The Bear Mountain Boat Shop

I purchased the plans from Stewart River Boatworks in Knife River Minnesota.

Currently in the process of getting geared up. I will be building it cedar and canvas though.

I will be picking up some green lumber and plan to resaw it to a little thicker than I need. That way I can cut the drying time down some.

I plan to get a bandsaw blade for resawing green lumber, anything I need to be careful with, other than the obvious safety precautions in woodworking.

Thanks, I'll get the wood green and let it dry for a while. I have the perfect place to put it where it is out of the elements, gets some air circulation, and is out of my way. I realize that environmental conditions awill play a large part in the drying time, but any guess as to how long it will ta...

I am considering building a Chestnut Pal, has anyone ever paddled this model and can give me some feedback. I am looking for an all around canoe. It will go to the BWCA, but probably for 5 day trips max. with two adults or one adult and child. It will also be my all around canoe. Has anyone built on...

I am in the process of building a cedar canvas canoe. The planning process actually. I know most on this forum are strip builders, but I have a question anyway. I can get clear northern white cedar for the planking and ribs with the option of kiln dried or green. I think the green would steam bend e...

Anyone know where I can get instruction or further information about making a laminate wood paddle.

I am curious about design considerations, epoxy, glass, etc. It seems that a paddle could be made up of several small parts, just like a boat.

Is the stem mold for the freedom 17 much different than the stem for the 15'3" boat? I have a 17 stem mold, and was curious if it could be used for the shorter boat, or if they were completely different.

Is there any written description of how to level up the 2x8's etc. I looked at Bjorns site, and he is very imformative on the information translated to english, the building section is still in Swedish however. You mention a string line on the top and bottom. Are these down centerline? How do you us...

Thanks all for the input. Brian, I like the simplicity of the 2x8's and believe this would be a strong, easy to store way to go. How does this work for making the deck of a kayak. Do you simply suspend the form over the strongback with an upright board? The ones in the picture look like they have th...

At my main job I am a civil engineer. In order to complete our design work we use AutoCad Land Development Desktop. One of the utilities in this program allows importing of points from an excel file. These points are given a number x and y description and a description. I just used this tool to crea...

I have read Kayakcraft and Canoe Craft and Nick Schade book also. I believe the strongback would be a stonger support vs. the 2x4 support running through the stations in the other version, but is the extra strength necessary? Money, as with everyone I know, is tight. So the less expensive 2x4 suppor...

What are the reviews of the Giullemont design and Cape Ann Storm?

I am looking for some advice on kayak selection. I am 5'9" and 170 lbs. My primary use for the boat will be lake superior, either the north shore or near the apostle islands. Also, some trips on the St. Croix river and Mississippi. So mostly for touring. I don't expect to make more than a 3 day...