primer, mixed with some white spirit, enough to make the primer thinner and easier for the canvas to absorb. And for paint, ordinary oil based house paint will do nicely. :) and you get to choose the colour :D
Thanks Jojo! are all house paints oil based? will it say on the can if it is oil based or not?
Im thinking of a nice dark green colour! :D Cant wait! :1244:
How much paint do you think i will need and how many coats should i do? :confused:
Just go for the cheap ordinary house gloss paint (not enamel) used to paint things like door frames etc, As to the number of coats, just enough to fill the weave and make the canvas watertight and reasonably smooth, probably about 3 coats,avoid to paint too thickly. You can used fine sand paper between coats, say 120 or 180 grit sand paper , but only very lightly, just enough to get the roughness off! Try and avoid more coats than that because the thicker paint would crack more easily and make the boat heavier than necessary.. on the other hand, If it's too rough, it produces drag and make the boat slow.
Have you used something on the frame, either linseed oil or varnish before you put the skin on? Its a bugger otherwise! :D
To be honest I don't know if it says if its oil, I think some do, but not sure.I am not very good at reading the instructions :D I would not use emulsion though :rolleyes:
I didnt use any varnish on the frame because i thought im not a serious boat builder and if the ribs get a little dirty then thats tough luck. Im not taking the canvas off now to do that. :D My hands are already saw and ive taken the skin off some of my nuckles! :rolleyes:
Thanks for all the advice Jojo! :You_Rock_
What, no varnish on the frame? :eek: :eek: the punishment for this heinous crime is that your canoe will go round and round in circles for ever.... :D
Actually there are people who think it a bad idea anyway to put paint and such on wooden boats, because it prevent the wood breathing. Your wood will probably turn a nice silvery grey. And the skin off your knuckles will grow back :p
Good job!
The canvas if fully on now!!! all nails in! :D
I havnt got any pics yet because i was working until dark! :D Couldnt stop myself!!
Ive given it a final spray of water and left it in my shed for the night. Cant wait to go get the paint now!!! :D :D :D
Ive got the paint and ive put the first undercoat on today!! :D Now its a propper boat! I cant beleive ive actually made a boat! :lmao: Really enjoying this project!
http://ridgeonnet.com/other/jon_bowdrills/canoe19.jpg
http://ridgeonnet.com/other/jon_bowdrills/canoe20.jpg
http://ridgeonnet.com/other/jon_bowdrills/canoe21.jpg
http://ridgeonnet.com/other/jon_bowdrills/paint.jpg
chrisanson
03-02-2007, 18:00
cool :cool:
chris
copper_head
03-02-2007, 18:02
Thats a gorgeous piece of work Jon R, first time i've come across this thread. Congratulations mate, hope she handles well!
Where are you going to take it first? Take photos!
Mungo
very nice mate well done, cant wait to see it painted
leon
Well done Jon, she look real cool! you can be proud of your work :) Did you get green?
It's kinda cool, that feelin' of producing something that "might" float. Good on ya Jon...she looks great... ;)
Minotaur
04-02-2007, 21:52
Well, i dont want lessons, but i do have a life jacket ready and waiting. Im just going to practice in some shallows first! :o And not too far from home!
Have you got any do's and dont's for when im padling? any thing i should look oit for which could be a potential danger? :eek:
If you live near Birmingham, you used to be able to canoe on Egdbaston Resorvior.
Congratulations Jon! She's a real beuty!
The canoe will be finished soon, only one more coat of paint to go! :D (will post more pics when i can!
Before i get paddling though i want to build an Outrigger for it (one of those float things on an arm). So ive got a few questions for you:
Got any tips on building an outrigger?
How far should the foat be from the boat?
Should the float be coated in something so it doesnt absorb water?
Is it possible to tip the boat over with an outrigger still?
Should i have an outrigger on both side?
How long should the float be in comparison to the boat?
And i just want to thank everyone for their support, inspiration and advice whilst building my canoe! :You_Rock_ You really do ROCK!
Many thanks
Jon
woodwalker
08-02-2007, 12:08
:eek: I am seriously impressed mate - fantastic effort
woodwalker
I haven't much experience of "stabilizers", but have a look there to get some ideas. They don't need to be very big it seems. Perhaps something like the size of a 2 litre bottle of fizzy stuff should be enough for a practice paddle and take it from there. :D http://www.castlecraft.com/stabilizers.htm
silvergirl
09-02-2007, 12:24
I can't believe its taken me so long to get around to reading this thread. I'm looking at trying to build a small canoe with my son and would rather go for traditional building methods than stich and glue.
jon r you've built a brilliant looking canoe. I think I may borrow your idea :You_Rock_ .
I would't worry to much about falling in, it happens to everyone some times :rolleyes: . When you first get in to it, I'd wade into shallow water put a hand on each gunnel and carefully put one foot right in the middle. Then with your hands pushing down equally on ech gunnel lift the other foot into the middle and kneel in the bottom. A bi blade (kayak paddle) may be easier for directional stability, but it will drip water all over you and the inside of the canoe. A single (canoe paddle) takes a little more practice but can move the canoe in any direction once you're used to it.
For a small canoe like this until you are used to manovering it it will be more stable kneeling than sitting on the seat. I'd be tempted to try it without an outrigger first just so you get to know how it handles, wear a bouancy aid and remember a change of cothes (these sould be standard for taking out any water craft)
Where did you get the canvas from?
Thanks Silvergirl!
Ive just come for a cup of tea from the middle of putting the last coat of paint on my canoe!
I got my canvas from here:
http://www.whaleys-bradford.ltd.uk/products.cfm?catID=3#446
I used the 9.5oz. Worked a treat!
There is an area of water near my house which as quite shallow so i think im going to test it out there first and stay near the edge. :)
Jon
silvergirl
09-02-2007, 15:11
As your earlier question said, it is a bit like learning to ride a bike. Falling off (over) is part of the learning process. Once you've got your balance you'll be fine ;) .
Can't wait to see the finished pictures :) .
Im going to test it out on the lake without an outrigger but i think i will fit one later because the water is freezing at the moment. Ive actually got to wait for the ice to melt before i can go out in it!
I think having an outrigger will be like having stabelisers on your bike before you can learn to ride, just in the same way that i dont know how to paddle propperly yet. :)
Having an outrigger will give me more confidence too! I dont like the thought of falling out at this time of year even if it is shallow! :o Maybe then when it gets warmer i can learn to paddle fully and without any outrigger aid. :)
any pics of it painted yet ?
leon
will take some photos tomorrow. Its been snowing pretty steady this afternoon so i havnt had chance. :)
looking forward to the pics :You_Rock_
im thinking of making something like this for it:
http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://web.mit.edu/people/robot/lepalepa/draw/2dassembly.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.mit.edu/people/robot/lepalepa/index.html&h=504&w=700&sz=23&hl=en&start=125&tbnid=L82Pigkz-sBQtM:&tbnh=101&tbnw=140&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcanoe%26start%3D1 08%26ndsp%3D18%26svnum%3D100%2 6hl%3Den%26sa%3DN
My canoe is finished!!!! :D
Went out on my first voyage this morning!
http://ridgeonnet.com/other/jon_bowdrills/c3.jpg
http://ridgeonnet.com/other/jon_bowdrills/c1.jpg
http://ridgeonnet.com/other/jon_bowdrills/c2.jpg
Will get some more pics but for now i just want to go have some fun in it! :D
Im so pleased with the way it has turned out! I feel that i have acheived a lot! This has to have been my biggest project so far! :D
Thanks for all your help!!! :You_Rock_ I couldnt have done it without you all!!! :You_Rock_
I hope i have been an inspiration to some people out there! Just goes to show what you can do with your bushcraft skills!
MISSION ACOMPLISHED!
Jon :D
BorderReiver
12-02-2007, 12:42
WELL DONE. :D :You_Rock_
Enjoy yourself. :)
Good on ya Jon...she looks great...will post pics of the scouts when we launch ours...
Wow! It looks marvelous, I hope you are proud (looks like it on your face ;) ). :You_Rock_
How does it handle? Do you think it would be stable enough without the outrigger?
Well done Jon, she looks great, the outrigger is pretty neat to! :You_Rock_ Now enjoy it. You've done a great job :)
Im dam proud of myself! :D
She handles pretty well! She keeps turning if i just paddle on one side so every now and then i have to paddle on the other side of the boat, but im sure thats partly down to my poor paddling skills, remember this is my firs time in a canoe!
I wouldnt want to try it without the outrigger yet though! bit tippy i think. The outrigger doesnt bother me in the slightest though! :D
I forgot to mention that i made the paddle too! :D
Ive been out onto an island in the middle of the lake where i have never been before! that was fun! I got straight out onto the island and banged my head on a branch of a tree! :rolleyes: :lmao:
I can tell one of you is going to say soon "Now for the tutorial Jon!" :lmao: That would be a big tutorial! :lmao:
It has started raining really bad now so i cant go out in it for a while! :(
Jon :)
Im dam proud of myself! :D
So you should be - Iv'e been following this thread since the start - and i was so happy to see them pics of the completed vessel !!!
:You_Rock_
It has started raining really bad now so i cant go out in it for a while! :(
Jon :)
Splashdeck next ??? :D :D
gregorach
12-02-2007, 14:06
Well done Jon - that's excellent! :)
silvergirl
12-02-2007, 15:08
I looks like it sits well in the water. I think I'd have just as big a grin if I'd achived what you have :beerchug:
To paddle in a straight(ish) line with the paddle on one side, just as the paddle goes past you, when you pull it back, turn it a bit and push out the way.
Not very clear :o .
the song of the paddle website has some diagrams on paddle strokes in the hints and tips section, much clearer than I'll ever be. :D
Well Done Jon :You_Rock_
Fantastic, well done Jon, I have been following this thread with interest....
So, whats best, making the boat, or having the completed boat...?
Jon,
that's brilliant. Those were the pictures I'd been waiting for - seeing it on the water.
You must be chuffed.
Congratulations on a project well thought out and executed.
david
COngratulations! I've folowed the thread, happy paddling!!
Went out in my canoe again this afternoon! Ang guess what i saw!!!! .....A King Fisher :eek:
I went out to some islands on another lake and saw a tiny blue bird dart out from the bushes. Then i lost sight of it. I thought that was a rare sight but then i carried on paddling around the island and there it was again!! It showed up really well because of its beautifully coloured featheres! This time i paddled as quietly as possible! and i got really close to it! After a few seconds of watching it close up it saw me and flew off, so i thought i would follow it, and i saw it again twice after this!!
First time ive seen a knigfisher and i was so glad i had my canoe to get really close to it! :D
I was amazed by its size! it was so small! Smaller than a blackbird! I always imagined them being quite big!
Im going to take a pair of binoculars with me next time! And a camera!
I will have to practice my indian stroke propperly now! :D
Jon
chrisanson
12-02-2007, 18:02
good stuff m8. very brave this weather.
chris
Nice canoe there mate,i now know what to build next :rolleyes:
hammock monkey
13-02-2007, 12:50
very impressed! hope you have years of fun in it :)
Have been watching this thread with a lot of anticipation of the outcome.
Congratulations on a job well done. And i must say, well done for listening to everyones advice, the stabalizer seems to have worked wonders for it - and perhaps saved you from getting a tad chilly :D
Hope you have many a fun time paddling in it....until its time to build MkII that is :D
We should have a 'build a canoe competition' :lmao:
Done some more upgrades to my canoe today! Will hopefully post some pics tomorrow. :)
Ive got to put another strip of canvas down the centre of the underneath of the canoe because it has had a bit of wear already! :rolleyes: Some paint has been rubbed off and i can see the undercoat layers! Better do something about this soon!
Iva been paddling and tinkering with the canoe all day except when i tried to make a whistle in about 5 mins :) Really enjoying everything about my canoe! Good exercise on the back and arms too.
jon
Matt Weir
13-02-2007, 18:32
Brilliant! Well done Jon :)
Matt.