Leaderboard

With my kayak stable in good shape I have been really searching trying to decide where I want to go next. Tossed around lots of ideas and finally have realized that I really need to work on my canoes. I have had a couple of inquiries about an Expedition canoe and I think that is going to be the next big project. I am not a 'canoe guy' so I have found a couple of existing canoes and modeled them. I am going to study these and may model a couple more before I done just to get a better understand of expedition canoes. These two were inspried by the Chestnut Prospector and a Redfish (with hard chines). These are just study models at this point. I will make something totally new but first I need something to start with.

I have been doing a great deal of thinking and searching on this topic lately and here is where I am at this time. I built a spray dodger last spring and want to incorporate a camper into it. In fair weather the dodger could be folded forward and out of the way for maximum ventilation. I am thinking 2 fiberglass tent poles utilizing the two sets of oar lock sockets. The following picture is from the Swallow Boats website. I like the overall concept. What I don't like is attachment system as used in the picture. I think a skirt that laps the coaming and lays on the deck would be better with the tie downs to the interior. Instead of the line at the exterior of the coaming perimeter I think something interior under the coaming edge would be better, it could be a line or snaps. Entry would be from the aft deck. Just my current thoughts subject to change without notice.

Mizzen mast as a ridge pole is an interesting idea that I hadn't considered. My first thought is that it would be too much for set-up and tear down having to deal with the mast, sail, sprit, downhaul, snotter, etc. My current setup (CS17) is like a boom tent but just using a line instead of a rigid peak. The line hooks low on the main mast and rises to the snotter eye on the mizzen mast. PVC conduit stiffens the trailing edge against the mizzen mast. (Picture attached (I think)). I've spent a couple of rainy nights with this setup and it works better than I expected. Setup is probably less than half of the time it takes me to setup my land tend. I do carry a simple bivy sack in case I need more rain/wind protection. I am debating on whether to improve on this design or proceed with the dodger/soft cabin idea that I have been mulling over for a while. It would be good to have something to extend aft of the mizzen mast because my head tends to lie on the center thwart.

Interlux interprotect 2000 has lasted 4 years on my boat and masts. Over this I used some Dark Green spray paint for aluminum from Lowes. I touched up some areas where it was down to metal due to wear and tear with just the straight up metal spray paint and it has been fine after prepping the surface prior to applying. As far as corrosion goes several companies sell thin plastic washers that are intended for going between things like SS snaps and aluminum hatches. They are as thin as milk container plastic, and saved the work to cut a milk container for the same thing. Where ever I riveted the track I used the washer between track and mast, and on the rivets applied light anti seize.