Block Plane

I will tell you that there is no better tool for trimming and fitting cedar strips than the lowly block plane. As we start to fill in the bottom of the canoe, we need to fit the bottom strips to those on the sides. The easiest way is to scribe the angle on the strip, hog off the excess with the band saw and then true up the edge, trim and shape a bead to fit in the cove of the previous strip. 

Besides cedar smells so nice when you plane it.

Getting closer

Canoe Two is getting closer to completion today as the bottom strips are started. The sad part is that I don't know if I have enough strips on hand to finish up the hull. I started with the same amount of boards as canoe one... oh well, it wont take much time to mill up the final strips if I need them.

 

Canoe Two Update

Continuing to install strips, just a few more rows to make it to the waterline. Its kind of cool how each boat takes on a style and life of its own. On this one the strips are about half and half, light/dark. So I started with the light ones first, filled in the wedge with darker strips and now am blending from light to dark around the water line to all dark on the bottom. I'm not much of an artist but I think the effect will be pretty cool once I get the fiberglass all whetted out..

New Acquisition

Here is a project for spring, a 16 foot roylex canoe from The Blue Hole canoe company in Tennessee. I believe this one was constructed in 1986. The hull has some major dings and scrapes but I haven't fond any de-laminations yet. As near as I can tell, this was setup as a white water boat, with the surface damage that it has I would love to hear the adventures this boat could tell.

This project will have to wait for spring. My intention is to make any repairs necessary and set it up for small water fishing. But for now its to the rack to wait out winter....