First build, Great Wicomico

[bogwoppit]

Hi All,

I've been browsing the forum for quite a while but joined just now as I'm building Dave Gentry's wicomico canoe.

I know 1or 2 here have built the canoe before so I'd be very grateful for any help.

I have quite a few questions but I'll ask them as I come to them to avoid confusion.

My first question which I hope someone can help with is with the cutting of the frames; there is a solid line and a dotted line on some of the frames for different seating options but I can't figure out what exactly he means.
He writes "cut along dotted lines first, for seating options later on" and "Dotted line for seats with a support beam for sitting atop the chines. Solid line for plywood seats". The solid line is below the dotted line.

What I think he means by a plywood seat is a small seat supported only by the frame and the dotted line is for a wider seat using slats/webbing with a support beam.

I'd appreciate any help before I start cutting.

Thanks

edit: a bit more reading and looking closer at the design and I understand the difference now, I think I will be going with a solid plywood seat for this one to keep it simple.

[Liberty53]

I'm excited to watch your build.

She'll be a great boat!

-Derek

[dbp1]

Hi there,

Good choice! I spent a while trying to find a decent photo from my build that would help illustrate; not sure if this is, but we'll see!

IMG_6064.jpg

What I eventually did was have slatted seats (that is just a mockup, using I'm not sure what? Plywood? Cardboard?), and so there is a stringer resting on the chine that goes across the boat. You can see it clamped with a spring clamp -- so the seat slats rest on the frame on one side and on that stringer on the other side. If you were to do solid plywood seats, I guess they would be able to rest on the chines directly, which would mean they would be that much lower, hence the lower cut out on the frame. If you are unsure, you can leave it high and decide later (or, just use a stringer regardless of the seat material). Here were my slats, mocked up, where you can more clearly see the stringer that causes the frames to be a bit higher to match the level of the chines.

IMG_6188.jpg

[bogwoppit]

Hi there,

Good choice! I spent a while trying to find a decent photo from my build that would help illustrate; not sure if this is, but we'll see!

IMG_6064.jpg

What I eventually did was have slatted seats (that is just a mockup, using I'm not sure what? Plywood? Cardboard?), and so there is a stringer resting on the chine that goes across the boat. You can see it clamped with a spring clamp -- so the seat slats rest on the frame on one side and on that stringer on the other side. If you were to do solid plywood seats, I guess they would be able to rest on the chines directly, which would mean they would be that much lower, hence the lower cut out on the frame. If you are unsure, you can leave it high and decide later (or, just use a stringer regardless of the seat material). Here were my slats, mocked up, where you can more clearly see the stringer that causes the frames to be a bit higher to match the level of the chines.

IMG_6188.jpg

Thats perfect Daniel, thanks very much, exactly what I was looking for.

I think I’ll go with the plywood on the lower measurement, simple and will also keep the Centre of gravity ever so slightly lower.

[bogwoppit]

613AA9BC-395D-4620-91A1-DCF102B95246.jpgI’ve been taking my time with the project but not standing still, have the gunnels, keel and chines ripped. The frames are mostly done and the strongback is ready to go. I had to source a good bandsaw to do some of the ripping which took a while, the grain orientation in my stock piece of cedar was at 45 degrees so ran it through the bandsaw to get it vertical.

Will finish the frames then start mounting on the strongback after all the pieces are sanded.

The next bit I’m not clear on is fitting the keel, Gentry says that the bow and stern are a certain distance from the respective frames, I guess I just offer it up and cut the keel wherever it lands.

Struggling to get pictures attached here.

[bogwoppit]

Progress has been slow but steady on the canoe, mostly it’s been pretty straightforward but there have been a couple of tricky bits.
The lowest pair of stringers have to twist and bend quite a lot at the first couple of frames which took a while to get right.
There have been some confusing bits too but Daniel has been a great help.
Working on the breasthooks at the moment and then onto the inwales, thwarts and floorboards.

[johngsandusky]

Very cool. I love it when they start to look like a boat.

[bogwoppit]

Very cool. I love it when they start to look like a boat.

Thank you, yes I agree.