Search found 117 matches

by Jeff in Farmington, MI
Tue Jan 19, 2021 8:14 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Marine plywood source in Michigan
Replies: 1
Views: 5375

Marine plywood source in Michigan

Hey everyone, I am ready to build another boat and am thinking about a stitch and glue kayak this time. Does anyone know of a source for 4mm and 3mm thick marine plywood in or near Michigan?
by Jeff in Farmington, MI
Mon Sep 15, 2014 3:39 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: wood boat in the pool
Replies: 3
Views: 2028

wood boat in the pool

I am planning to take a kayak rolling class which is held at an indoor pool. Participants must use their own kayak (which makes sense). However, I was wondering whether the chlorinated pool water would negatively effect the varnish on my cedar stripped kayak. A quick search of the web did not reveal...
by Jeff in Farmington, MI
Fri Dec 27, 2013 1:12 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Left overs ?
Replies: 16
Views: 9080

Re: Left overs ?

"A monocular embedded in the hand-grip" ... now that's something I've never seen. That could be very useful in locating a portage trail or campsite from afar. Can you post a close-up photo and a description of how you built that?
by Jeff in Farmington, MI
Fri May 31, 2013 11:41 am
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: stem band or not?
Replies: 3
Views: 2705

Re: stem band or not?

I think the answer depends on the canoe's intended use. If you think you will be near rocks (and who isn't), then I would recommend a brass stem band. My stem bands are scratched and banged from many rocks hidden below the surface.
by Jeff in Farmington, MI
Tue May 14, 2013 10:40 am
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: How bad is the glare?
Replies: 2
Views: 2519

Re: How bad is the glare?

Hello Yakker! The Epifanes high gloss is an excellent varnish ... but it is not cheap. Knowing that the interior of the hull is going to get scuffed and scratched during use anyway, I would not purchase the matte finish varnish. After a while, the interior will take on a matte finish anyway through ...
by Jeff in Farmington, MI
Mon Dec 10, 2012 11:23 am
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: hinged kayak hatches??
Replies: 5
Views: 3990

Re: hinged kayak hatches??

Hello Alick, I too did not want to busy my kayak deck with additional bungees or straps, and fortunately I stumbled upon an alternative at this website http://www.outdoorplace.org/paddling/Sport/Sport1.htm Click on the photo labeled "hatch covers" for more details. The hatch covers are cut...
by Jeff in Farmington, MI
Tue Nov 20, 2012 3:00 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Wet sanding with a spray bottle
Replies: 3
Views: 3664

Wet sanding with a spray bottle

In a recent post concerning ventilation of the shop in winter, there was mention of moving the boat outdoors to wet sand. I wanted to let everyone know that a large amount of water is not necessary for wet sanding, and that it can be done almost anywhere indoors with just a spray bottle ... and wet ...
by Jeff in Farmington, MI
Fri Aug 17, 2012 6:19 am
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: chasing cracks
Replies: 4
Views: 2569

Re: chasing cracks

Masking the area can certainly help. You can also wipe the excess from the area with whatever solvent is appropriate for your filler. However, at some point you just need to call it good. I suspect that you are at that point. I encountered the same thing on my first boat. I would fill and sand, fill...
by Jeff in Farmington, MI
Wed Nov 30, 2011 2:42 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Expedition Sport Kayak in Progress
Replies: 21
Views: 27300

Expedition Sport Kayak - COMPLETED!

After 3 years (off and on), I finally finished my kayak! This is the Expedition Sport design from One Ocean kayaks. It is 16 foot 9 inches in length, 21.5 inches wide, and weighs 45 lbs fully dressed (a few more pounds than I had hoped for). Some of the early construction details are in my original ...
by Jeff in Farmington, MI
Sun Sep 04, 2011 8:20 am
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: New builder: building space issue
Replies: 6
Views: 4026

Re: New builder: building space issue

no_dice, While some have managed to build outdoors in a portable shelter, I would think that you would need to get the project done very quickly in order to stay within a favorable weather environment. Where do you live? You will need to estimate the total amount of time that it will take as well as...
by Jeff in Farmington, MI
Wed Aug 17, 2011 2:30 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: source for dark western red cedar
Replies: 9
Views: 6145

Re: source for dark western red cedar

Fingerle Lumber in Ann Arbor Michigan is a very large classic lumberyard. One of their indoor warehouses houses their high grade hard and soft woods. A year ago, I purchased two VERY dark cedar boards from Fingerle (I live 25 minutes away), and used them over some large areas of the hull, as well as...
by Jeff in Farmington, MI
Wed Aug 17, 2011 2:14 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Keeping weight down
Replies: 6
Views: 2993

Re: Keeping weight down

I have not used S-glass, but the lack of clarity is supposed to be because of the tightness of the weave. If there is a green tint to the glass after it has been wet out with epoxy, this is because of the Volan "finish" which was applied to the fiberglass fabric when it was manufactured. S...
by Jeff in Farmington, MI
Fri May 20, 2011 7:27 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Epoxy not curing
Replies: 2
Views: 2298

Epoxy not curing

Hello everyone, I have finally glassed the underside of the deck on my kayak, and I am now working on small tasks around the cockpit and hatches. I had never, ever had a bad mix of epoxy of any size, but in the past week, I have had one small batch which remained sticky, and now one which after 24 h...
by Jeff in Farmington, MI
Thu May 12, 2011 1:45 pm
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Placing a dollar value on your canoe
Replies: 4
Views: 2420

Re: Placing a dollar value on your canoe

Like most builders, I put a lot of time and effort into my first canoe project. It would be heartbreaking to suffer the loss of the boat due to theft or home fire or some other calamity. So, while a unique boat cannot be replaced, I did place a value on my canoe and added it to my homeowner's insura...
by Jeff in Farmington, MI
Fri May 06, 2011 9:22 am
Forum: Builders' Forum
Topic: Newbie
Replies: 16
Views: 7315

Re: Newbie

Hello "Sue", Concerning the glue, the water resistant properties of the glue are not important because the entire boat will be enclosed within the epoxy-fiberglass covering. The strip joints will never see water. As a woodworker, you normally want a glue which sets up quickly. However, whe...