10' Pack Canoe

[cs]

If you guys might remember I took the offsets of a 10' pack canoe designed as a wood and canvas canoe, from the book The Wood & Canvas Canoe by Jerry Stelmok and Rollin Thurlow, and converted them to stations using AutoCad.  I than created some drawings that I used to lay out the stations.  One of the things I wanted was to have a winter project that would fit inside the shop and another is a lightweight canoe and another chance to perfect my fiberglass/wood strip techinque.

Last week I started cutting out the stations and this week I started on the strongback.

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I also was able to get started on the stems.  The stems will be made from white oak along with a corresponding wihite oak strip down the center as a keel strip and the gunwales will also be from a single white oak strip.  The rest will be stripped out with ceder.

The stem will be 3/4" thick made up of (6) 1/8" strips glued up with Gorilla Glue.  I've gotten the first two layers glued up.

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Chad

[Oyster]

Did you take the exact measurements and cut the jigs? You may find some differences in the fairness since it does not appear to have any angles on the edges of the jigs towards the ends at this time. So be carefull when you bend them and fasten them in place, as not to create dips in the ends of the canoe as the pieces attempt to meet at the stems.

[cs]

I offset the stations the thickness of the planking (1/4") before laying them out.

It was mentioned on the WBF about bevelling the stations as you get near the stems.  This is something that I will look into.

Chad

[Oyster]

Have you given any consideration to using white cedar strips? There seems to be some pretty nice stuff, alot even kiln dried which is great if you are considering encapsulating the boat in glass.  You would need to ship it into your area but you can have the creamdlacream stuff.

[cs]

Haven't thought about that.  I've been looking into trying to get some western red.  So far the best price is $5.80 a board foot.  I might ask them about white.

Chad

[Oyster]

Well cypress is a bit heavier. But I am  not sure in that size of hull if you would also be that bad off, either. But look around for rough sawn cypress siding, or lap siding in red cedar if you wish to use that too, as an alternative to finding the planks. But almost all lumberyards around the state of N.C. carry the red cedar in 4/4 stocks, rough sawn on one side and smoothe the other side in western red cedar. Its avaliable in 18 to 20 foot boards, too. [same wood, just sold differently]

It does seem that the 1x6 and 1x8 is the clearest in solid boards even though you need to pick through them sometimes. I personally have access to some of the finest white cedar right now, so I am sure its out there. Try businesses like McKeon Lumber which is in the western part since they sell a lot of the Jobert plywoods, too, and many of the hardwoods to cabinet shops.

[cs]

The box stores here carry western red in the form of lap siding here also, but the quality that I have seen here is terriable.  I'm not sure you could get any usuable strips out of what they have in stock.  That is why I'm checking with some of my suppliers here locally.  By the time I bought enough of that knotty stock at HD to get enough strips I would have probably spent more than just going out and buying what I need in clear.

Chad

[Oyster]

I figured that you had gone the traditional avenues but thought I would add it if others were in your shoes. But given that and if someone does not want to ship in wood, consider culling through woods with some added time in your time off, may still be the best option. But its so hard to believe since you are in the building business and surely in a major metropolitan area, and heck live in a forrest region that wood is not avaliable of some form for a simple 10 foot canoe. Try the Atlanta area or call some people in that area. I purchase silicone bronze hardware from Southern Crown Boatworks and Bill and his wife is very  friendly. They may not have access but know places in a short drive for you. Leave them a message as they don't always answer, but will return your call. They are on the internet if you google them. They also do wooden runabout repairs. So they may know some sources.

There is rumor that Tar Devil may be coming to the coast with his truck. So I can put some white cedar on his truck and take it back with him. Since he is much closer to you and you can at least drive over to his city and pick it up mid Jan.

[cs]

You would think that around here that yes there would be a better selection, but alas that is not always the case.  Most small time operators have been pushed out and most of the lumber is geared toward construction.  I can get pretty much any hardwood I want and I can get the western red (just expensive).

Mike I will keep your offer in mind and if my other contacts don't come through I may take you up on that offer.

Chad

[Oyster]

We need an update on your canoe build. I would love to see how you handled the stripping of such a small one, such as the real thickness or lack of in the bending along the turn of the bilges in such a short twist. I have no experience except for an 16 footer.

[cs]

Nice of you to ask Mike.  I have been waiting on a shipment of lumber to come in (I really appreciate your offer).  I managed to get some western red through a company that does our cabinet work.  It came in yesterday and I've yet to get it home.

In the meantime I've been working on a paddle (see my other thread). 

As I get more into the canoe stripping I will keep you updated.

Chad