average time to build a strip canoe??

[alteran]

Someone asked me last night what the average time would be for a beginner with good woodworking skills and good tools to build a stripper. I don't keep track of time well so I just guessed.

Anyone have a good idea what it might be?

Al.

[imported_Conrad]

Its been a long time since I built one, and I was much more of an amature then than now, but put me down for 60 hours. This would be with a blocked rail and decent finish, but still amature level work.

What did you guess? I'm really curious to see what kind of responses you get! smile.gif Keep in mind my first "6 hour" canoe took about 20 hours, but was quite tarted up.

Norm?? He's a guy who could tell ya. Oh Norm?!!

[alteran]

My guess with building the forms from paper patterns, sawing strips from planks, running through for bead and cove, epoxy etc. right through to ready to launch. 200 hours.

[George Roberts]

A good builder can do a low end boat in under 120 hours (15 days).

Might take a novice twice as long.

[JimConlin]

What George said. If you insist on avoiding staples, it'll more than double the planking hours.

[essaunders]

Ok. Can't disagree with anyone here yet.... My 100hr (as per the estimate of the kit provider) canoe is still underway after almost 2 years. I haven't kept records of actual working time though, so I'm not going to be a help except for this: Strip canoes go together quickly if you can work on them regularly... Never try to build one that is an hour from where you live!!!

Also, Much depends on the output you desire. I spent many hours just sorting the stips to get the color pattern I wanted (screwed it up anyway. :( ) when I could have just built a 'random' pattern.

[Todd Bradshaw]

When Wilderness Boats was commercially building and selling strippers they figured 75 man-hours to build a boat. This did not include time spent making strongbacks, cutting strips or making the forms. Construction was stapled, trim was kept simple and light and all sanding was done with big disk sanders - which they already knew how to use properly. If a beginner can turn out a decent boat in 100 hours, he's doing quite well. I'd bet that 150 hours or so whould be more accurate for most.

[Figment]

Originally posted by JimConlin:
If you insist on avoiding staples, it'll more than double the planking hours.Yep, you can say that again. I stripped without staples, until I'd made the turn of the bilge, then I used staples on the bottom.

That was two solid weeks (only enough clamps for 3 strips per night) spent stripping without staples. Once I started the "football" I started using staples, and got it done in one night.

Of course, even if one chooses the staple-less route, planking is a very small fraction of total building time. I think your 200 hour estimate is a good one. Plus paddles.

[capt jake]

Well I can't speak directly to the canoe, though I have built a strip kayak. I figured about 300 hours in mine. But I ripped all of the strips and routed teh B&C.

I spent a great deal of time in the finish, so that was probably 50-100 hours of the time building.

A really fun project though!!

[imported_Conrad]

Wow- are you guys serious? 150 hours is a month of full time work- there must be a huge amount of time spent in the "moaning chair", or way too much beer in the shop. I bet I could do a decent one in 40 hours now. I'm tempted to try, just to see if I'm totally out of touch with reality.... :eek: ;) Or maybe it's all that coffee here in the land of Starbucks!

P.S.- I've seen Capt. Jake's work, and it's flawless, his kayak isn't a boat, it's art. And I understand how hard and time consuming it can be to get the last bit of perfection, but still... tongue.gif

[ 01-18-2004, 07:48 PM: Message edited by: Conrad S. ]

[capt jake]

And I understand how hard and time consuming it can be to get the last bit of perfection, but still...
That is my one major flaw in life! I am a perfectionist to the hilt; you should know that! ;) smile.gif

Oh, and this was cutting out the patterns, building the strongback, etc, etc!

[ 01-18-2004, 08:38 PM: Message edited by: capt jake ]

[Ken Hutchins]

The Devil is in the details, no matter what you are building.

[George Roberts]

Conrad S. ---

Back when I worked fast I learned ...

A professional can build 3-4 boats a month, but he needs to get the work done and not waste much time. Most important he needs to find 3-4 customers a month.

[imported_Conrad]

George- it's the 3-4 customers a month for wooden boats that's the problem alright! Otherwise, a bunch of us would be making our livings differently. ;) smile.gif

[Gerald]

When I made a few strippers I could do the lay-up part in 20 hours. That was using no staples, which I consider to be 25% faster than using staples. The sanding, glass, trim, etc., took much longer.
Gerald

[cs]

I would hate to have to esitmate my time. I've only been working on it for a year and a half and I still ain't done. Stopped by the boat show in Atlanta this weekend and this guy was building a strip guide boat and we worked smoothly and efficently. I wouldn't be suprised if he could strip one out in a day or two. Of course he was using epoxy, screw and frames.

Chad

[John Bell]

...and he was Steve Kaulback who has built many, many guideboats. http://www.ajc.com/sunday/content/epaper/editions/sunday/metro_04a0f2c07537415210e0.html

[cs]

Thanks again John.

On the way back to building B I stopped and watched him for a few minutes and he is just remarkable.

Chad

[Carl Simmons]

My stripper took about 5 months averaging about 10 hours a week or about 225 hours. That includes making everything including strongback, moulds, ripping the strips, fiberglassing, seats and paddles.

Carl.

[NormMessinger]

Conrad, you called? Um, or were you calling Norm Harris? Where is he anyway? Anyway....

I almost did not check in to this thread since I have no idea how many real hours it takes to build anything and it has been 25 years or more since I built a stripper. Keeping track of time is harder than keeping the shop half way cleaned up. Strippers drag out because of the time spent waiting for glue to set. One could almost built three in the over all time it takes to do one. Almost.