A simple little canoe

[hokiefan]

Last night I got the second outwale glued up, tonight I took off the clamps and did a quick cleanup of the squeeze-out on the top of both sides. When I'm energetic I'll clean up the bottoms, then plane the tops fair. "When I'm energetic" is code for not tonight!



Cheers,

Bobby

[switters]

Making a paddle?

[Sailor]

Looks like she'd float now. Great job. Decide on a colour yet?

[hokiefan]

Making a paddle?

Yes I am. Buying one would put more $$ in the paddle than I have in the boat! For my son I made one from a carefully picked 1x6 and it came out well. About 8' long and has a nice little spring when you paddle with it. A good days work with a plane.

Looks like she'd float now. Great job. Decide on a colour yet?

Probably dark green for the exterior, definitely a cream color for the interior. Haven't decided whether to leave the outwales bright or not.

Cheers,

Bobby

[hokiefan]

Once again, it doesn't look much different. But the glue squeeze-out under the outwale is gone. And the top of the outwale has been faired into the sheer. The exterior corners have been taken off with a couple swipes with the block plane. Need to install the seat back supports, knock off the corners inside, and clean out the interior. Then she's ready for some primer.



Cheers,

Bobby

[hokiefan]

Today I got the seat back supports installed and cleaned up. She's all ready to paint, so I'm off to get primer (and dinner!) Right now she weighs in at 27.2 lb.



Cheers,

Bobby

[gstanfield]

Looking good!!

[hokiefan]

A coat of primer on the inside.



And one on the outside.



Cheers,

Bobby

[switters]

glad to see the gunnl's are painted, I just sanded the ones on my row boat to get ready for paint. Looks good bright, but a pain to take care of if you are car topping the boat.

[Breakaway]

Sweetness!

[hokiefan]

Primed two coats in and out. Guess I need paint for tomorrow night!



Cheers,

Bobby

[Sailor]

I like your clamp storage location. Good idea. Handy, tidy, out of the way.... Looks like the perfect solution for where you are.

[BostonIrish]

Do you use that PL Premium for all your boats? Im building a SOF kayak and it calls for epoxy...I'm building it with the kids and would rather not expose them to the epoxy. Your post is great ..this is my next project on tap...I think my 13 year old would enjoy her own canoe.

[hokiefan]

Do you use that PL Premium for all your boats? Im building a SOF kayak and it calls for epoxy...I'm building it with the kids and would rather not expose them to the epoxy. Your post is great ..this is my next project on tap...I think my 13 year old would enjoy her own canoe.

I built another one of these several years ago using PL Premium. It has held up fine, stored outside upside down. Also built a rowboat constructed similarly for a friend in Jacksonville, but they moved away from the lake they were living on and I'm not sure that boat ever got wet. I like working with it, but I don't have a wealth of experience with its longevity. One thing I have discovered though, is that it likes clamping pressure. The squeeze-out on the surface barely sticks. You don't want to just slap two pieces together and let the adhesive cure. Also, don't bother trying to work the squeeze-out into a filet. Working it causes it to foam and expand significantly. Just let it squeeze out then clean it up. I find a utility knife and a chisel work well, with occasional assistance from a pocketknife to get into nooks and crannies.

Good luck with your build.

Once again it doesn't really look much different, but now she has a coat of real paint on the inside.



Cheers,

Bobby

[hokiefan]

Last night I finished painting the interior, except for the touchup this morning. Qtips are wonderful for little fixes! So then I layed out and cut out the paddle blank.



And started working on planing it into shape. Not a bad start for 30 minutes with the plane.



Cheers,

Bobby

[Breakaway]

Wat to go! You'll be "up the creek"....and down it, soon!

[BostonIrish]

That looks great..did you laminate the plywood together to make up the paddle.I need to get cracking on mine.If I could get the home projects outta the way I'd be all set.You posts are great...thanks for the inspiration.

[hokiefan]

That looks great..did you laminate the plywood together to make up the paddle.I need to get cracking on mine.If I could get the home projects outta the way I'd be all set.You posts are great...thanks for the inspiration.

The paddle is a 1x6x8 pine board! From the Select pile so it is clear, then picked through to get one that is flat sawn and has straight grain in the middle which will end up being the shaft. The shaft will end up slightly less than 3/4 x 1-1/4. This worked out well for similar paddle I made for my son. This particular piece had some big dings on the edges, but they were all getting cut off, so no sweat there. Here I've gotten this blade basically done, and the shaft 8 sided.



And somehow tonight she turned blue.



Cheers,

Bobby

[hokiefan]

The picture doesn't look a whole lot different, but in person she looks way better with a second coat on the outside. Needs one more.



Now I'm down to the bits and pieces. Paddle, seat back, PFD, flotation cushion, etc.

Cheers,

Bobby

[switters]

it has been ten days, you splashed it yet?

[hokiefan]

it has been ten days, you splashed it yet?

No such luck. Was very close to being finished painting by Sunday evening of last weekend. Arrived at work Monday and discovered that the pooh had hit the proverbial rotating thingy over the weekend. Have been living there since, and will be there again tomorrow. We'll see what happens after I sleep a bit Saturday night. Maybe more than a bit...

Cheers,

Bobby

[Lewisboater]

Ah yes...the old "fecal matter has hit the oscillating rotator" situation... bummer! Get some sleep...you think better and don't lose body parts near as easily.

[hokiefan]

Ah yes...the old "fecal matter has hit the oscillating rotator" situation... bummer! Get some sleep...you think better and don't lose body parts near as easily.

Rot's a ruck with that one! About 30 minutes after my post above the phone rings, "We have a problem..." A bit of explanation... "OK, I'll see you in a bit..."

We can sleep when we're dead :-(

Cheers,

Bobby

[hokiefan]

It would seem that the big fan has been stopped and no more pooh is flying around. Still plenty to clean up before things are back to normal, so I still have accomplished nothing since the 8th. Its one day at a time at this point.

Cheers,

Bobby

[hokiefan]

After 3 weeks of living at work, a weekend has finally arrived. After sleeping in like a teenager I went out to get a tire replaced. Then I came back and started working on the seat back. Here I am 8-siding the back side of the seat back support. Half the battle is figuring out a good way to hold your piece while you work on it.



From there, it is quick work to 16-side it, then round it.



The front side is flat where the slats are mounted, then tapers to a round end. 8-siding the end.



And then rounding it.



Finally, the seatback put together. Still needs sanding, gluing up, and varnish.



Really nice to be making progress again.

Cheers,

Bobby

[Sailor]

I know what you mean. I hope to get some sanding done tomorrow and maybe a coat of varnish inside and out.

[hokiefan]

Last night I sanded and glued up the parts of the seatback. Today I finished the last of the painting. So here she is down to the last bits. I have to finish shaping the second end of the paddle, varnish the seatback and paddle, and figure out how I'm going to handle the tie-down attachments at each end.



Cheers,

Bobby

[gstanfield]

Looking good Bobby, I like how you made the paddle and the seat back!

[switters]

Looking good, varnishing inside will not make you happy though. For end tied downs I have been using eye bolts drilled screwed and epoxied into to each stem. It is probably late for yours but on a recent pirouge I put in breast hooks with a notch at the stems so it will drain while having a handy handle. The kids put a rope around that breast hook in a short loop and they carry it with that and use it for the tie down.

[hokiefan]

The only varnish is on the seatback and the paddle. The interior is painted a cream color. On the kid's boat I put nylon eye straps on the inside of the stems, to which I snapped a swivel eye with the tie-down ropes connected. But his stems had a lot more meat, so I could put in a healthy pair of screws. Building this one light means there is no meat to be had. Fitting some breasthooks is an option.

Cheers,

Bobby

[hokiefan]

This morning I ran my errands; bought some groceries, got my hair cut, fun stuff like that. This afternoon was spent with the plane finishing the second side of the paddle. Then out on the deck to sand everything down. I really don't like sanding, there are no two ways around it. Then a bit of stain and here she hangs drying out.



Then I put another coat of varnish on the seatback. Four down, one more to go I believe.



Down to the last few things, amazing how long those can take.

Cheers,

Bobby

[hokiefan]

With the boat essentially done, its on to the rest of the details. Like how I'm going to get it from my deck to the ground 1/2 a story below. To accomplish that I built two outriggers that can hang from the bottom of the deck above me. A big screw eye into the bottom of the deck and a hook in the top of this 2x4. Its balanced so the outer end pulls the inner end up to the deck, where a saddle holds it in place. Will hang a small block from the outer end then up & down she goes. Thats the plan anyway.



Cheers,

Bobby

[Cuyahoga Chuck]

I don't wanna be a critic but I got a feeling a double paddle would be better ergonomically if you are going to sit on the bottom. Since your legs will be extended forward you are going to dribble water in your lap every time you change sides.

[hokiefan]

I don't wanna be a critic but I got a feeling a double paddle would be better ergonomically if you are going to sit on the bottom. Since your legs will be extended forward you are going to dribble water in your lap every time you change sides.

It doesn't look like it in the picture due to foreshortening, but that is a double paddle. Its 8' long and eventually I will put Turks Heads on it for drip rings. But water will still drip in my lap some, at least it does with my son's essentially identical boat.

Cheers,

Bobby

[Lewisboater]

Don't forget your dependables!

[Phil Y]

I like it-an inspration to all of us working away from home with no family to play with on evenings and weekends. Great step by step instruction too.

[Chris Woodward]

Hi Bobby,
Nice quick build! I'm curious what tools you used on it? I can't see you using a bench saw or planer in that small space, with the attendent dust problem. Did you use most materials stock sizes from local stores?

[hokiefan]

Don't forget your dependables!

OK I'm lost. Dependables???

Hi Bobby,
Nice quick build! I'm curious what tools you used on it? I can't see you using a bench saw or planer in that small space, with the attendent dust problem. Did you use most materials stock sizes from local stores?

The only power tools are a jig saw and a drill. A plane for shaping is quieter than a sander, and can be done inside without coating the world with dust. The major shapes were cut out with the jig saw out on the deck. A bit chilly for the first few in early February, but keeps that dust outside. All of the materials were stock sizes, the chines and outwales were 1/2x3/4 molding. The paddle started life as a relatively straight grained flat sawn 1x6 picked out of the select shelving pile. All of the little stuff was cut to size with a little japanese style pull saw. Very pleasant to work with. One of the joys of small boats are that you can create them with little cost and minimal tools.

Cheers,

Bobby

[Lewisboater]

You'll get water in your lap...Depends.."ables" to keep it out. Bad joke...too much epoxy topped with a little beer and lots of sun.

[hokiefan]

You'll get water in your lap...Depends.."ables" to keep it out. Bad joke...too much epoxy topped with a little beer and lots of sun.

Gotcha. At the end of my senior year in college I interviewed with P&G for a control engineering job in the plant that made Depends. I'd never heard of such a thing at the time, being young & dumb and all that.

Cheers,

Bobby

[McMike]

Looks great Bobby, just in time for the good weather too. I hope you have a blast!

[Tom Robb]

When your parents are filed away in the "home" you'll hear more about depends than you ever wanted to know.
BTW, are you working alone getting the boat out of the house? If so I guess I get the crane-like business.
Wouldn't it be easier to call a couple of friends to catch it? How far is it, 5 feet or so?

[hokiefan]

Looks great Bobby, just in time for the good weather too. I hope you have a blast!

Thanks Mike. The weather has been begging me to get this finished for a month now. With a bit of luck I'll splash it this weekend.

When your parents are filed away in the "home" you'll hear more about depends than you ever wanted to know.
BTW, are you working alone getting the boat out of the house? If so I guess I get the crane-like business.
Wouldn't it be easier to call a couple of friends to catch it? How far is it, 5 feet or so?

Well, my folks skipped out without going through the "home" stage so I've missed that end of it. Good for them I say.

The top of the deck rails are a bit over 9 feet from the ground, farther than I want to drop it. And so far the folks I know in this town live in the various "other sides" of town. If I just wanted to get it down once I'd get one of them to swing by for the drop. But since it has to live in the living room I need a single handed way to get it up & down. Besides that, what engineer can resist the need to build some contraption.

Cheers,

Bobby

[Tom Robb]

Noted

[McMike]

Thanks Mike. The weather has been begging me to get this finished for a month now. With a bit of luck I'll splash it this weekend.

Well, in that case, good luck!

[hokiefan]

Today I finished up the last details of the contraption, then went out to pick up a PFD and a flotation cushion. After dinner I lowered the boat from the deck and loaded it up on the car. The lowering part went quite smoothly, will be easy to use on a regular basis. So here she sits ready for splash day tomorrow. The weather forecast is great, 83 degF and sunny. Can't wait.



Cheers,

Bobby

[johnno]

Good luck, take lots of pics!

[timo4352]

Good luck 2
And good weather - I drove out today only to get close to the lake and it was pouring rain. By the time I got home the sun came out again. Go figure.
Tim

[hokiefan]

Well that didn't go particularly well... For starters my tiedown arrangement has too much vertical distance from the Y to the bow and stern, which lets the bow flop back and forth several inches depending on the wind. And the strap I used howls at any speed over 40 mph. Ah well, that stuff is correctable.



Next, there was too much wind and the water was a bit too rough for a first voyage. So I put my wallet and phone in the dry bag and pressed on anyway. With my PFD on of course. Getting in the boat proved a bit of an adventure due to the breeze and the waves, resulting in a goofy looking swim! On the second attempt I got in but spread the gunnels enough to crack the frame gusset.



The beauty of a wooden boat is that it can all be repaired right? So I pressed on, paddling out just a bit from the shore, where I tried to put the seatback back into its proper place. With the gusset cracked the sides spread just enough so that the seatback no longer stayed where it belonged. Phooey!!! So I decided to paddle a bit anyway, knowing it will be uncomfortable. What it turns out is that without the seatback to lean against this little boat is quite unstable. No I didn't go swimming again, but I turned around in short order and called this paddle off. Back to the shop to take care of things before we try this again. Up she flies to the deck, then back into the living room.



So she's been wet. No pictures of that since I was smart enough to put the phone in the bag. Good thing as that bag went floating when I took my swim, and who wants pictures of a debacle anyway. I have some work to do, none if it terribly difficult or extensive. And then we'll give it another go.

Cheers,

Bobby

[gstanfield]

it's not a failure at all, you just went out and found things to improve on

For the flat straps, put a twist in them when you are ty9ing down your load. The twist will stop them from flopping around, stop the howl and actually make them last much longer